Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings
, Updated Oct 10, 2025
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings – this hearty stew topped with herby dumplings is THE perfect comfort food. This easy crockpot beef casserole requires no browning – simply sit back and let your slow cooker do all the work. Serve with my Goose Fat Roast Potatoes and some crusty bread.
A warming and satisfying traditional beef stew needs no sides – simply spoon into a bowl and enjoy! What’s more, it is also slimming friendly with minor tweaks.
Everyone needs a simple slow cooker beef casserole – perfect for hectic days when cooking is the last thing on your mind. It’s just the comfort food to lift flagging spirits and SO EASY to throw together!
And what would beef stew be without dumplings? These add a bit more work to an otherwise fuss-free recipe, but they turn this simple homely stew into a complete one-pot meal.
Here’s what you will need
Slow cooking is the secret weapon of thrifty cooks. You can get using cheaper cuts of meat as the slow cooking will extract maximum flavour and result in meltingly tender beef.
I used chuck steak for my beef stew but you can use any type of stewing beef that is suitable for casseroles such as brisket or shin of beef.The beef is first tossed in a little flour which helps thicken the gravy. I would normally advise you brown the beef in oil first, but this recipe is all about simplicity. And, possibly, laziness!
I have used onions, leeks, carrots and parsnips to round off my stew. In truth, you can use whatever root vegetables you fancy such as potatoes, swede and butternut squash.
The beef and vegetables cook slowly in a medley of beef stock and red wine. Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce or balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, minced garlic and herbs add depth of flavour.
Crockpot Dumplings
Dumplings make this beef stew more filling and substantial – not to mention delicious! Suet dumplings are the traditional choice and they are very easy to make. I prefer these easier and lighter dumplings made simply with self-rising flour and yogurt.
Flavor the dough with cheese, mustard, herbs and spices – I used grated Parmesan cheese and chopped chives in my recipe. Use blue cheese instead of Parmesan or horseradish sauce if you want a bolder flavor.
How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings
- Lightly season the flour with salt and pepper. Toss the beef cubes with the flour to lightly coat.
- Preheat the slow cooker on “HIGH”. Add the hot beef stock, red wine, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar (or Worcestershire sauce), minced garlic, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Give everything a good stir.
- Add the onions, leeks, parsnips and carrots. Stir in the beef, add the bay leaves and rosemary and cook on HIGH for 5 hours (or on LOW for 8 hours).
Prepare and add the dumplings
- Prepare the dumpling dough – check the recipe card for your choice or suet dumplings or suet-free dumplings.
- Give the stew a good stir. Remove and discard the bay leaves and rosemary. Add the dumplings to the slow cooker, spaced slightly apart. Cover and cook on HIGH setting for an additional hour with the lid on.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Garnish with the parsley and serve with on its own or with mashed potatoes. YUMMY!
Stovetop Cooking Instructions
Brown the meat first in a Dutch oven with oil then set aside. Deglaze the pan with wine, add the vegetables and sauté over low heat until slightly softened.
Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer gently over low heat with the lid partially on for 60-90 minutes, or until the meat is fork tender, stirring occasionally and topping up the liquid as needed. Add the dumplings about 30 minutes before the end of cooking and cook with the lid on.
Recipe Notes
- Savvy shortcuts: Use frozen “casserole mix vegetables” which come already sliced and ready to use if you are short of time.
- Storing: Once cooled, store leftover stew in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave until piping hot, adding a splash of stock or water if the gravy becomes too thick.
- Freezing: Freeze the stew (without the dumplings) in freezer-safe containers, label with the date and use within 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, reheat and serve.
👉 If you love this crockpot beef stew, make sure to check out these popular slow cooker recipes: Slow Cooker Roast Beef, Chunky Chili, Easy Beef Curry, Slow Cooked Leg of Lamb.
HAVE YOU MADE MY CROCKPOT BEEF STEW AND DUMPLINGS? Please leave a rating to tell me how you liked it! Better yet, snap a photo and share it on Instagram with the tag #supergoldenbakes
Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings
Video
Ingredients
Beef Stew
- 2 pounds (900g) chuck steak *braising steak, cubed
- 2 tbsp flour seasoned with pinch salt and pepper
- 2 cups (500ml) hot beef stock (or low sodium broth)
- ⅓ cup (80ml) red wine or more beef stock
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar or Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 large onions , finely diced
- 2 leeks , white parts only, sliced
- 5 carrots , sliced
- 4 parsnips , sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 sprig rosemary
- Fresh parsley , chopped, to garnish
- Salt and pepper , as needed
For the dumplings
- 1 cup (130) self-rising flour
- ½ cup ( 120g) plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley or chives
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- water , as needed, to bind
Instructions
Prepare the Stew
- Toss the beef cubes with the seasoned flour to lightly coat.2 pounds (900g) chuck steak, 2 tbsp flour
- Preheat the slow cooker on “HIGH”. Add the hot beef stock, red wine, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar (or Worcestershire sauce), garlic, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Give everything a good stir.2 cups (500ml) hot beef stock, ⅓ cup (80ml) red wine , 3 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar , 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, 2 cloves garlic , 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
- Add the onions, leeks, parsnips and carrots. Stir to combine.2 large onions, 2 leeks, 5 carrots, 4 parsnips
- Stir in the beef, add the bay leaves and rosemary and cook on HIGH for 5 hours (or on LOW for 8 hours).2 bay leaves, 1 sprig rosemary
Make the Dumplings
- Meanwhile prepare the dumplings: combine flour, herbs, Parmesan, salt and garlic granules in a bowl.Salt and pepper, 1 cup (130) self-rising flour, 1 tbsp chopped parsley , 2 tbsp grated Parmesan, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt
- Stir in the yoghurt and then use your hands to briefly knead in the bowl until the dough comes together. Add a little water if it’s too dry and crumbly. Divide the dough into 6-8 portions and roll into balls.½ cup ( 120g) plain yogurt, water
Finish cooking the stew
- Give the stew a good stir. Remove and discard the bay leaves and rosemary.
- Add the dumplings to the slow cooker, spaced slightly apart. Cover and cook for an additional hour with the lid on.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Garnish with the parsley and serve.Fresh parsley
Notes
- Storing: Once cooled, store leftover stew in an airtight container. Keeps for 2–3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave until piping hot, adding a splash of stock or water if the gravy becomes too thick.
- Freezing: Freeze the stew base only (omit dumplings) in freezer-safe containers or bags, labeled with date. Use within 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bring back to a simmer, adjust consistency and seasoning, and add fresh dumplings to finish the dish.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
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Hi Lucy
I been busy in the kitchen today doing this recipe. Thank you, its a winner i’ve even emailed myself the link and add to my recipes folder so i dont have to try find on the internet again
Dumplings were simply amazing. Last time i did dumplings in a stew was maybe 5 years ago, not sure what i did wrong then but they were terrible. These ones in your recipe are so light and fluffy. Delicious, and now left over stew and no dumplings left )))
Only changes i made was basically i doubled the amount of beef, and reduced the carrots and turnips. We are meatatarians in our household
Thanks again, from Perth, Western Australia
So glad you enjoyed it!! Thanks for your comment, really appreciate it 🙂
CN this be done in oven or stove top.
Thanks
Hi Mark, there’s instructions in the post but here you are
Brown the meat first in a Dutch oven with oil then set aside. Deglaze the pan with wine, add the vegetables and sauté over low heat until slightly softened.
Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer gently over low heat with the lid partially on for 60-90 minutes, or until the meat is fork tender, stirring occasionally and topping up the liquid as needed. Add the dumplings about 30 minutes before the end of cooking and cook with the lid on.
Hi
Does the lid go on for the 5 hours on high? Then again for the dumplings?
Thanks in advance
Kelly
You can cook the stew on high or low however the dumplings NEED to be cooked on the high setting. Hope this helps!
May I ask what size slow cooker do you use? as ours has nearly gotten over filled with all the yummy food! Thank you! x
Hi Susie – I like the Instant Pot slow cooker and the GreenPan slow cooker both of which offer additional functions such as searing and so on
I have just made the suet free dumplings as I had no suet, wow, they were very light. Will definitely be making these again.
Simply delicious. The yoghurt dumplings are so simple and yummy
Can this be all prepped and put together the night before then stored in the fridge until the next morning(when I’ll have time to cook on low)?
Yes absolutely. You may need to add a bit extra to the cooking time if cooking from chilled x
was looking for a slow cooker stew recipe for a while and decided to try this one and it was amazing! I added leeks, onions, carrots and sweet potato. Will definitely make again
Happy to hear that thanks for your comment!
FANTASTIC thank you xx gorgeous x
Hi, I’d like to do this recipe but my slow cooker only has a low setting. How long would you recommend I cook the dumplings for on low?
Hi – I havent tested them on the low setting but I would imagine it would take maybe twice as long for them to cook