This Guinness Beef Pot Pie is full of tender beef and vegetables in a thick, rich and flavorful stout gravy and topped with an Irish cheddar pie crust. This delicious St. Patrick’s Day pot pie will serve 8 generously.
I’d like you to meet the most delicious Guinness beef pot pie ever.
Tender pieces of beef, a plethora of vegetables in a thick and deeply flavored Guinness gravy. In this recipe, bottom round roast is cubed and seared in bacon fat, and simmered with pearl onions, carrots, mushrooms and potatoes. The Guinness gravy is flavored with herbs, dijon mustard, horseradish with a splash of balsamic vinegar, yielding a rich and delicious sauce.
This isn’t a quick recipe. In fact I encourage you to make it easy on yourself and prepare it in a few steps over the span of a few days as it is indeed a labor of love. The day before I prepare the crust and filling and pull it all together the day-of to bake.
And to top it all off (literally) is an Irish cheddar pie crust. After the first bite, I promise you all your effort will be worth it.
To Make this Guinness Beef Pot Pie you will need:
- bacon – I like to use thick-cut applewood smoked bacon.
- bottom round roast – A lean cut of beef that is best for braising or cooking low and slow.
- kosher salt – Enhances the flavors in the recipe.
- freshly ground black pepper – Adds some subtle bite and flavor.
- low-sodium chicken broth – I like to use chicken broth so the beef flavor doesn’t over power the other flavors.
- yellow onion – Adds a sweet and subtle onion flavor to the stew.
- carrots – Adds color and subtle sweetness.
- garlic – Adds distinct punchy flavor.
- cremini mushrooms – Or use button mushrooms.
- unbleached all-purpose flour – Helps to thicken the filling.
- dried dill – Lends an earthy and grassy flavor.
- Dijon mustard – Adds tangy flavor.
- Guinness stout beer – Adds rich flavor and also helps tenderizer for the beef as it cooks.
- thyme sprigs (fresh) – Lends an earthy, slightly minty and lemony flavor.
- rosemary (fresh) – Adds a pine-like or woodsy flavor with notes of lemon, pepper and sage.
- bay leaves (small) – Adds a pine-like or woodsy flavor with notes of lemon, pepper and sage.
- baby redskin potatoes – You could really use any small potato (I.e fingerlings, baby Yukon golds or purple potatoes.)
- blanched fresh pearl onions – You can do this yourself (see below note) or buy frozen.
- cornstarch slurry – Only needed if you desire a thicker gravy. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons cornstarch with equal parts water.
- prepared horseradish – Adds a flavorful kick to the recipe.
- balsamic vinegar – Lends a tangy yet rich and sweetness that enhances the flavors in the filling.
- peas – I use frozen for ease.
- cheddar pie crust – Or use regular pie crust if desired.
- egg wash – Used for brushing on the pie crust. Simply beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water.
How to Blanch Fresh Pearl Onions:
Slice the root end off with a sharp knife. Meanwhile bring a pot of water to boil. Drop in the onions and boil for 30-60 seconds. Remove to a bowl or ice water until cool, then drain. Pinch the top end and squeeze the onion out of the bottom. Repeat with remaining onions.
To start, in a cold dutch oven or brassier, add 6 strips diced bacon and cook on medium heat until the fat has rendered out and the bacon is crispy. Use a slotted spoon to drain the bacon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate – leaving the fat in the pan. Next, increase the heat to medium-high.
Prepare the Beef:
Meanwhile, add the 3 pounds cubed beef bottom roast (cut into 1-1½ inch pieces) into a bowl with 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
Toss to coat.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. And that is the key to a deep, rich brown gravy. Whether it’s for stew or a pot pie, how well you brown your beef. That is key to the richness of this pot pie.
With that said, working in batches of 3, cook the beef for 4 to 5 minutes a side until deeply browned on all sides.
If needed, add a little extra light olive oil to the pan in-between batches.
Transfer the browned beef to a large bowl after each batch.
When all of the beef has been browned, reduce the heat to medium and pour in 1 cup of broth. Using a wooden spatula scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pot. Then pour this liquid gold over the beef in the bowl.
Make the Filling:
Next add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Then add in 1 diced medium yellow onion, 2 diced medium carrots and 6 cloves sliced garlic with a pinch of kosher salt.
Stir and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until starting to soften.
Stir in 1 pound cremini mushrooms.
Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
Then sprinkle in 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, 3/4 teaspoon dried dill and add in 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard.
Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Next, return the beef and the pain liquids to the pot.
Stir in 2 cups Guinness and remaining 2 cups broth.
What Can Be Substituted For the Guinness?
If avoiding alcohol you can either use non-alcoholic Guinness or substitute the beer entirely with broth.
Then add in the 6 sprigs thyme, 1 sprigs rosemary and 2 small bay leaves. Cover, bring to a boil and then reduce, crack the lid a tad and simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
SO much flavor!
Then add the 1 pound baby red potatoes and 8 ounces blanched pearl onion halves.
Simmer The Filling:
Cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the potatoes are just cooked through. Next remove and discard herbs. If the gravy isn’t quite thick enough, while it’s bubbling, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 to 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with equal parts cold water). Then turn off the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon horseradish and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar.
Add the cooked bacon and 3/4 peas (frozen or thawed is fine) to the pot and stir to combine.
Taste and season with more kosher salt and black pepper, if desired.
Allow The Filling to Cool:
Pour the filling into a 13×9 (3 to 4 quart) casserole dish and allow to cool significantly before rolling out the cheddar pie crust.
The Guinness pie filling can be made 1 day in advance. I recommend pulling it out 1-1½ hours before baking to bring up to room temperature. Then bake as directed. If the filling is hot/warm when you go to place the pie crust, it will melt the butter in the dough and it will not bake or crisp up properly. It will be a disaster!
Making sure the filling has cooled is a must and I HIGHLY recommend making the filling the day before.
Preheat your oven to 400℉ (or 200℃).
Top with The Pie Crust:
On a floured surface, roll out the pie crust to fit your baking dish with 2 inches of overhang. Brush the underneath edge (about 2-inches worth) with the egg wash. Invert the crust onto the baking dish and press the side with the egg wash onto the edge of the baking dish. Trim off excess dough, leaving an approximate 1-inch boarder.
Brush the top and sides of the pie dough with remaining egg wash and cut air vents with a paring knife.
Bake on the bottom rack of your preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the crust is deeply golden.
Hearty and delicious! This Guinness Beef Pot Pie is phe-nom-enal!
Enjoy! And if you give this Guiness Beef Pot Pie recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Guinness Beef Pot Pie
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 pounds bottom round roast, cut into 1-1½ inch pieces
- kosher salt
- black pepper, freshly ground
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
- 1 pound cremini mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
- 3/4 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 cups Guinness stout beer
- 6 sprigs thyme
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 2 small bay leaves
- 1 pound potatoes, baby redskin halved if not bitesize
- 8 ounces pearl onions, blanched fresh and halved (or use 8 ounces frozen and cut in half if large) - see notes
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 3/4 cup peas
- 1 recipe cheddar pie crust
- 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash
Instructions
- In a cold dutch oven or brassier, add bacon and cook on medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to drain the bacon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
- Meanwhile, toss the cubed beef with 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
- Once the bacon is cooked, increase the heat to medium-high. Working in batches of 3, cook the beef for 4 to 5 minutes until browned on all sides. Transfer browned beef to a large bowl. If needed, add a little extra light olive oil to the pan in-between batches.
- When the beef has been browned, reduce the heat to medium and pour in 1 cup of broth. Using a wooden spatula scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pot. Then pour this liquid gold over the beef in the bowl.
- Next add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add in the diced onion, carrots and sliced garlic with a pinch of kosher salt. Stir and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until starting to soften. Stir in mushrooms and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Sprinkle in the flour, dried dill and add in the Dijon. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Return the beef and the pain liquids to the pot and stir in the Guinness and remaining broth. Next add in the thyme, rosemary and bay leaves. Cover, bring to a boil and then reduce, crack the lid a tad and simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Add potatoes and pearl onion halves. Cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the potatoes are just cooked through.
- Remove and discard herbs. If the gravy isn't thick enough, while it's bubbling, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 to 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with equal parts cold water).
- Then turn off the heat and stir in the horseradish and balsamic vinegar. Then add the cooked bacon and peas to the pot and stir to combine. Taste and season with more kosher salt and black pepper, if desired.
- Pour the filling into a 13x9 (3 to 4 quart) casserole dish and allow to cool for a bit before rolling out the cheddar pie crust.*
- Preheat your oven to 400℉ (or 200℃).
- On a floured surface, roll out the pie crust to fit your baking dish with 2 inches of overhang. Brush the underneath edge (about 2-inches worth) with the egg wash. Invert the crust onto the baking dish and press the side with the egg wash onto the edge of the baking dish. Trim off excess dough, leaving an approximate 1-inch boarder.
- Brush the top and sides of the pie dough with remaining egg wash and cut air vents with a paring knife. Bake on the bottom rack of your preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the crust is deeply golden.
- Serve dished onto plates or bowls with minced fresh parsley
Notes
RECIPE NOTES:
- To prepare the pearl onions: Slice the root end off with a sharp knife. Meanwhile bring a pot of water to boil. Drop in the onions and boil for 30-60 seconds. Remove to a bowl or ice water until cool, then drain. Pinch the top end and squeeze the onion out of the bottom.
- The Guinness pie filling can be made 1 day in advance. I recommend pulling it out 1-1½ hours before baking to bring up to room temperature. Then bake as directed. If the filling is warm when you go to place the pie crust, it will melt the butter in the dough and it will not bake or crisp up properly. Cooled filling is a must! With this said, I recommend making the filling the day before.
Recipe adapted from Martha Stewarts Guinness Pie recipe.
This recipe was originally posted on March 11, 2019 and has been updated with clear and concise instructions, new photography and helpful information.
Buy the Cookbook: Simply Scratch : 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy Now available on Amazon »
THANK YOU in advance for your support!
I was very intrigued when I read this recipe over and although I didn’t want to makea pot pie, I wanted to try this as a stew. I was very happy with this recipe and the blend of flavors…including the horseradish…did not disappoint!
Kudos, Laurie, you did it again! It’s a “keeper”
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Very yummy I will make it again I put it into individual dishes and topped with puff pastry , and used pork belly instead of bacon was very delightful !
This was excellent! My family loved it.