Best Crockpot Beef Stew starts with beef, slowly simmered in the slow cooker until the beef is spoon tender. Stuffed with carrots and potatoes, this is an easy meal that tastes AMAZING! Let your crockpot do the work while you do take all the credit!
Love this recipe? The next one you should try is Corned Beef Stew. Filled with beef, potatoes and cabbage - it's delicious!
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BEST Crockpot Beef Stew
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- stewing beef
- baby carrots
- celery
- onions
- canned diced tomatoes
- potatoes
- red wine
- salt
- thyme
- mustard powder
- pepper
- flour
- biscuit mix
- sage
- milk
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Add all of the beef stew ingredients in the slow cooker except the flour and water.
- Whisk together the flour and water and stir into the stew.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.
- Add the dumpling ingredients to a medium-sized bowl. Stir in milk just until it is just combined.
- Drop the dumpling dough in small spoonfuls on top of the stew.
- Switch the heat setting to high, and cover.
- When you can insert a toothpick cleanly through the dumplings, they are done.
Equipment
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I recommend using a small (tiny!) ice cream scoop for the dumplings.
FAQ's
You have many choices at the market for stew meat. Yes, you can use stew meat that is already diced, but I suggest you stay away from that. Buy a roast and dice the meat yourself. You'll get better quality meat for less money. My recommendations for stew meat are:
beef chuck
fatty brisket
round steak
My number one choice is definitely beef chuck. It has good marbling which gives the meat great flavor.
It hasn't cooked long enough! Beef stew meat is tough to begin with. It needs to be cooked low and slow. The slow cooker is the perfect way to tenderize beef stew meat.
You'll cook this stew on high for 4-5 hours or on low 8-10 hours. Let the crockpot do the work for you!
When you add the dumplings to the top of the stew, gently settle the dough on top of the beef and veggies, rather than drop them in the liquid. When they settle into the broth they become heavy because they are laden with liquid. They will also fall apart. By gently adding the dough on top of the stew, they immediately begin to steam. This results in light fluffy dumplings!
Tips
Remember - dumplings will triple in size as they cook! Use small spoonfuls as you spoon the dough on top of the stew.
Storage
Refrigerator - allow to cool completely in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container up to three days.
Freezer - this will last in the freezer up to three months.
Reheat - in the microwave or on the stovetop until hot and bubbly.
Serving suggestions
This stew has everything you need, so I serve it simply with a great salad - Garden Salad Recipe with Creamy Vinaigrette or Asparagus Salad Recipes and if you're little piglets like Dan and me, serve with this Easy Dinner Rolls Recipe! YUM!!!
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Paella - so easy to make and delicious!
- Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
- Healthy Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken Bowl
- Easy Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff
- Slow Cooker Kauai Pulled Pork Sandwich
- Steak and Potatoes it's one of the best crockpot steak recipes!
Related recipes
There are several lovely slow cooker soups on the blog. Be sure and check out these recipes soon!
- Slow Cooker Enchilada Soup - easy to make cheesy soup with a southwest twist - this soup is amazing!
- This Rustic Italian Soup is filled with beef, vegetables and made in your slow cooker, Italian Beef Stew is rich, savory and delicious!
- Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup Recipe - stuffed with shredded chicken, black beans, corn and all the flavors of your favorite tacos. Everyone will be begging for seconds!
Serving suggestions
Still hungry for a great soup or stew? Be sure to check this out for our these cozy soups and stews!
BEST Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. stewing beef cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 2 onions diced
- 1 14.5 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 2 potatoes diced
- ¾ cup red wine
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tablespoon flour
- Homemade Dumplings
- 1 ½ cups biscuit mix
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon sage
- ½ cup milk
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Instructions
- Add the beef stew ingredients in the slow cooker - beef, carrots, celery, tomatoes, potatoes, red wine, salt, thyme, mustard powder, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Whisk together the flour and water until well blended, and stir into the stew.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours (or High for 4-5 hrs).
- When the stew is done, it's time to add the dumplings. In a medium bowl, mix baking mix, thyme and sage. Stir in milk just until it is just combined.
- Drop dough in small spoonfuls (use a small cookie scoop) on top of the stew.
- Switch the heat setting to high, and cover.
- Cook until a toothpick inserted in the dumplings comes out clean (about 20 minutes).
Nutrition
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Don't worry, we'll never share your email.Guess what day it is? Today is a BIG DAY - it's Freaky Friday, woot-woot!!! You remember what that's all about, right? That when a bunch of Bloggers all get together for a good ole' fashioned blog hop!
This time I am so excited because Kylee Cooks was the blog I was given. I have had the MOST fun trying to decide just what to make!
Ultimately, I decided to share this recipe for Easy Crockpot Beef Stew with Dumplings. Beef Stew + Dumplings = ❤️ don't you agree?
Pam DeMarco
Do you brown the beef before you put in the crockpot?
Bowl Me Over
Hey Pam - sorry I missed your comment yesterday. No, there is no need to brown the beef before putting it in the crockpot.
Hannah Flack
Looks really good. Probably lots of flavor pop. Must try! ????
Regards Hannah Flack
Bowl Me Over
wonderful, enjoy Hannah!
sandy tremblay
Do you need to brown the meat before adding it to the slowcooker.?
Bowl Me Over
Hey Sandy - no need to brown the meat before adding it to the slow cooker, you can if you have the time, but it's not necessary for this recipe.
Deanna
It is getting cooler this weekend and I love to make this!!! It looks soo yummy!!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Deanna, I hope you give it a try!
Brandi
It doesn't get much better thank this! Dumplings in beef stew is a GREAT idea!!!!
Bowl Me Over
I agree Brandi, I just love this recipe!
Lori Vachon
What a hearty dish! This meal is exactly the kind of meal my hubby requests over and over!
Bowl Me Over
Enjoy Lori, it's a great meal!
Liza
What an awesome recipe! It's fast, hearty, healthy - what else can you ask for?
Bowl Me Over
Exactly, I hope you enjoy it Liza!
Sandra Shaffer
Guess what I made last night? Yep, stew! Highly recommend this recipe. We used all wine (skipped the water), cause were winos 😉 and it came out delicious! Thank you, Deb and Kylee!
Bowl Me Over
Ooh I can only imagine how much flavor the wine brought to that party!
Julie Menghini
I'd say you definitely nailed this one little Miss Soup Queen! I haven't made dumplings in ages and we love them. I'd say you picked an amazing recipe!
Bowl Me Over
Most definitely!!! I'm so excited to share Kylee's amazing recipe!
Jennifer A Stewart
I usually eat my beef stew with crust bread or over some egg noodles but these dumplings are my new favorite way to eat beef stew!!
Bowl Me Over
Most definitely, you'll love this meal!
Madi
I love the addition of dumplings into beef stew! This sounds so wonderful for a cold winter meal!
Bowl Me Over
It's the perfect meal, thank you!
Angela
There is just something so comforting about beef stew and making it in the slow cooker makes life so so much easier! I've got to make this one this week! Thank you.
Erin Parker
Not going to lie: My mind is BLOWN by the addition of dumplings to this beef stew! What a comforting dish that's PERFECT for so many occasions in the wintertime. I could go for a bowl right now.
Bowl Me Over
I hope you give it a try Erin, it's just the BEST stew!!
Michele
What a great tip on keep the dumplings lighter! Definitely going to try that!
Bowl Me Over
Agree, the BEST tip Michele!
Angela
YUM! This looks so amazing!!
Pinning 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Thank you Angela!
Amy Nash
I love, love, love me some dumplings and am totally sold on the recipe for that reason alone! Thanks for the helpful tip about making them super light and fluffy by not dropping them too deep into the soup so they can steam better on top!
Bowl Me Over
You're welcome Amy, I hope you give this stew a try!
Kylee from Kylee Cooks
This is my favorite slow cooker beef stew - I now need to make it again (and take better pictures)!!
I've been making this stew forever. More than 11 years now - glad you dug it out of the archives to remind me to add it to my weekly meal plan!
Bowl Me Over
I had so much fun digging thru your blog and there are so many AMAZING recipes - thank you for the opportunity to share this delicious recipe!
Kathy
Nothing like a hearty beef stew. The ultimate comfort food. This recipe is going on next week's menu!
Bowl Me Over
Agreed Kathy! You'll love this stew!!
Lois
This is just a great recipe and I will be making in this next week. I don’t have a slow cooker anymore but i can use my IP and put in on slow cooking. Will work just fine. Love it.
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful, you'll love this stew Mom!
Michaela Kenkel
Perfect comfort meal, there is nothing that is more satisfying than a piping hot bowl of stew when it's snowing outside!! (like today!!)
Bowl Me Over
Eeek! That weather, you guys have gotten hit hard this year!
SHERRI
Did not care at all for the thyme in the dumplings. Would skip that step next time
Bowl Me Over
That works Sherri, thanks for your feedback. I hope you enjoyed the stew!