Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Guinness

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Guinness is the only way we’ll ever make beef stew in our house from now on! Not just because it’s slow cooked (yay!) but also because it has so much amped up flavor from the Guinness. This stew also makes amazing leftovers!

I like to prep this beef stew when I have some spare time (usually after the kids are in bed) then pop it in the slow cooker in the morning for an easy weeknight meal. It makes a large batch so my husband and I eat this all week long when we make it.

Here’s how to make Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Guinness

The first step is to sear the meat. I know, I know…but it adds so much flavor and I promise it’s worth it! In order to get a good sear, you want to make sure your beef is dry. You can just pat it down with a paper towel and then toss it in a bowl (or even a zip-top bag) and coat it with flour and salt. This soaks up even more moisture.

Once dry, you can add the beef to the oil in a hot pan. You want to get a good sear on all sides of the meat. If you have a small pan, you can sear the meat in batches. Crowding the pan too much will cause the meat to steam and turn gray….no bueno. After the meat is seared, you can toss it right into the slow cooker.

Next comes the flavor boost…the Guinness! After lowering the heat a little bit and removing the meat, in comes the good stuff! Just pour the whole bottle in and let it bubble for about 30 seconds while you scrape up the bits on the bottom of the pan.

Now here’s the easy part, pour the cooked Guinness into the slow cooker and add in the rest of the ingredients. Set the slow cooker on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10. If you are planning to make this the next day, you can place the slow cooker insert in the fridge at this point.

Tips for making Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Guinness:

Can you move the slow cooker insert from the refrigerator to the slow cooker?

Yes you can! A slow cooker does not heat up fast enough to cause a problem with the stone. But, just know that you will probably have to add about an extra hour of cooking time to get it up to temperature.

Do you have to use Guinness?

You don’t have to! Red wine would be amazing also. And, if you’re opposed to using alcohol, you can easily deglaze the pan with a little bit of the beef broth.

How to thicken beef stew?

If you like a thicker beef stew, you can mix together 2 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water then stir the mixture into the stew. Cook for 30 minutes longer.

How to avoid splatters when searing the meat?

Try using a splatter screen like this one to cover the pan and protect your hands and stove top.

What to eat with beef stew:

Try our recipe for easy rosemary focaccia bread!

Print Recipe

5 from 8 votes

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Guinness

An easy beef stew dinner packed with flavor!

Prep Time1 hour hr

Cook Time8 hours hrs

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Coco and Ash

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef stew meat
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
• 11.2 ounces Guinness beer (1 bottle)
• 1 small onion - chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 3 large garlic cloves - minced
• 1 pound baby potatoes - quartered
• 3 large carrots - cut into 1/2 inch discs
• 3 ribs of celery - chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes (not drained)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Parsley garnish - optional

Instructions

• Add the flour and 1 teaspoon salt to a bowl (you could use a zip-top bag too!) and mix together. Add in the beef and toss until the beef is fully coated.
• Heat the oil in a pan over medium/high heat and brown the beef on all sides. (Don't worry about cooking it through).
• Once browned, remove the beef from the pan and add it to the slow cooker.
• Lower the heat on the pan to medium. Pour in the Guinness beer and let it bubble for 30 seconds while you scrape up the bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Carefully pour the heated Guinness from the pan to the slow cooker.*
• Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 -10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
• (Option) If you would like to thicken your beef stew for an even heartier feel:

  Mix together 2 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water then stir the mixture into the stew. Cook for 30 minutes longer.
• Garnish with parsley if you're feelin' fancy!

Notes

*If you don't want to use the beer, you could substitute red wine or even beef broth to deglaze the pan.