Name: Irish Lamb Stew with Guinness
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 h 45 min
Total time: 3 h 5 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided); 2 pounds lamb shoulder (cut in 2-inch pieces); Salt and pepper; 3 tablespoons flour; 1 medium yellow onion (diced); 1 stalk of celery (diced); 4 garlic cloves (chopped); 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 14.9 ounce can of Guinness Draught; 2 cups beef stock; 3 springs of fresh thyme; 2 large carrots (cut on bias in 1-inch pieces); 3 medium parsnips (cut on bias in 1-inch pieces); 1 pound small potatoes; 1 cup of frozen green peas

A warm and cozy meal to share with family and friends is Irish Lamb Stew with Guinness. The hearty comfort food dish is loaded with tender lamb, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, peas with a rich stout gravy. This is the BEST classic Irish stew recipe.

Dutch oven with stew with potatoes, carrots and lamb

Cooking as a labor of love for me. I enjoy setting aside time to prepare delicious food for my family and friends. And this hearty Irish stew is a favorite around the St. Patrick's Day holiday. My Irish lamb stew recipe is the ultimate definition of a comfort food.

Plan to set some time to make this traditional Irish stew recipe. The time it takes to make this recipe is well worth it. You want the cubes of lamb shoulder to become ultra-tender. And the sauce cooks to a rich and delicious beefy beer gravy with tender chunks of carrots, parsnips, potatoes and sweet green peas.

Stews are always welcome at our dinner table. Along with my Homestyle Pork Tenderloin Stew and this special occasion Beef Tenderloin Stew, my Guinness Irish stew is a favorite in our house. I hope you love it too.

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What's to Love About This Hearty Irish Stew

A good stew is so satisfying! This recipe is a keeper, and one you'll love for many reasons.

Easy to make ~ With only a few steps, the hardest part of the recipe is waiting for it to finish cooking.
Different than other stews ~ As opposed to its cousin Irish beef stew, this version is made with lamb cubes and a rich Guinness sauce that's toasty with a touch of sweetness.
Economical ~ The ingredients of an Irish lamb stew are easy on the wallet. Lamb shoulder is less expensive than other cuts such as leg of lamb or rack of lamb without sacrificing flavor.
Delicious leftover ~ After a day or 2 in the refrigerator, the flavors of the stew meld and combine making it even more tasty as a leftover.

bowl of Irish stew with lamb and Guinness

Ingredients & Substitutions

Gather the ingredients to make this great recipe. If substitutes can be made to the ingredients, they're listed. Scroll to the recipe card for full quantities of the ingredients.

Guinness beer, peas, potatoes, lamb, onion, turnips, celery

olive oil
lamb shoulder ~ Lamb shoulder is best for an Irish stew recipe. Cuts like leg of lamb or lamb chops are better to grill or roast.
kosher salt ~ The larger grain salt enhances the flavor of food without making it overly salty.
freshly ground black pepper ~ It's more flavorful than already ground pepper.
all purpose flour
yellow onion ~ Vidalia or white onion is an alternative.
celery
garlic cloves
tomato paste
Guinness Stout ~ To skip the alcohol, substitute 2 cups beef stock and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
reduced sodium beef stock ~ If you used regular beef stock, adjust the amount of salt you add to the stew.
fresh thyme ~ In a pinch, use 1 teaspoon dried thyme.
carrots
parsnips
small potatoes ~ cubed Russet, Yukon Gold or red potatoes are alternatives.
frozen green peas

How to Make My Irish Stew Recipe

Combine the ingredients using everyday kitchen tools to make the best Guinness lamb stew. This is a brief overview of the recipe. Scroll to the recipe card for the complete instructions and a step by step video.

cut up carrots, parsnips, onions and celery for Irish lamb stew with Guiness.

Step 1. Season the lamb chunks with with kosher salt and pepper. Sear in olive oil until browned. Remove the meat from the pot and place it in a bowl.

Step 2. Toss the browned meat with flour. Set aside.

Step 3. In the same pot, add the onion, celery and garlic. Season with kosher salt and pepper. Sauté the vegetables until they begin to soften.

Step 4. Add the tomato paste, stir to combine with the vegetables and cook 1 minute.

Step 5. Add the Guinness, beef stock and thyme springs. Scrap up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil then add the browned lamb meat.

adding carrots, parsnips and peas to hearty Irish stew.

Step 6. Cover the pot and simmer the stew for 1 and ½ hours or until the meat is tender.

Step 7. Add the carrots, parsnips and potatoes.

Step 8. Return the cover to the pot and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Step 9. Stir in the peas and serve.

Expert Tips

1. Start cooking the meat first and then add the vegetables for the last half hour so the vegetables do not get mushy. Don't skip searing the meat. This step achieves a nice brown crust on the lamb and adds intense deep flavor to the stew.

2. Let the stew simmer slow and low. A great stew needs time to develop the rich flavors and for all the ingredients to be deliciously tender.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Irish stew recipe different from regular stew?

Authentic Irish stew is typically made with lamb while classic beef stew is made with beef. Both stews do contain carrots and potatoes.

What should you cook Irish lamb stew in?

An enameled cast iron Dutch oven is ideal for making stews. It's thicker and heavier than steel pots and conducts and retains heat more effectively. A heavy bottomed stock pot is an alternative.

How do you store Irish stew?

Completely cool the stew and store in an airtight container. These meal prep glass containers are my favorites. Refrigerate for 4-5 days. The lamb stew can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

How do you reheat Irish lamb stew?

Heat leftover Irish stew in a microwave safe bowl lightly covered for 1-2 minutes on 60% power. Stir and continue heating at 30 second intervals until heated through. Alternately, heat in a pot on the stove over medium low heat. Stir occasionally until heated through. The stew can also be heated in a 350 degree F oven in a covered ovenproof dish for 15-20 minutes. If frozen, thaw the stew in the refrigerator before reheating following the above directions.

What to Serve with Irish Lamb Stew

Serve the steaming hot bowls of hearty stew with a crusty bread or a loaf of Irish soda bread (my recipe includes cranberries!). It's a delicious way to sop up the velvety rich gravy. It would be a shame to even waste a drop. Also serve it with the follow dishes.

big pot of stew made with lamb, Guinness beer, potatoes, carrots and peas

Use the right cut of meat. Lamb shoulder is best for stew instead of leg of lamb which is more suited to grilling or roasting.
An enameled cast iron Dutch oven is ideal for making stews. It is thicker and heavier than steel pots and therefore conducts and retains heat more effectively.
Don't skip searing the meat. This step achieves a nice brown crust on the lamb and adds intense flavor to the stew.
Guinness beer adds a delicious roasted malty sweetness to the sauce of the stew. I highly encourage using it in the stew. If you would like to substitute a non-alcoholic liquid, try more beef stock or apple cider.
Start cooking the meat first and then add the vegetables for the last half hour so the vegetables do not get mushy.
Let the stew simmer slow and low. A great stew needs time to develop the rich flavors and for all the ingredients to be tender
Serve the steaming hot bowls of stew with a crusty loaf of Irish soda bread for sopping up the velvety gravy. It would be a shame to even waste a drop.

Nutritional information is an estimate and based on the ingredients and cooking methods used in this recipe.