Guinness Braised Beef

Why I love this braised beef recipe

Since it’s been dreadfully cold here lately, I decided to revamp one of my favorite Dutch oven recipes – Guinness braised beef. I’ve been making it for years, in one form or another, but I used to use a stovetop/oven method, and I recently tested a new version that outshines the last by a lot.

It’s hearty and comforting for a cold, snowy (or rainy) day. In fact, a snow day like today is the perfect time to simmer a post of this Guinness braised beef on the stove and let the wonderful aroma will your home. We love to pair this with my dairy free mashed potatoes and a nice serving of green veggies. Try some oven roasted broccoli or even a fresh arugula salad.

More St. Patrick’s Day recipes: Irish potato candy / Irish champ / Irish sausage / Irish beef stew / Corned beef tacos / Lucky Charms cookies

• Chef’s knife
• Cutting board
• Dutch oven
• Measuring cups

How to braise beef

Prepare your chuck roast.

Cut your chuck roast into large cubes (about 1-inch).Sprinkle the beef with two tablespoons of all-purpose flour and liberally season it with salt & pepper. I don’t normally measure my salt for this, but I use about 1/2 – 1 teaspoons coarse salt and a little less pepper than that.

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I like to leave mine on the cutting board while I flour and season it. While it’s on the cutting board, I stir it around to make sure everything is evenly coated. You could do this in a bowl if you want, but I don’t see the point in dirtying another dish.

Sear the beef and sauté the onions.

Heat your Dutch oven to high and add 2 tablespoons of oil (any cooking oil will work). Working in 2 – 3 batches, sear the sides of your beef until the easily release from the pan. This normally takes a few minutes per side. Remove seared beef and transfer to a plate.

Once all of the beef is seared and on the plate, reduce your heat to medium and add the onion. Sauté it until almost translucent, stirring occasionally.

Simmer everything.

Add the beef back to the pot with the remaining ingredients and cover the pot. Simmer your braised beef for 2 – 2.5 hours, or until the beef is tender. Resist the urge to check the beef. Each time you open the Dutch oven, you will lose some of the liquid in your pot, so do this sparingly.

By the time the beef is tender, the liquid in your put should have thickened from the flour and fats cooking together. If it seems too thin, remove the lid and return heat to medium. Allow your beef to simmer/boil off the excess liquid for up to 30 minutes.

Before serving, discard the celery stalk and garnish with fresh chopped parsley (optional).

FAQs and tips for braising meat

What does braising meat mean?

Braising is a method of cooking meat that involves two types of heat being applied. First, meat is seared to seal in juices and create flavor and then it is slow cooked in some form of liquid. Braised meat is usually not completely submerged when cooking, and it is usually simmered at a low temperature for a long period of time.

What cut of beef is best for braising?

The best cuts of beef for braising are going to be your tougher cuts. I like to use chuck roast because I find that it’s reasonably priced. Plus, when it’s slow cooked, it gets super tender and flavorful. When choosing your chuck roast, look for one with good overall marbling. Many will have a thick piece of fat running through, and that is great for flavor, but not 100% necessary.

You can also use stew meat (sometimes referred to as braised steak in other countries) and get very similar results.

How long should I braise beef?

You want to braise beef for at least 2 hours. I prefer to braise mine in a Dutch oven (for 2 – 3 hours) or in my slow cooker (for 8 – 10 hours). In the Dutch oven, you have the option of braising it on the stove top or in the oven. No matter your method, you’ll want to sear the meat before you simmer.

Why is my beef so tough?

You probably haven’t cooked it long enough. Each piece of meat is different, so you’ll need to trust your instincts of this one. If you’ve cooked your beef for the full 2 1/2 hours and your beef seems tough still, try giving it a bit more time. I find that just a little bit of extra time can make a huge impact of the tenderness of these kinds of meats.

More beef recipes:

• Shredded beef tacos
• Grilled beef satay
• Bolognese sauce
• Baked hamburgers
• Greek meatballs

Comfort food favorites:

• Red wine beef stew
• Beef ragu recipe
• Tourtiere
• Wisconsin booyah

Guinness Braised Beef

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

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Guinness braised beef – in this easy, braised beef recipe, chunks of chuck roast are slow cooked in beer on the stovetop in a Dutch oven. Serve it with mashed potatoes for a delicious, comforting meal. #Guinness #beef

• Author: Melissa Belanger
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 pounds chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Salt & pepper
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 1 12-ounce can Guinness (or other stout beer)
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 garlic clove, smashed
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 celery stalk, cut into thirds
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

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Instructions

1. Coat the chuck roast in flour and liberally season with salt & pepper.
2. In a dutch oven or large stockpot, heat olive oil to high.
3. Sear the beef for on all sides until golden brown, working in batches if needed.
4. Remove the beef from the pan, leaving any liquid in the pot, and reduce heat to medium.
5. Add onions and cook for about a minute – stirring frequently.
6. Return beef to the pot and add remaining ingredients.
7. Cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 2 – 2 1/2 hours, or until beef is tender and liquids have thickened.
8. Remove celery from pot, and adjust seasoning to taste before serving.

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 0
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 0 mg
• Fat: 0 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg

Published: February 12, 2019. Updated: March 19, 2022.

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