Description
Sink into comfort with this hearty Beef Stew and Dumplings, a one-pot wonder packed with melt-in-your-mouth beef, savory vegetables, and fluffy dumplings that soak up every drop of rich, flavorful gravy. Perfect for cozy nights, easy dinner plans, or comforting meal prep ideas, this dish transforms simple ingredients into a slow-cooked classic that never disappoints. Whether you’re looking for quick comfort food, family dinner ideas, or easy recipes for colder days, this beef stew checks all the boxes.
Ingredients
700g beef chuck roast, cut into chunks
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 celery sticks, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
750ml beef stock
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
3 sprigs fresh thyme
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
200g self-raising flour
100g cold butter, cubed
100ml milk
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Season beef chunks with salt and pepper, then toss in flour until lightly coated.
2. Heat oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown beef in batches. Set aside.
3. Lower the heat and add onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until softened.
4. Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Deglaze with Worcestershire sauce, scraping up browned bits.
6. Return beef to the pot, pour in stock to cover, and add bay leaves and thyme.
7. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5–2 hours.
8. To make dumplings, rub butter into flour with a pinch of salt until breadcrumb-like.
9. Stir in milk gradually to form a soft dough. Fold in parsley if using.
10. Drop spoonfuls of dough on top of simmering stew.
11. Cover and cook for 15–20 minutes—don’t lift the lid.
12. Remove lid and cook 5 more minutes to firm up dumplings.
13. Discard bay leaves and thyme. Taste and adjust seasoning.
14. Serve hot, garnished with extra parsley if desired.
Notes
Don’t skip searing the beef—it builds the base flavor of the whole stew.
Make dumplings fresh; they don’t freeze well and lose their fluffy texture when reheated.
For thicker gravy, remove the lid in the final 15 minutes of simmering before adding dumplings.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups stew with 2 dumplings
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: beef stew and dumplings, easy dinner, comfort food, family meal, stew with dumplings