Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings Recipe

This Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings recipe is the ultimate British comfort dish, with tender beef, carrots and onions in a rich gravy, topped with fluffy herby dumplings. Warming, filling, and perfect for cold days.

Ingredients

For the Stew

• 800g (1¾ lb) stewing beef, cut into chunks
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 carrots, chopped into chunks
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 600ml (2½ cups) beef stock
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Dumplings

• 150g (1¼ cups) self-raising flour
• 75g (⅓ cup) suet or cold butter, grated
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
• Cold water, to bind

Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings: Instructions

1. Grease inside of a pan with oil and warm it over medium-high heat.
2. Brown the beef chunks in batches for 2–3 minutes per side, then transfer to the slow cooker. This step is optional but adds richer flavour.
3. In the same pan, soften the onion and garlic for 2–3 minutes.
4. Add the onion and garlic to the slow cooker along with the carrots.
5. Sprinkle the flour over the beef and vegetables. Stir gently until they are covered.
6. Pour in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste. Stir everything well.
7. Add the thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
8. Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours, or on high for 3–4 hours, until the beef is nearly tender.
9. To make the dumplings, mix the self-raising flour, suet, salt, and dried herbs in a bowl.
10. Gradually add cold water, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
11. Divide the dough into 6–8 equal pieces and roll into balls.
12. Remove the bay leaf from the stew.
13. Place the dumplings on top of the stew, spacing them evenly apart.
14. Cover and cook on high for a further 45–60 minutes, until the dumplings are puffed up and cooked through.
15. Taste the stew. You can add a bit more salt or pepper if you want it to taste better.
16. Serve hot, spooning the stew and dumplings into bowls.

This hearty stew with soft, pillowy dumplings is real old-fashioned comfort food — perfect for family dinners when you want something warming and satisfying with minimal effort.