Make this Crock Pot Chicken Stew with Guinness for a new twist on a traditional favorite! Rich and hearty, this is perfect for a St. Patrick's Day dinner.
Easy and tasty, it's a little different from a typical Guinness beef stew for a fun take on the dish. The whole family will love this filling and flavorful stew, and you'll love how easy it is to prepare!
Jump to:
- 🩵 About This Recipe
- What readers are saying...
- 🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- 🔪 Let's Make Crock Pot Chicken Stew!
- 💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- ❔ FAQs
- 📝 Substitutions and Variations
- 🥡 Storage and Reheating
- ⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
- 🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
- 😋 More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love
- 📋 Recipe Card
- 💬 Reviews and Comments
🩵 About This Recipe
Have you ever used beer in a recipe before? It adds a depth of flavor and enhances the savory nature of stew beautifully. And Guinness more so than most, because it's such a dark, rich one all on its own. Plus beer makes your meat even more tender!
This amazing slow cooker soup is perfect for Saint Patrick's Day but makes for a hearty and comforting meal any time of the year. With easy steps and simple ingredients, you'll love how easy it is to prepare a restaurant-quality chicken stew.
And if you can't get enough delicious stew recipes, try my Slow Cooker Red Lentil Stew or this Crock Pot Beef Stew with Mushrooms!
What readers are saying...
Guinness is one of my favorite flavors to cook with all year! I am loving making a chicken stew using Guinness! This stew is so full of flavor!
- Eileen
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- chopped onion - builds a sweet, savory flavor base that deepens and balances the rich stew.
- skinless chicken thighs - you can use either boneless or bone-in depending on your preference.
- cooked bacon - adds smoky, salty richness and extra savory depth to the overall stew.
- mushrooms - add a nice complex and earthy flavor.
- Guinness beer - any kind of stout beer technically works, but I think Guinness is the best option!
- chicken broth - provides a flavorful liquid base and keeps the chicken moist.
- minced garlic - feel free to use jarred garlic for a shortcut, although fresh garlic cloves will provide an even better flavor.
- salt and black pepper - enhances the flavors while giving the stew its essential savory seasoning.
- thyme - brings a warm, earthy herb note that complements the hearty stew flavors.
- frozen mixed vegetables - this convenient ingredient is an easy way to incorporate lots of veggie goodness into your soup.
- flour - thickens the cooking liquid into a rich, gravy-like texture when mixed with water.
- water - is used with the flour to create a slurry that thickens the stew's sauce.
🔪 Let's Make Crock Pot Chicken Stew!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Add Chicken
Add onion to the bottom of the slow cooker and place chicken thighs on top.
Add Other Ingredients
Layer the mushrooms and cooked bacon over the top of the chicken.
Make Broth
In a separate bowl, combine Guinness, chicken broth, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper, then pour into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.
Thicken Broth
45 minutes or so before serving, combine the water and flour and carefully stir into the soup. Cook for 25 minutes.
Add Veggies
Pour the frozen veggies into the soup and cook for a final 20 minutes, or until veggies are heated through and tender.
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Bone-in chicken thighs will provide the most flavor, but boneless can also be used if you don't want to deal with the chicken bones.
- Chicken breasts are also a possibility, though the stew won't be as rich.
- Use pre-sliced mushrooms and jarred minced garlic for convenience.
- Precooked bacon can also eliminate a step. I recommend cooking the bacon yourself ahead of time rather than using something like bacon bits.
- Be sure to carefully stir in the flour slurry to ensure that it properly mixes into the stew.
❔ FAQs
Be sure to properly combine the flour and water before adding to the broth. This is a crucial ingredient for thickening the soup, and if the flour isn't dissolved in water first, it may be clumpy and not fully incorporate into the broth.
No, all of the alcohol from the Guinness cooks out. What's left behind is a deep and rich flavor but no actual alcohol content.
This dry Irish stout is a dark and creamy beer with a flavor that's almost similar to coffee. It balances bitterness and sweetness and pairs well with the tender chicken in this stew.
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Diced carrots and peas can be used instead of the frozen mixed veggies.
- Frozen pearl onions will also give you a more classic stew feel.
- If you like your stew even thicker, cook uncovered for the last 15 to 20 minutes to let more of the liquid cook out.
- Any kind of dark stout or brown ale will work in this recipe if you aren't a fan of Guinness.
- A bay leaf can be added for even more depth of flavor. Just be sure to remove it before serving!
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
I love to use frozen pre-chopped onion for a convenient shortcut that doesn't sacrifice flavor!
🥡 Storage and Reheating
Keep stew leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
To reheat, cook over medium heat on the stovetop or in the microwave in individual portions until properly heated through. If your leftovers are too thick, add a splash of broth.
⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
Cook the bacon ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you need it for the stew. You can throw it into the stew right from the fridge!
Keep It Handy
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🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
For an even heartier dinner, serve this crock pot chicken stew over mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, or baked potatoes.
You can also serve with a side of warm crusty bread or a simple green side salad.
😋 More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love
- Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup - Switch things up for your next taco night with this comforting and delicious soup recipe.
- Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast - This amazing pork roast is packed with flavor and turns out tender every time.
- Guinness Chocolate Cake - Have Guinness leftover? Use it to make this rich and decadent slow cooker cake!
- Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole - Make this delicious recipe from Butter Your Biscuit for a special holiday brunch or breakfast-for-dinner!
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Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
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📋 Recipe Card
Crock Pot Chicken Stew With Guinness
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 2 ½ pounds skinless chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless, whichever you prefer)
- 8 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 14 ounces Guinness stout beer (1 can)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
- 16 ounces frozen mixed vegetables (1 bag)
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Place the onion in the crock pot. Layer the chicken on top of the onion.2 cups chopped onion, 2 ½ pounds skinless chicken thighs
- Distribute the bacon and mushrooms over the chicken.8 strips bacon, cooked and chopped, 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- In a bowl or large measuring cup, combine the Guinness, broth, garlic, pepper, salt, and thyme. Pour the Guinness mixture over the chicken, cover, and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low 6-7 hours.14 ounces Guinness stout beer, 1 cup chicken broth, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
- About 45 minutes before you are ready to serve, combine the flour with the water, then slowly add the mixture to the crock pot while stirring. Cover and cook for another 25 minutes.½ cup flour, 1 cup water
- Add in the mixed veggies, re-cover, and cook until they are heated through, about another 20 minutes.16 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
Notes
Prep Tips:
- Bone-in chicken thighs give the stew the most flavor, but boneless thighs work great too. Chicken breasts can be used if that's what you have, though they won't be quite as rich.
- Frozen chopped onion is a fantastic shortcut and works just as well as fresh.
- Pre-sliced mushrooms and jarred minced garlic are easy time-savers that don't sacrifice flavor.
- Using precooked bacon eliminates an extra step. If you cook bacon ahead of time, stash a little in the refrigerator to use for this recipe.
- When adding the flour slurry, stir slowly to prevent lumps and ensure a smooth, thick stew.
Variation Suggestions:
- Swap the mixed vegetables for carrots and peas, or use frozen pearl onions for a slightly more traditional stew feel.
- Prefer a thicker stew? Let it cook uncovered for the last 15-20 minutes if your slow cooker allows.
- If Guinness isn't your thing, another dark stout or even a brown ale will work nicely.
- Add a bay leaf during cooking for extra depth, just remember to remove it before serving.
Serving Suggestions:
- This stew is excellent served over mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, or baked potatoes to soak up the rich gravy.
- Warm, crusty bread is perfect on the side for dipping. To heat bread, wrap it in foil and warm at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.
- A simple green salad balances out the richness nicely.
Storage Info for Leftovers:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth if it thickens too much.
- This stew reheats beautifully and tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March 2019, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in February 2026.
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Bonnie says
Can this stew be frozen?
Kristin King says
Yes, it can. Enjoy! 🙂
Sherrie says
Sounds delicious. Does the alcohol cook out?
Kristin says
I was brought up believing that cooking food with an alcoholic ingredient rids it of all the alcohol, but recently I have read some articles indicating that there may be remaining alcohol even after cooking. So you may want to be careful if you have anyone in your family with an alcohol sensitivity for any reason. You could certainly still make this recipe - just substitute coffee for the beer to end up with a similar result. Thanks for stopping by!
Eileen Kelly says
I am drooling over this delicious stew! Guinness is one of my favorite flavors to cook with all year! I am loving making a chicken stew using Guinness! This stew is so full of flavor! I have Guinness on hand! looking forward to making this recipe for the family!
Kristin says
Yay! Thanks, Eileen! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Christina says
What a great, easy recipe! I'll be making this again and again!
Kristin says
Thanks! I'm glad you like it! 🙂