10 Tasty Irish Beef Stew Side Dishes

When it’s cold outside, who doesn’t want a hot bowl of beef stew?

When it comes to Irish beef stew, there are a variety of different options that you can choose from to serve with this hearty stew.

Whether you’re just looking for something to go with your stew or you want to add some variety to your meal, there are many choices.

The following are 10 tasty Irish beef stew accompaniments that will help make your stew even more delicious.

What is special about Irish beef stew?

Irish beef stew is a classic Irish dish that has been around for centuries.

It is traditionally served with Irish soda bread and a glass of Guinness beer.

In Ireland, it was made by cooking meat (beef chunks) in a pot over the fire for hours with potatoes and other vegetables.

Today’s recipe uses fresh herbs, onions, and garlic as well as some tomato paste along with your choice of vegetables to give this stew its special Irish touch!

The final dish is rich, flavorful, nutritious, and can heal everyone who takes just even a bite.

When it comes to Irish beef stew side dishes, most of us opt for a starchy or veggie-based recipe because they can nicely absorb the delicious liquid of the stew and provide some texture to balance your meal.

Read on to find out the best side dish ideas to pair with your next pot of Irish beef stew.

10 best side dishes to serve with Irish beef stew

Check out the list below and give them a try before deciding which side dish(es) you want to serve on the same table with your next Irish beef stew:

Irish soda bread

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Irish soda bread is a quick bread made with flour, baking soda, buttermilk, and salt.

It’s a common and classic accompaniment to Irish beef stew because it’s easy to make and goes well with the flavors in the stew.

It’s best served warm with butter or jam (my family likes strawberry preserves).

The soft texture of soda bread absorbs the liquid from the stew and tastes delicious when dipped into the gravy that’s left over in your bowl!

Dumplings

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Dumplings are a good way to add more starch, vegetables, and flavor to the meal.

They’re also easy to make at home.

Dumplings are a staple in Chinese cuisine, and they can come with a variety of fillings, which allows your creativity to be wild.

You can even go with meat-based, vegan, or non-filling dumplings, all work great with Irish beef stew.

Steamed white rice

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The first thing to know when serving white rice as a side dish is that it’s a good source of carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy, so they’re critical for any meal that will be followed by physical activity.

White rice also contains fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium—all nutrients that are necessary for the healthy functioning of the digestive system and nervous system too.

Steaming is the easiest way to cook and serve rice.

This Asian common dish has a mild flavor, but it perfectly goes with a rich and saucy dish like beef stew, so this is worth a try literally.

Cornbread

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Cornbread is a delicious accompaniment to Irish beef stew.

It can be served with stew, but it’s also great as a dish all on its own.

Making cornbread is easy and quick, and you can use up leftover cornmeal by making your own batch at home!

Cornbread can be served warm or cold.

You can even make it in advance and reheat it in the microwave for a few seconds when you’re ready to serve it.

Garlic crescent rolls

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There’s something about garlic crescent rolls that just goes so well with Irish beef stew.

Maybe it’s the subtle hint of butter or the delicate crust that gets slightly crispy as it bakes, but whatever the reason, these pastries are one of my favorite accompaniments to this hot meal.

You can use them instead of bread for dunking in the broth or tearing it apart with your hands (or both).

Plus, they go great with beef stews because their texture complements all those soft vegetables and tender meat chunks involved in this traditional dish.

Mashed potatoes

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You can’t go wrong with this classic.

Mashed potatoes are a great side for Irish beef stew.

They’re relatively simple to make and can be prepared ahead of time, which is helpful if you’re serving the stew at a large gathering.

Mashed potatoes are simply made by mashing boiled potatoes with other ingredients per preference, including cream, milk, butter, garlic, salt, and herbs.

Popovers

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Popovers are a type of bread that is cooked in a special popover pan.

They contain eggs and milk, so they can be served as either a side dish or dessert.

If you like to serve popovers with Irish beef stew, you should know that they’re best eaten warm!

Buttermilk biscuits

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Buttermilk biscuits are a classic accompaniment to beef stew, but they’re also great with other types of stews and gravies.

If you want something Southern-style, try serving your Irish beef stew with fluffy buttermilk biscuits.

You can make the dough in advance and freeze it, so you don’t have to do much work on the day of.

Add butter or margarine when your buttermilk biscuits are still warm from baking.

This will make it melt into every crevice of the biscuit as soon as it hits them—and give them more flavor.

Roasted asparagus

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All the aforementioned options seem to lack veggies, so this recipe is gonna be a hit.

Roasted asparagus is a great way to add some freshness to your meal and provide a nice, crispy counterpoint to the stew.

It also provides a pop of green color to your meal with warm-toned colors like red meat, yellow potatoes, and orange carrots.

Green salad

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Green salad is a great accompaniment to a hearty dish like this or any meat-based recipe.

The cool, crisp flavor of the lettuce and vegetables will help bring your tongue back down to earth after you’ve been eating something so richly flavored.

It also provides a freshness that can help cleanse the palate and make room for another delicious bite!

Conclusion

Now that you know what to serve with Irish beef stew, it’s time to get cooking!

Hopefully, you can find at least one or several favorite dishes from our list to serve with your next pot of rich, flavorful, and hearty Irish beef stew.

Thanks for reading and happy cooking!