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.
Jump to:
- What makes this recipe so yummy
- Groceries you'll need: Ingredients
- Recipe walkthrough: Instructions
- Recipe variations and substitute ideas
- Necessary gear: Equipment
- More Irish recipes I think you'll love
- How to store leftovers
- Mel's kitchen notes
- Frequently asked questions: FAQs
- Irish Stew With Mashed Potatoes
- 💬 Comments
What makes this recipe so yummy
- 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.
Groceries you'll need: 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.
Recipe walkthrough: 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.
Recipe variations and substitute ideas
- 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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Necessary gear: 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 I think you'll love
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!
How to store leftovers
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.
Mel's kitchen notes
Turn this into a regular beef stew and add potatoes to the dish when you add the carrots. Add any vegetables.
Frequently asked questions: 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.
If you've tried this Irish Stew With Mashed Potatoes Recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!
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Irish Stew With Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 Pounds 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 Fresh Rosemary
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 4 Cups Beef Broth
- 5 Each Carrots peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas
- 2 Each Bay Leaves
- Mashed Potatoes for Serving
Instructions
- Add the oil to a large Dutch Oven and turn the heat to medium-high.2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 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.3 Pounds Beef Stew Meat, ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour, 2 teaspoons Salt, 1 teaspoon Black Pepper, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 teaspoon Onion Powder, 2 teaspoons Fresh Rosemary, 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 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.4 Cups Beef Broth
- Add the carrots and bay leaves and bring to a boil.5 Each Carrots, 2 Each Bay Leaves
- 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.1 Cup Frozen Peas
- Remove the bay leaves. Serve with mashed potatoes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Tammy Gresham says
Can i make this in a crock pot?
Melanie Cagle says
A slow cooker Irish Stew is always good, I don't know but for some reason cooking a stew like this low and slow really helps marry the flavors better. I would still suggest searing the beef at the start though, with the flour - this also gives more flavor (to toast the flour).