Description
Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings is the cozy dinner that makes a busy day feel easier, with tender beef, hearty vegetables, rich gravy, and fluffy dumplings all cooked in one comforting pot. This easy dinner is perfect for cold nights, family meals, meal prep, and simple food ideas when you want a slow cooker recipe that tastes homemade, filling, and deeply satisfying.
Ingredients
2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 carrots, cut into chunks
1 pound baby potatoes, halved
2 celery ribs, sliced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 cups self-rising flour
4 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Pat the beef dry, then toss it with all-purpose flour, salt, and black pepper until lightly coated.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the beef in batches, then transfer it to the slow cooker.
3. Add onion to the same skillet and cook for 3 minutes, then stir in garlic and tomato paste for 1 minute.
4. Transfer the onion mixture to the slow cooker and add carrots, potatoes, celery, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary.
5. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is tender.
6. Remove the bay leaves. Stir cornstarch with cold water, then add it to the stew and cook for 10 to 15 minutes to thicken.
7. In a bowl, rub the cold butter into the self-rising flour until crumbly, then stir in parsley and milk until a soft dough forms.
8. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough over the hot stew, leaving space between each dumpling.
9. Cover and cook on high for 35 to 45 minutes, until the dumplings are puffed and cooked through.
10. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve hot in deep bowls.
Notes
Use beef chuck for the most tender result because it becomes soft and flavorful during slow cooking.
Do not lift the slow cooker lid while the dumplings cook, or the steam may escape and leave them doughy.
For thicker gravy, let the cornstarch mixture cook before adding the dumplings so the sauce has time to become glossy.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Comfort Food
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 545
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: slow cooker beef stew and dumplings, beef stew with dumplings, easy dinner, slow cooker recipe, comfort food dinner, hearty beef stew, family dinner ideas