This Slow Cooker Beef and Guinness Pot Pie Soup with Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons has all the flavors of pot pie but requires less effort!
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Original content posted October 2015. Updated February 2019.
There’s nothing more comforting that comes from my kitchen than my Easy Chicken Pot Pie, at least according to my family. If only there was enough time each day to make one! Instead, I’ve pulled out all the stops with this ultra-comforting Slow Cooker Beef and Guinness Pot Pie Soup with Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons.
A bit of an Irish twist, but easier and still just as comforting. Don’t let the long name of this recipe deter you, I simply wanted to get my point across. This soup is an absolute must make!
This soup will definitely have everyone in your house making a beeline for the kitchen. Stew meat and a plethora of veggies are slow cooked in Guinness beer and beef broth before being thickened with a beer roux. Yes, a beer roux!
The deep flavor of this soup is juxtaposed with the light and buttery thyme puff pastry croutons. This Slow Cooker Beef and Guinness Pot Pie Soup has it all! All the flavors of pot pie WITHOUT the finicky crust and all the time it takes to make it.
Although somewhat similar to my Stout Beer Beef Stew, I have to say that I prefer this Slow Cooker Beef and Guinness Pot Pie Soup. The flavors have a chance to hang out longer together providing the richest broth and of course, there’s those Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons.
Those croutons are so addictive! I have a hard time not stealing one or two – or ten! – after they come out of the oven before the soup is finished. All those buttery, flaky layers are such a great texture contrast to the smooth and velvety soup.
How to Make Slow Cooker Beef and Guinness Pot Pie Soup with Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons
Soup
[1] In a six quart slow cooker, add stew meat and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
[2] Add celery, onion, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms bay leaves, 1 tablespoon thyme and rosemary.
[3] Pour beef broth and one bottle of beer over beef and vegetables. Cook on HIGH for 6 hours.
Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons
[4] Stir together melted butter and thyme.
[5] Roll puff pastry sheets to 1/4″ thick. Brush thyme butter over puff pastry sheets.
[6] Cut puff pastry sheets into 1-2″ squares.
TIP: Forget the knife! Use a pizza cutter to quickly and easily cut the puff pastry sheets.
[7] Place puff pastry squares on parchment lined baking sheets and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes until golden.
TIP: I love to use these precut parchment sheets to make my time in the kitchen super easy and less messy.
Guinness Roux
[8] In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour, salt, pepper and thyme and whisk to combine.
[9] Slowly whisk in 1 bottle of beer . Simmer over medium-low heat until thick.
[10] Remove roux from heat and stir into soup mixture in slow cooker. Cook on HIGH uncovered for 30 minutes or until thick and bubbly.
[11] Stir frozen peas into soup and ladle into bowls. Garnish with croutons prior to serving.
Can You Make This Slow Cooker Beef and Guinness Pot Pie Soup with Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons Ahead of Time?
YES! Looking to do a bit of meal prep and make this soup even easier? No problem! You can do this by preparing the soup through step three and then storing it in the fridge. When you’re ready to enjoy it, you’ll simply need to reheat it and then add the Guinness roux.
TIP: I like to make this recipe in this slow cooker – it comes in 4, 6 or 8 quart options – or using the slow cooker function of my Instant Pot. If using your Instant Pot, you’ll want to use the tempered glass lid instead of the top that comes with it and is used for pressure cooking.
The Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons can also be made a day ahead of time and then stored in an airtight container, however, I will admit that they are the best when made just before serving.
If you’ve tried this Slow Cooker Beef and Guinness Pot Pie Soup with Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons or any other recipe on Melanie Makes, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you and respond to each and every comment!
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Slow Cooker Beef and Guinness Pot Pie Soup with Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds beef stew meat
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 3 celery stalks sliced
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 carrots sliced
- 3 potatoes cubed
- 8 ounces baby portabello mushrooms sliced
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 4 cups beef broth
- 11.2 ounce bottle Guinness beer
- 1-1/2 cups frozen peas
Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
Guinness Roux
- 11.2 ounce bottle Guinness beer
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon thyme
Instructions
- In a six quart slow cooker, add stew meat and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Add celery, onion, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms bay leaves, 1 tablespoon thyme and rosemary.
- Pour beef broth and one bottle of beer over beef and vegetables.
- Cook on HIGH for 6 hours.
Thyme Puff Pastry Croutons
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Stir together melted butter and thyme.
- Roll puff pastry sheets to 1/4″ thick. Brush thyme butter over puff pastry sheets.
- Cut puff pastry sheets into 1-2″ squares.
- Place puff pastry squares on parchment lined baking sheets and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes until golden.
Guinness Roux
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour, salt, pepper and thyme and whisk to combine.
- Slowly whisk in 1 bottle of beer . Simmer over medium-low heat until thick.
- Remove roux from heat and stir into soup mixture in slow cooker. Cook on HIGH uncovered for 30 minutes or until thick and bubbly.
- Stir frozen peas into soup and ladle into bowls. Garnish with croutons prior to serving.
Notes
Nutrition
You can’t ever have enough pot pie recipes at the ready, in my opinion! You’ll also want to try this fun Chicken Pot Pie Noodle Skillet, super easy Chili Pot Pie or these adorable Mini Chicken Pot Pies.
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