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Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings

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This Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings offers a rich, satisfying meal that’s perfect for cozy nights. Tender beef simmered in a hearty stout-based broth, paired with fluffy dumplings, makes for a dish that’s sure to warm you from the inside. Simple, yet packed with flavor, this beef stew might just become your go-to recipe on those chilly nights when you crave something comforting.

A pot of Guinness beef stew with dumplings. The dumplings are white and fluffy and sitting on top of a brown base of stew.

Why You Should Make This Slow Cooked Beef Stew Recipe

  • Hearty and filling: This Guinness Beef Stew is loaded with tender beef, vegetables and a rich, flavorful broth.
  • Unique flavor: Guinness stout adds a deep, rich taste, giving this stew a one-of-a-kind twist.
  • Fluffy dumplings: Topped with light, fluffy dumplings that perfectly compliment the rich stew.
  • Easy to prepare: While it takes time to cook, the steps are relatively straightforward, yielding impressive results.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Stew Meat: Purchase pre-cut stew meat, or cut your own from a chuck roast or sirloin tip roast. You can also use beef shank or short ribs for a richer flavor.
  • Beef Stock: Use store-bought or homemade beef stock. If you don’t have beef stock, you can substitute with vegetable broth or chicken stock, though the flavor will be slightly lighter.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a savory, umami flavor. You can substitute with soy sauce, tamari, or even a splash of balsamic vinegar for a similar depth of flavor.
  • Carrots: Use whole carrots cut into chunks or baby carrots, both work well for this stew.
  • Petite Potatoes: Halved petite potatoes are great, but you can substitute with Yukon Gold, red potatoes, or even sweet potatoes for a different flavor.
  • Other Vegetables: Optionally, add sliced cremini or button mushrooms for a rich, umami boost and/or stir in frozen peas toward the end of cooking for a pop of sweetness and color.
  • Guinness Draught Stout: Guinness adds a rich, deep flavor, but you can substitute with a similar dark stout or even red wine for a different twist on the flavor.
  • Herbs & Bay Leaves: Fresh thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves are recommended, but you can substitute with dried versions, just reduce the amount by half.
  • Self-Rising Flour: If you do not have self-rising flour, combine all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and a pinch of salt.
  • Shortening: Easily replace the vegetable shortening with beef fat or beef suet.

How to Prepare Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings

  1. Coat the stew meat in the seasonings and flour.
  2. Sear the meat in batches, setting each batch aside once browned.
  3. In the same pot, sauté the minced onion, celery, and garlic cloves.
  4. Stir in the tomato paste and beef bouillon.
  5. Pour in the Guinness beer, scraping the bottom of the pot to lift any browned bits.
  6. Add the thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. Stir well and bring to a near boil.
  7. Cover the pot and transfer to a 350°F (177°C) oven for 1 1/2 hours.
  8. Remove and add the carrots and potatoes. Return the pot to the oven for an additional 30-40 minutes.
  9. While the stew finishes cooking, prepare the dumplings.
  10. Once the stew is ready, remove the bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary stems.
  11. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough onto the stew.
  12. Cover the pot and return it to the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through.
  13. Brush the dumplings with melted butter and broil for two minutes to slightly brown.
  14. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Tips for Making Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings

  • Choose the right cut of meat: Chuck roast, beef shank or sirloin tip roast are ideal for stews as they become tender and flavorful with slow cooking. If buying pre-cut stew meat, you may have to cut the chunks a bit smaller.
  • Sear in batches: Avoid overcrowding the pot when searing the meat to ensure it browns evenly, which adds more flavor to the stew.
  • Use fresh herbs: Fresh thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves elevate the flavor of the Guinness Beef Stew, but if using dried herbs, reduce the quantity by half.
  • Don’t skip the stout: If you’re not using Guinness, opt for another stout or red wine for a rich, deep flavor.
  • Thicken as needed: If this hearty beef stew is too thin after cooking, use a cornstarch slurry to thicken. If it’s too thick, add a bit more beef stock.
  • Test dumplings: Check the doneness of the dumplings with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, they’re ready.
  • Prep in advance: Cut all the vegetables and meat before starting to save time during cooking.
  • Adjust seasoning: Taste the stew before adding the dumplings and adjust salt or other seasonings if needed.
  • Reheat gently: If reheating leftovers, warm this Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings on low heat and add extra stock to keep it from drying out.
  • Alcohol-free: For an alcohol-free beef stew, replace the stout with stock.

How to Serve and Store Guinness Beef Stew

This Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings is a delicious, one-pot meal.

  • Serve alone, or with a crisp green salad.
  • Alternatively, leave out the potatoes and spoon this hearty beef stew on top of creamy homemade mashed potatoes.
  • Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheating: Reheat on the stove over low heat until warmed through, adding more stock if necessary.
  • Freezing: To freeze, let the stew cool completely and transfer to a freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm gently on the stovetop.
  • Avoid freezing the dumplings, as they don’t reheat well.

More Stew Recipes to Love

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A pot of Guinness beef stew with dumplings. The dumplings are white and fluffy and sitting on top of a brown base of stew.

Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings


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Description

This Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings offers a rich, satisfying meal that’s perfect for cozy nights. Tender beef simmered in a hearty stout-based broth, paired with fluffy dumplings, makes for a dish that’s sure to warm you from the inside.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/2 pounds stew meat (chuck roast or sirloin tip, cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 3/4 cup cut carrots
  • 3/4 pound petite potatoes, halved
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1/2 white onion, minced
  • 1 stalk celery, minced
  • 4 whole garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon beef bouillon
  • 14.9 fl. oz Guinness Draught Stout Beer
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 sprigs rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 5 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, for garnish

For the Dumplings:

  • 1 cup self-rising flour
  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening (can substitute with beef suet)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • Cold water (about 1/3 cup)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing on the dumplings

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
  2. Pat the stew meat dry and place it in a bowl.
  3. Mix together salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder, then sprinkle the mixture onto the meat. Toss to coat.
  4. Add flour and toss again until the meat is fully coated.
  5. Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottom, oven-safe pot over medium-high heat. Sear the meat in batches, setting each batch aside once browned.
  6. In the same pot, add more oil if necessary, and sauté the minced onion, celery and garlic cloves for about a minute.
  7. Stir in the tomato paste and beef bouillon. Allow them to toast for a minute.
  8. Pour in the Guinness beer, scraping the bottom of the pot to lift any browned bits.
  9. Add the thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce and beef stock. Stir well and bring to a near boil.
  10. Cover the pot and transfer to the oven for 1 1/2 hours.
  11. After 1 1/2 hours, remove the pot from the oven and add the carrots and potatoes. Cover and return the pot to the oven for an additional 30-40 minutes.
  12. While the stew finishes cooking, prepare the dumplings by mixing the flour, shortening, garlic powder, salt and fresh thyme in a bowl. Add cold water gradually, mixing until a soft dough forms.
  13. Once the stew is ready, remove the bay leaves, thyme and rosemary stems. If the stew is too thick, add more beef stock; if too thin, thicken it with a cornstarch slurry.
  14. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough onto the stew, ensuring they do not touch each other.
  15. Cover the pot and return it to the oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through.
  16. Brush the dumplings with the melted butter and broil for two minutes to slightly brown.
  17. Garnish with fresh parsley and cracked black pepper before serving.
  18. ENJOY!
@charlottefashionplate

The BEST Beef Stew Recipe with Dumplings! This Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings offers a rich, satisfying meal that’s perfect for cozy nights. Tender beef simmered in a hearty stout-based broth, paired with fluffy dumplings, makes for a dish that’s sure to warm you from the inside. Simple, yet packed with flavor, this beef stew might just become your go-to recipe on those chilly nights when you crave something comforting. #beefstew #beef #stew #comfortfood #soup #slowcooker #dumplings #foodtiktok #easydinner #easyrecipe

♬ original sound – Charlotte Fashion Plate

Notes

  • Chuck roast, beef shank or sirloin tip roast are ideal for stews as they become tender and flavorful with slow cooking. If buying pre-cut stew meat, you may have to cut the chunks a bit smaller.
  • Avoid overcrowding the pot when searing the meat to ensure it browns evenly, which adds more flavor to the stew
  • Feel free to use your favorite potatoes. Peeling is a matter of preference.
  • Fresh thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves elevate the flavor of the Guinness Beef Stew, but if using dried herbs, reduce the quantity by half.
  • If you’re not using Guinness, opt for another stout or red wine for a rich, deep flavor.
  • For an alcohol-free stew, replace the stout with additional stock.
  • If this hearty beef stew is too thin after cooking, use a cornstarch slurry to thicken. If it’s too thick, add a bit more beef stock.
  • Slowly incorporate just a small amount of cold water into the dumpling mixture. Keep adding in small amounts until a soft, yet slightly stick dough forms.
  • Be sure to remove the woody pieces of thyme and rosemary and the bay leaves before adding the dumpling dough.
  • Check the doneness of the dumplings with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, they’re ready.
  • Cut all the vegetables and meat before starting, to save time during cooking.
  • Taste the stew before adding the dumplings and adjust salt or other seasonings if needed.
  • Once the dumplings have cooked, brush them with melted butter and place under the broiler for a few minutes to slightly brown.
  • If reheating leftovers, warm this Guinness Beef Stew with Dumplings on low heat and add extra stock to keep it from drying out.
  • If freezing leftover stew, leave out the dumplings, as the texture tends to change upon freezing.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes
  • Category: Soup, Dinner
  • Method: Moderate
  • Cuisine: American

GET TO KNOW ME!

A photo of me in a black floral dress cooking at the stovetop at Williams-Sonoma

WELCOME! My name is Melissa Latin aka. Charlotte Fashion Plate. Happy to meet you! I am more than just recipes. I love fashion and style too! Most importantly, I love my Family (my Hubby and my Fur Babies). My Husband (aka my “Kitchen Bitch”) means the world to me. He’s pretty damn cool too. Not only is he one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, he also has had a lengthy career in professional hockey. Not only winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early ’90’s, but most recently winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers, amongst many other accolades. If you live in Charlotte and play hockey, or have a family member who plays, be sure to contact him!

Our life has changed dramatically in the past few years with the passing of our two goldendoodles, Vegas and Viva. We were lucky enough to have Vegas for five years (totally wish it was longer). Most recently, losing our Viva to a brain tumor in July of 2020. We welcomed our mini goldendoodle 7, almost seven years ago. We just added the amazing Hazel! Of course, I am always posting tons and tons of photos! Be sure to check out my recipe for Pet Bone Broth! This broth is super rich in nutrients and will provide your pet with a multitude of health benefits!

In addition, I’m so very excited to announce I have published my first e-book and paperback, “Mastering Thanksgiving – A Guide to Perfecting Your Thanksgiving Dinner.” Your support would mean the world to me.

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Be sure to follow me on social media! I’m always talking food, fashion, and family! I also love sharing some of my favorite Amazon Finds too. Click here to check out my Amazon page! FacebookInstagramTikTokTwitter and Pinterest! Check out my LTK to find out what I’m wearing! THANK YOU!

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