Cozy Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings Recipe for Fall

My grandma’s slow cooker beef stew and dumplings recipe brings comfort straight to your kitchen table.

Hearty chunks of tender meat mingle with vibrant vegetables in a rich, savory broth.

Generations of home cooks have cherished this classic dish for its simplicity and warmth.

Fragrant herbs and slow-simmered ingredients create a meal that feels like a warm embrace.

Soft, pillowy dumplings nestle atop the stew, soaking up every drop of delicious flavor.

Each spoonful promises a delightful journey through rustic, soul-satisfying cuisine.

Gather your ingredients and let’s turn this comforting recipe into your next family favorite.

Beef Stew and Dumplings Are Slow-Simmered to Perfection

• Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinner: This slow cooker recipe transforms tough beef into a tender, hearty meal with minimal hands-on preparation time.
• Comfort Food Champion: Packed with savory beef, vegetables, and pillowy dumplings, this stew delivers ultimate warmth and satisfaction for cold days or family gatherings.
• Minimal Cooking Skills Required: The slow cooker does most of the work, making this recipe perfect for beginners or busy home cooks who want a delicious meal without complex techniques.
• Budget-Friendly Meal Solution: Using affordable beef cuts and simple ingredients, this stew stretches your grocery budget while providing a filling and nutritious dinner for the whole family.

Beef Stew with Dumplings Crockpot Ingredients

• Chuck Roast: A tender cut perfect for slow cooking, develops rich flavor and becomes melt-in-your-mouth soft.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the beef's natural taste and create depth.

• All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken the stew and provides a light coating for the meat before browning.

• Olive Oil: Helps sear the meat and adds a subtle fruity undertone to the initial browning process.

• Potatoes, Carrots, Onions: Classic stew vegetables that add heartiness, sweetness, and nutritional value.

• Beef Broth: Provides rich, savory liquid base that tenderizes meat and creates deep flavor.
• Tomato Paste: Adds depth, slight acidity, and rich color to the stew.

• Garlic, Thyme, Rosemary: Aromatic herbs that bring complexity and traditional stew flavors.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds umami and complexity to the overall stew taste.

• Flour, Baking Powder, Salt: Basic dumpling dry ingredients for light, fluffy texture.
• Butter, Milk: Provide richness and moisture to create tender dumplings.

Beef Stew with Dumplings Slow Cooker Method

Step 1: Prepare Savory Beef Base

Sprinkle salt and pepper generously over the beef, creating a flavorful foundation.

Dust the seasoned meat with flour, ensuring each piece gets a light, even coating that will help thicken the stew later.

Step 2: Create Golden Sear

Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.

Carefully place beef pieces into the hot pan, allowing each side to develop a rich, caramel-brown crust that locks in delicious flavors.

This searing process takes about 5 minutes and adds incredible depth to the stew.

Step 3: Transfer Beef to Slow Cooker

Gently move the beautifully browned beef from the skillet into the slow cooker, transferring all those amazing caramelized bits that will contribute to a deeply flavorful dish.

Step 4: Add Aromatic Vegetables

• Chopped onions
• Diced carrots
• Sliced celery
• Minced garlic

These vegetables will create a robust flavor base for the stew.

Step 5: Pour in Liquid Goodness

• Beef broth
• Red wine
• Tomato paste
• Worcestershire sauce

Stir gently to combine all ingredients and create a rich, complex cooking liquid.

Step 6: Season and Simmer

• Dried thyme
• Bay leaves
• Fresh rosemary

Cover the slow cooker and set it to low heat.

Let the stew simmer and develop flavors for 6-8 hours.

Step 7: Prepare Fluffy Dumplings

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Cold butter
• Milk

Knead the mixture into a soft dough.

Step 8: Add Dumplings to Stew

During the last hour of cooking, drop dumpling dough by spoonfuls onto the surface of the stew.

Cover and continue cooking until dumplings are puffy and cooked through.

Step 9: Final Touch and Serve

Remove bay leaves.

Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Ladle the hearty stew into deep bowls, making sure each serving gets tender beef, vegetables, and a fluffy dumpling.

Cozy Comfort Tips for Beef Stew and Dumplings

• Coat beef pieces in flour before searing to create a delicious, rich, and slightly thickened sauce in the final stew.
• Brown meat in small batches to ensure each piece gets a golden, caramelized exterior that locks in deep, meaty flavors.
• Chop vegetables the night before and store in a sealed container to streamline morning slow cooker assembly.
• For lighter, fluffier dumplings, avoid overmixing the dough and drop gently onto hot stew during the last 30-45 minutes of cooking.
• Swap regular flour with gluten-free flour blend to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.

Beef Stew and Dumplings Storage Plan

• Store leftover beef stew in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, it stays fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Transfer cooled stew to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Stew can be frozen for up to 3 months without losing flavor or texture.
• Gently warm stew in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth or water if the stew seems too thick. Heat until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Place stew in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even warming.

Warm Matches for Beef Stew and Dumplings

• Rustic Red Wine Companion: Pour a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to complement the rich, hearty beef flavors and cut through the stew's robust texture.
• Crusty Bread Partner: Serve warm, artisan sourdough or rustic French bread to soak up the delicious gravy and add a satisfying crunch alongside the tender meat and soft dumplings.
• Fresh Green Balance: Pair with a crisp arugula salad dressed in light vinaigrette to provide a refreshing, peppery contrast to the heavy, comforting stew.
• Classic Ale Match: Choose a dark porter or amber ale that echoes the deep, savory notes of the beef and stands up to the rich, slow-cooked flavors.

Beef Stew and Dumplings with Comforting Additions

• Plant-Based Protein Swap: Replace beef with hearty cubed tempeh or seitan, maintaining the same cooking method for a vegetarian version that's packed with protein.
• Gluten-Free Friendly: Use cornstarch instead of flour for coating the protein, and choose gluten-free tamari sauce to make the recipe safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Lean Meat Alternative: Substitute beef with cubed turkey or chicken breast for a lower-fat option that still delivers rich, comforting flavors.
• Keto-Friendly Adaptation: Use beef chuck or short ribs, replace traditional flour with almond flour, and increase low-carb vegetables like cauliflower and zucchini to keep the dish within ketogenic guidelines.

FAQs

• Can I use a different type of meat for this stew?

Yes, you can substitute beef with chuck roast, stew meat, or even lamb for a similar hearty dish. Just ensure the meat is well-marbled and cut into similar-sized chunks for even cooking.

• Do I need to brown the meat before putting it in the slow cooker?

Browning the meat creates a richer flavor and helps seal in the juices. While not absolutely necessary, it significantly enhances the taste and texture of the stew.

• What can I do if I don't have a slow cooker?

You can make this recipe in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Cook on low heat in the oven at 325°F for 2-3 hours, checking occasionally to ensure there’s enough liquid and the meat is tender.

• Is this recipe gluten-free?

The recipe uses flour to coat the beef, which contains gluten. To make it gluten-free, you can substitute the wheat flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings Recipe

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4.6 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty beef stew and dumplings bring warmth to home kitchens with rich, comforting flavors from classic British culinary traditions. Tender meat melts alongside fluffy dumplings, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) beef stew meat (chuck roast, cut into cubes)
• 3 medium potatoes, cubed
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 large onion, diced

Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 garlic cloves, minced

Dumpling Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups (188 grams) flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
• 3/4 cup (177 milliliters) milk
• 1/4 cup (30 grams) flour (for dredging)
• 2 tablespoons butter (to enrich the stew)

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Instructions

1. Coat the beef cubes thoroughly with seasoned flour, ensuring an even, light dusting that will help create a rich, velvety sauce during slow cooking.
2. Sizzle the floured beef in a hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a deep, caramelized crust that locks in robust flavors and creates a golden-brown exterior.
3. Layer root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and onions across the browned beef in the slow cooker, creating a hearty foundation for the stew.
4. Pour beef broth and red wine over the meat and vegetables, infusing the mixture with depth and complexity while providing essential cooking liquid.
5. Sprinkle dried thyme, bay leaves, and minced garlic to enhance the aromatic profile and introduce layers of herbal and savory notes throughout the dish.
6. Cover and set the slow cooker to low, allowing the ingredients to gently simmer and tenderize over 6-8 hours, transforming tough meat into melt-in-your-mouth morsels.
7. During the final hour of cooking, prepare dumpling dough by mixing flour, baking powder, salt, and herbs until a soft, pillowy mixture forms.
8. Carefully drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough onto the surface of the bubbling stew, covering with a lid to steam and create light, fluffy dumplings.
9. Once dumplings are puffy and cooked through, remove bay leaves and serve the hearty stew in deep bowls, allowing each serving to showcase tender meat, vegetables, and cloud-like dumplings.

Notes

• Searing the beef creates a delicious golden crust that locks in rich, deep flavors and prevents the meat from becoming bland during slow cooking.
• Coat beef evenly with flour to help thicken the stew naturally and create a silky, luxurious sauce without additional thickeners.
• Use chuck roast or stew meat for maximum tenderness, as these cuts become incredibly soft and melt-in-your-mouth after slow cooking.
• Gluten-free option: Replace wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend to maintain the same texture and binding properties for those with dietary restrictions.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 423
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 640 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg