In Ireland, they seem to drink a lot of Guinness, and besides drinking it, the Irish use it in recipes both sweet and savory. I love to add it to beef dishes, and it can also be added to lamb dishes to make authentic Irish Stew. The following Basic Irish Beef & Guinness is the base for several dishes that I like to make: Beef & Guinness Pie, Beef & Guinness Casserole, Beef & Guinness Irish Stew, Cottage Pie, etc.

This one is easily made in the Instant Pot, and once the beef cubes have been browned, can be pressure cooked (1 hour and 15 minutes), or slow cooked (4-6 hours). Both ways are much easier and less messy than making it on the stovetop or in the oven, and the flavor is amazing. Since savory pies are very popular in Ireland, I opted to make mine into a pie topped with puff pastry, but I have included instructions to make it into an Irish Stew. This filling is not only delicious and comforting, but it is versatile.


Although it’s a great dish to make for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s good all year round. It’s especially good served with freshly baked Bread Machine Irish Brown Bread with plenty of Irish butter.

12 Servings

6 ounces bacon, chopped

3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 to 4 pounds beef bottom round, trimmed of any fat and cut into 1/2" pieces
1 large onion, quartered and sliced
1 11 - 14 ounce bottle or can Guinness Stout (the amount varies, but any size is okay)
1 cup water
1 tablespoon granular beef bouillon

1. Cook the bacon until very crisp in the pan of an Instant Pot on the sauté setting. Remove the bacon to drain, keeping the bacon fat in the pan.
2. Mix the flour, salt, and pepper and toss with the meat cubes. Add them to the pot and brown well. Remove the meat from the pot and add the Guinness; let cook, scraping the bottom until the Guinness is reduced by half. Add the water and bouillon along with the onion and bacon; stir well.
3. Cover the pot and set the valve to sealing. Set the pot to manual for one hour and 15 minutes. Alternately, set to slow cook for 4-6 hours. When the food has finished cooking, you can add vegetables to make the following dishes:
   
   Beef & Guinness Pie: Add mushrooms (or not as you like) and pour into a casserole dish; top with a sheet of puff pastry that has been pricked with a fork, or has small vents cut out of it and bake at 400° until puffed and brown. You can also top with shortcrust dough.
   
   Irish Beef & Guinness Stew: Add potatoes, carrots and any vegetables you like; simmer until the vegetables are done.
   
   Cottage Pie: Add peas and any other vegetables you like; top with mashed potatoes and bake until bubbly and hot. If you like, you can make it into Cumberland Pie by sprinkling the top with cheese before baking. (FYI, Shepherd’s pie is made with lamb)
   
   Beef and Guinness Casserole: add carrots, parsnips or other vegetables and serve over mashed potatoes.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 252 Calories from Fat 86
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 34% Protein 47% Carb. 15%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 10 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Cholesterol 86 mg
Sodium 416 mg
Total Carbohydrate 10 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 30 g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 5% Calcium 0% Iron 18%