Prep Time::30 mins
Cook Time:: 2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time:: 3 hrs
Servings::6
Ingredients
4 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
2 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or more to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 onions, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.9 ounce) can dark beer (such as Guinness)
¼ cup tomato paste
3 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 teaspoon white sugar
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
2 ½ cups chicken stock, or as needed to cover
4 cups mashed potatoes (Optional)
Directions
Gather all ingredients.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Cook and stir bacon in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until bacon is browned and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer bacon into a large stew pot, reserving bacon fat in the skillet.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Season beef chuck cubes generously with 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper to taste. Turn heat to high under the skillet and sear beef pieces in the hot fat on both sides until browned, about 5 minutes. Place beef in the stew pot with bacon, leaving fat in the skillet.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Turn heat down to medium; cook and stir onions in the retained fat in the skillet until lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes; season with a large pinch of salt.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Cook garlic with onions until soft, about 1 minute. Pour beer into the skillet and stir with a wooden spoon, scraping up and dissolving any browned bits of food into the liquid.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Pour cooking liquid from the skillet into the stew pot. Stir in tomato paste, carrots, celery, thyme sprigs, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and enough chicken broth to cover.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Bring stew to a gentle simmer, stirring to combine; reduce heat to low and cover pot.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Simmer stew until beef is fork-tender, about 2 hours.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Stir stew occasionally and skim fat or foam if desired.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Bring stew to a low boil and cook until stew has slightly thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and discard thyme sprigs and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Arrange mashed potatoes in a ring in a serving bowl; ladle stew into the center of the potatoes.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios