This Irish Stew with Mashed Potatoes recipe is my favorite kind of comfort food. It reminds me of home. Hearty and filling, a homemade stew made with simple ingredients that leave you rubbing your belly with happiness.
Naturally, a Traditional Irish Stew is going to be a popular dish to make on St. Patrick's Day. For me though, I can eat this year round.
An important note here, a classic Irish Stew would be made with Lamb or Mutton. Here in the South though we are not as lucky to be able to find lamb easily.
If you can, you will need to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford it - Lamb is really expensive for us. Beef stew meat (in my opinion) works well as a substitution.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- It's an easy, homemade stew you can whip up in no time.
- It's not the kind of recipe that needs to cook forever. Make it in less than an hour.
- The whole family will love this recipe.
- The perfect dish for a cold winter day.
🧅 Ingredients
- Stew Meat (lamb preferably, or beef)
- All Purpose Flour
- Sea Salt
- Pepper
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Olive Oil
- Bay Leaves
- Carrots
- Frozen Peas
- Mashed Potatoes
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
🥣 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1: Heat the oil over medium heat in a large Dutch Oven - or a large pot.
- Step 2: Add the flour and seasonings to a large ziplok bag. Shake, then add the stew meat. Coat evenly all over.
- Step 3: Brown the stew meat in the oil.
- Step 4: Slowly pour in the beef broth, stirring, scraping up the browned bits.
- Step 5: Add the carrots and bay leaves and bring to a boil.
- Step 6: Turn down the heat to a medium-low - to simmer. Add the lid.
- Step 7: Cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 8: Add the peas 5 minutes before the end and remove the bay leaves.
- Step 9: Serve with mashed potatoes and favorite Irish Soda Bread.
Hint: The stew will thicken as it cools and you've turned off the heat. If you find you still need it thicker - I recommend sprinkling instant mashed potatoes as a thickener. It works great, adds great flavor. Be careful though, just a little at a time.
🔄 Substitutions and Variations
- Tomato Paste - can be used to help thicken.
- Guinness Beer - adds a certain Irish Flair.
- Chuck Roast - use this and cut into beef chunks.
- Beef Stock - use this in place of broth.
- Worcestershire Sauce - to add a little umami flavor.
- Avocado Oil - in place of olive oil, or some other high smoke point oil.
- Brown Sugar - if the flavor needs a little sweetness added.
- Chicken Stock - if this is all you have, go ahead and use it.
- Soy Sauce - can be added for the umami.
- Lamb - make this a lamb stew.
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🔌 Equipment
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Only one pot is needed to make the Irish Stew - a good Dutch Oven - or a Cast Iron Pot is also nice, to evenly distribute the heat.
I have some affiliate links in the recipe card below.
📘 More Irish Recipes
Try using Traditional Colcannon instead of the regular mashed potatoes. Go all out on the Irish fair.
Try this Traditional Irish Corned Beef Hash Recipe, for a great breakfast!
🧊 Storage
Once the Irish Stew has cooled completely, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This Irish Stew with Mashed Potatoes recipe does in fact freeze well.
💡 Tips
Expert Tip: Turn this into a regular beef stew and add potatoes to the dish when you add the carrots. Add any vegetables.
👩🍳 FAQs
An Irish Stew would be made different by the fact it is almost always made with Lamb or Mutton. Here in the States - especially in the South (I'm in Louisiana) Lamb is not so easily come by. If you do find it it's especially expensive. I find beef to be a good alternative.
You can thicken with cornstarch and water... I prefer to use instant mashed potato flakes though. It adds a little more potato flavor and a less floury taste.
Definitely. I would follow the same instructions, using the saute function on the Instant Pot, then add all the rest and use the Stew setting if there is one (otherwise, high pressure for 40 minutes). Then quick release.
Oh yes!! Make this a Guinness stew, add some Guinness to keep the Irish Stew theme.
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Irish Stew With Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 lb Beef Stew Meat or Lamb
- ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 2 teaspoons Chopped Fresh Rosemary
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 4 Cups Beef Broth
- 5 Carrots peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas
- 2 Bay Leaves
- Mashed Potatoes for Serving
Instructions
- Add the oil to a large Dutch Oven and turn the heat to medium-high.
- Add the stew meat, flour, salt and pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, rosemary and thyme to a large ziplok bag and shake to coat the meat evenly.
- Add the seasoned flour coated stew meat to the pot once the oil is hot enough and sear all sides of the meat.
- Slowly stir in the beef broth, stirring all the time.
- Add the carrots and bay leaves and bring to a boil.
- Turn down the heat to a medium-low heat and place the lid.
- Cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure it's not sticking.
- 5 minutes from the end add the peas.
- Remove the bay leaves. Serve with mashed potatoes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Jennifer says
This looks so good!!! I love Irish stews, I can’t wait to try your recipe!!
Raquel says
This is so flavorful and comforting! Also easy to make.
Raquel says
Such a great recipe!
Norma Bukovac says
How much beef broth? I don't see an amount on the ingredient list.
Melanie Cagle says
You are absolutely right, I missed that off. Thanks Norma, for bringing that to my attention. I have gone ahead and fixed the recipe card now. It's 4 Cups of beef broth.