Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food. Big chunks of tender beef with potatoes and carrots in a thick, hearty gravy. SO good!
We are not Irish, but we have some Irish relatives and we are up for celebrating any holiday – especially when it involves good food. It’s always been a tradition in our family to make a special meal to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew is perfect for the occasion!
One year I made an all green dinner. We had green meat loaf, green mashed potatoes, green salad, broccoli, green jello, and green Kool-Aid to drink. Another year we made green eggs and ham. We love the Donovan’s Irish Pasties. We also have a collection of 10 Green Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day. And for dessert, don’t miss our version of McDonald’s Shamrock Shake.
As for this recipe for Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew, the beef is so tender and juicy from cooking all day on a low heat. I like to cut the vegetables in large chunks so they don’t get soggy when cooking with the beef. You can try different seasonings to suit your taste. It’s always good to start out with a little and then add more if you would like. As I explain in the directions below, you will want to taste test the stew about 30 minutes before serving and add more salt, pepper, and seasonings as needed. I like to serve this stew with our Irish Soda Bread or biscuits and a green side salad.
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Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food. Big chunks of tender beef with potatoes and carrots in a thick, hearty gravy. SO good!
- 1 1/2 lb chuck roast cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces or pre-cut stew meat
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes halved or quartered depending on size
- 1 lb baby carrots
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cans beef broth approximately 40 ounces
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp Balsamic or red wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp cold water
- 1 Tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley flakes
- 2 bay leaves
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Cut roast into 1 1/2 inch bite size chunks and place them in a gallon size resealable bag. Add flour, salt, and pepper. Shake bag until the meat is coated with flour.
- Heat olive oil in a large heavy bottom skillet or pot. Add coated meat and brown each piece on all sides.
- While meat is browning, cut potatoes and carrots and place both in the bottom of a slow cooker.
- When meat is browned, layer the meat on top of the potatoes and carrots and leave remaining juices in the skillet.
- Return the skillet to the stovetop and add butter. Melt the butter on medium-high heat, then saute onions and garlic. Stir in beef broth, tomato paste, red wine vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. In a small cup, combine cornstarch and cold water. Mix until smooth then add to the liquid mixture in the skillet. This will thicken the liquid. Pour all the contents of the skillet over the meat and vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Add thyme, parsley flakes, and bay leaves.
- Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for approximately 4 hours. 30 minutes before serving check the taste of the broth and add salt, pepper, or seasonings as needed. Allow to cook for another 30 minutes after adding seasonings. Remove bay leaves before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
More Slow Cooker Soups to Try
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup: Chicken and Rice Soup warms you up on cold fall and winter days. It is also ideal for busy days. The ingredients go into the Slow Cooker in the morning and a nice, hot meal awaits in the evening.
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup: There are so many different vegetables in this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup. It is very healthy and hearty.
- Slow Cooker Cheese Tortellini Soup: This Cheese Tortellini Soup is a flavorful, easy slow cooker meal. Tortellini, sausage, and spinach in a creamy tomato soup and slow cooked to perfection.
- Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli Soup: Our version of the Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup tastes just like the original. It is an Italian seasoned soup easily made in the slow cooker.
- Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana Soup: Many agree that this Zuppa Toscana Soup Olive Garden Copycat is actually better than the original! It has a creamy both base and is loaded with sausage and potatoes.
More from Favorite Family Recipes:
MJ says
it appear there is not enough moisture to do this stew justice….we’ll see….
Echo says
You’re right – I had 3 cups instead of 3 cans. Thank you so much for catching this! I made the change in the recipe.
Jess says
Does anyone have an estimate of the calories in this recipe?
Joyful Noises says
Thanks for posting a non-alcoholic Irish stew recipe! It looks GREAT. St. Patty’s is my birthday, and I am pregnant and have two small kiddoes, so I DEFINITELY didn’t want any traces of alcohol in it (because no… it doesn’t actually cook out that much. Plus, being Mormon… don’t want alcohol in it anyways.) I’m looking forward to feeding this to the missionaries when they come over on Tuesday (one of them is from Ireland, so I’ll let you know his opinion of it!).
I do have one question, though–how many does this serve? I’m thinking I should probably double it, but wanted to make sure I won’t be over-doing it! Thanks!
Echo says
Thank you and congratulations on a new addition to your family! This recipe serves 6. I serve it with a side salad and our cheesy biscuits and it is very filling. You probably don’t need to double it, but it is always nice to have leftovers.
Joyful Noises says
By the way–the recipe is SO good! Everyone loved it! I definitely keep this on the top of my list. We’re making it for dinner tomorrow along with sourdough bread bowls. Yummmmm. I love your blog–thanks for sharing!
Pamela Wallen says
How many servings does this recipe make. I am looking to make it for St Patrick’s Day luncheon for my ladies church group and my husband wants to make sure he can have some as well. So I need to know if I need to double or triple the recipe. Thanks
Echo says
This recipe serves 4-6 depending on how much you serve each person. It serves 4 if you are serving in large bowls, or 6 if you are serving in a regular size soup bowl. Good luck with your luncheon!
Emily C. says
I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! I added frozen peas about an hour before it was done cooking. I will definitely be making it again.
Echo says
Thanks Emily! I’m so glad you like the recipe!
Judy says
Looks wonderful.
Echo says
Thanks Judy!
Kelly says
Why can’t I see the full recipe? Would love to try this!
Echo says
There was a technical issue on our site for a few hours, it should be working just fine now. Thanks!
marilyn Plitz says
sounds good… How would this be with chunks of cabbage tossed in and if so, when would you insert them?
Erica says
I am sure if would be great! You could probably add them any time. I would probably add them closer to the end.
Vicki Thomson says
Sounds delicious!! If you were adding alcohol would you add maybe one can of Guinness ??
Erica says
If you added any alcohol you may want to just cut down on some of the broth so it stays thick 🙂 Hope this helps!
Jane Wolford says
I have had this recipe for your Irish Beef Stew in the crockpot all day. The aroma is driving us crazy! Just gave hubby a taste & he thinks it to die for! Cannot wait to scoop up a big in a little while!!! It’s so delicious!!!! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Jane
Echo says
Thank you, Jane! I’m so glad you like the recipe!
Louise says
Thank you so much for posting this recipe that has no alcohol in it.
Could you please tell me what size slow cooker you used to make it?
Echo says
Yes, I used a 6-quart slow cooker or crock pot. Thank you for asking!
Shirley says
it would be nice if you emailed me some of your recipes,thanks
Echo says
We will add you to our email list and you will have our recipes emailed to you each week. Thank you!
Bill in Massachusetts says
Just finished dinner, my wife and I each had a good size bowl of your Irish stew, yum. I followed the recipe to a tea, perfect. Had a Stella and hunks of crusty bread with it, great meal on such a blustery day. Thanks!
Echo says
Thank you for sharing this! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Tammy says
I do not have a crock pot, never was big on them but this looks so wonderful!!! Do you think I could just make in a big pot on the stove, or just borrow my daughters crock pot??? TY 🙂
Echo says
You can definitely make this in a regular pot on the stove. After adding everything to the pot, cover and let it simmer until the potatoes and carrots are cooked. It will probably take 45 minutes to an hour. Thanks for asking!
Stephanie ouellette says
Can I use lamb stew meat?
Erica says
Absolutely! It would actually make it more traditional that way 🙂
shawn says
Made this for the family and I must say, it had an extremely off taste, think I’m attributing it to the vinegar, until now I have never heard of that in stew but I follow your recipe as directed. Is this “off” taste typical of Irish stew?
Echo says
The vinegar is a substitute for the alcohol that is commonly used in Irish stew. You can leave it out if you don’t like the flavor. Thank you for asking!
Lisa says
This stew is just so very good!
Cathy says
I’m going to make this tomorrow. Defrosting my roast today. I am going to leave the potatoes out because I have 10lbs of russets. I will make mashed potatoes instead. Thank you so much for sharing this without alcohol.
Favorite Family Recipes says
You’re welcome! Enjoy the stew!
Vicky says
Delish. I used recipe with a venison roast. Amazing
Linda says
Just made this today. It was delicious. I made a mistake on vinegar. I used rice wine instead if red wine. Grabbed wrong bottle, but it still was so good. Had some sourdough bread with it. Cannot wait to make again.
Favorite Family Recipes says
Glad it still worked out for you, despite the vinegar mix-up! Great idea serving with sourdough!
Marie says
Sounds delicious!
Favorite Family Recipes says
Thank you, Marie!
Tabitha says
Could you use gluten free flour? I really want to try this but can’t have gluten
Favorite Family Recipes says
Yes, a quality gluten free flour will work just fine in this recipe. Thanks for asking!
Jenifer Gardner says
My husband actually showed me this recipe and he hates soups and stews, says he wants to try this…. I really can’t wait to try!!
Trisha says
I’m going to try this. If I wanted to used alcohol- what would I use(someone mentioned beer(?)?. Also I don’t care for Worcestershire sauce, so could I use A-1 steak sauce. I know they taste a lot alike- but there’s sorting inWorcestershire sauce I do not like. Thank you, Trisha
Pamela says
How many servings would you say this will make? I always like to save that along with any recipe I keep for future use.
thanks
Favorite Family Recipes says
6-8 servings depending on serving size. 🙂
PattiRL says
What makes this wonderful stew IRISH STEW?
Favorite Family Recipes says
We love Irish Stew but this version is alcohol-free because we don’t drink alcohol. Some have suggested adding beer to make it more “authentic”. Hope this helps!
Lisa Slaughter says
I am trying the beef stew for tonight’s dinner. I hope it turns out good.
Fran says
I’m making today I may put cooked rice in the bottom of the bowl then put stew on top
Gretchen says
If you subbed turkey, would you increase liquid or fat somewhere? Looks divine, thx!
Favorite Family Recipes says
I don’t think it would be necessary to add extra liquid or fat. I think you can just add the turkey without adding anything else. Hope this helps!
Shelle says
Great recipe!! Love that it is alcohol free 🙂 I prefer Irish stew served over mashed potatoes. I just cut out the potatoes and add more carrots. I thicken it a bit more as needed but this is a great recipe for either, thank you!
Lisa says
If I were to do this in the oven, what temperature would I use and for how long? It looks delicious!
Favorite Family Recipes says
Hmmmm that is a good question. If you have a big casserole baking dish with a lid you could probably do it on 350 for the same amount of time. Hope this helps!
Elizabeth says
Can this be frozen? because potatoes tend to not freeze well I find.
Favorite Family Recipes says
It can be, but like you said, sometimes the potatoes get mushy and get a weird texture. If you were planning on making way ahead of time, it may be a good idea to prepare and just add the potatoes later. Hope this helps!