Are you ready to transform your ordinary dinner into a mouthwatering comfort food experience? Our Slow Cooker Beef Stew Dumplings are about to become your new family favorite! Imagine tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef, perfectly cooked vegetables, and fluffy dumplings that will have everyone rushing to the dinner table. This one-pot wonder is not just a meal – it's a warm hug in a bowl that promises to satisfy even the pickiest eaters and impress your most discerning dinner guests.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 20 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 3 potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup biscuit mix
- 1/3 cup milk
Instructions
- Prepare the beef stew meat by trimming any excess fat and cutting into 1-inch cubes if not already done. Season the meat generously with salt and pepper.
- In a large slow cooker, combine the chopped beef stew meat, diced carrots, potatoes, and chopped onion. Sprinkle dried thyme over the ingredients.
- Pour the beef broth over the meat and vegetables, ensuring all ingredients are mostly covered. Stir gently to distribute seasonings.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat. Cook for 7 hours, allowing the meat to become tender and vegetables to soften.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine biscuit mix and milk. Stir until a soft dough forms, being careful not to overmix.
- After 7 hours of cooking, drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough directly onto the surface of the stew, spacing them evenly.
- Cover and continue cooking for an additional 45-60 minutes, or until dumplings are fully cooked and have risen.
- Check the dumplings by inserting a toothpick - it should come out clean when they are fully cooked.
- Serve hot, ensuring each serving includes meat, vegetables, and a dumpling. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Tips
- Choose the right cut of meat: Look for well-marbled beef stew meat to ensure maximum tenderness and flavor.
- Don't rush the cooking process: The slow cooker works magic by breaking down tough meat fibers, so resist the temptation to increase the heat.
- For extra flavor, consider searing the meat before adding to the slow cooker to develop a deeper, richer taste.
- Be careful not to overmix the dumpling dough – this can lead to tough, chewy dumplings instead of light and fluffy ones.
- Space the dumpling dough evenly in the slow cooker to ensure each dumpling cooks uniformly.
- If the stew seems too thin, you can thicken it by mixing a little cornstarch with cold water and stirring it in during the last hour of cooking.
- Let the stew rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly thicken.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 380kcal
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 35g
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 100mg
