Rich gravy bubbling beneath a golden puff pastry crust sets a comforting mood for Sunday dinner . This Guinness Beef Pie combines tender, slow-braised meat with a hidden layer of chive mashed potatoes. James specifically requested a hearty pub-style meal this weekend, and this recipe delivers pure warmth in every bite.
Why You'll Love This
This Guinness Beef Pie transforms humble cuts of meat into a deeply savory, melt-in-your-mouth experience. The long simmer breaks down the beef, creating a rich sauce that rivals any classic Steak And Guinness Pie you might find in an Irish pub. The surprise layer of creamy mashed potatoes acts as a barrier, keeping the puff pastry incredibly crisp while providing a comforting textural contrast.
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Everything Required
Building the deep flavor of this Guinness Beef Pie relies on a balance of hearty root vegetables, rich stout, and savory aromatics. Every element of this Guinness Beef Pie Recipe works together to create a robust and complex gravy.
Scroll to the recipe card for ingredients and step-by-step directions.
Main Ingredients
- Braising Beef: Diced into large chunks, it becomes incredibly tender after a long simmer.
- Guinness: The stout adds a dark, roasted malt flavor to the sauce base.
- Baking Potatoes: Peeled and diced to create the creamy, supportive mash layer.
- Puff Pastry: Provides a crisp, flaky lid that seals in the rich gravy.
- Cheddar Cheese: Melts between the potato layer and the pastry for added richness.
- Fresh Chives: Brightens the mashed potatoes with a mild onion flavor.
Flavor Boosters
- Back Bacon: Renders down to add a smoky, salty depth to the vegetable base.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Enhances the savory, umami notes of the beef stock.
- Tomato Puree: Adds a subtle tang that balances the bitterness of the stout.
How to Make Guinness Beef Pie at Home
Preparing this hearty Guiness Pot Pie takes a little patience, but the comforting results make the slow simmering entirely worthwhile.
Sear Beef Sear the seasoned diced beef in a large pot with oil over high heat until browned all over. This develops a deep flavor crust on the meat, leaving rich brown bits on the bottom of the pot.
Sauté Aromatics Fry the bacon, onion, carrots, and celery in the same pot until they begin to soften. This builds the aromatic base of the stew, releasing a fragrant smell as the vegetables lightly color.
Build Gravy Stir in the flour, stock, stout, tomato puree, and herbs to create the base for the cooking liquid.
How do I prevent lumps in my gravy? Stir the flour into the fat completely before adding the liquids slowly, resulting in a smooth, dark brown sauce.
Simmer Stew Simmer the mixture on low heat for about two hours, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick. This slow cooking process breaks down the tough fibers, leaving you with fork-tender beef in a rich gravy.
Make Mash Boil the potatoes until tender, drain them well, and mash with butter, sour cream, milk, and chives. This creates the creamy middle layer, resulting in a smooth, fluffy potato mixture.
Assemble Pie Layer the cooled filling, mashed potatoes, grated cheese, and puff pastry in a large baking dish. This structured assembly keeps the pastry crisp, showing a neat, level surface before baking.
Bake Pie Brush the pastry with beaten egg, cut small steam holes, and bake at 375F for 30 minutes. This final step turns the raw dough into a flaky crust, producing a deep golden lid with bubbling edges.
Tips
Taking your time with the different layers ensures your Guinness Beef Pie sets up beautifully.
Cut steam holes → allows moisture to escape → look for clean, open slits in the pastry lid.
Cool the filling → prevents the mash from sinking into your Guiness Pie → look for a firm skin.
Dry the potatoes → stops the mash from becoming watery → look for steam evaporating in the colander.
Chill the pastry → ensures maximum flakiness → look for cold, firm dough before brushing with egg wash.
Follow Aliana on Pinterest →Make It Your Own
You can easily swap the stout for a traditional brown ale to create a lighter Steak And Ale Pie flavor profile. If you want to skip the puff pastry entirely, you can top the dish exclusively with the cheesy mashed potatoes for a shepherd's pie style finish. Adding mushrooms to the vegetable base also brings a lovely earthy note to the gravy.
Storage Tips
Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to three days when kept in an airtight container. Because this Beef Pot Pie Recipe Easy has a pastry lid, it is best to reheat individual portions in the oven at 350°F. This method helps the puff pastry regain its crispness, whereas a microwave will make it soft and chewy.
Serving Ideas
Since this Guinness Beef Pie already contains meat, vegetables, and a starch, it is practically a meal on its own. However, I often serve it with a side of minted garden peas or roasted Brussels sprouts. These bright green vegetables balance the heavy, savory notes of this Cottage Pie Recipe Beef alternative perfectly.
Common Questions
Can I use a different type of beer?
Yes, if you do not enjoy stout, you can use a robust porter or a dark ale. The alcohol cooks off, leaving behind a deep malt flavor that complements this classic Steak Pie Recipe.
Why is my gravy too thin?
If your gravy hasn't thickened after two hours, you may have left the lid on for too long. Simmer it uncovered for an extra 15 minutes to allow the excess liquid to evaporate.
Can I use store-bought mashed potatoes?
You can, but I highly recommend making them fresh. Store-bought versions often contain extra water or stabilizers that might alter how they sit on top of the hot stew.
Can I freeze this pie before baking?
Yes, you can freeze the assembled pie before adding the egg wash. Wrap it tightly in foil and bake it straight from frozen, adding about 20 extra minutes to the cooking time.
More Delicious Ideas
If you love comforting Dinner options, this Guinness Beef Pie is sure to become a regular in your kitchen. Just like hearty Meat Pies Ground Beef style dishes, these recipes bring warmth to the table.
Tried this recipe? Tag me on Pinterest @AlianaRecipes - I'd love to see your twist on it!
Guinness Beef Pie
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Sear the seasoned diced beef in a large pot with oil over high heat until browned all over. This develops a deep flavor crust on the meat, leaving rich brown bits on the bottom of the pot.
- Fry the bacon, onion, carrots, and celery in the same pot until they begin to soften. This builds the aromatic base of the stew, releasing a fragrant smell as the vegetables lightly color.
- Stir in the flour, stock, stout, tomato puree, and herbs to create the cooking liquid. Stir the flour into the fat completely before adding the liquids slowly, resulting in a smooth, dark brown sauce.
- Simmer the mixture on low heat for about two hours, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick. This slow cooking process breaks down the tough fibers, leaving you with fork-tender beef in a rich gravy.
- Boil the potatoes until tender, drain them well, and mash with butter, sour cream, milk, and chives. This creates the creamy middle layer, resulting in a smooth, fluffy potato mixture.
- Layer the cooled filling, mashed potatoes, grated cheese, and puff pastry in a large baking dish. This structured assembly keeps the pastry crisp, showing a neat, level surface before baking.
- Brush the pastry with beaten egg, cut small steam holes, and bake at 375F for 30 minutes. This final step turns the raw dough into a flaky crust, producing a deep golden lid with bubbling edges.
Nutrition
Notes
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Guinness Beef Pie:
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