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Cozy Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew with Easy Herb Dumplings

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A comforting slow cooker beef stew enriched with Guinness stout and topped with fluffy herb dumplings. Perfect for cozy dinners with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 1 bottle (12 oz) Guinness stout
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
  • For the Herb Dumplings:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ⅔ cup whole milk or buttermilk

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the beef cubes dry and brown in batches for 3-4 minutes per batch. Set aside.
  2. In the same skillet, sauté diced onion, carrots, and celery until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste, stirring for 1 minute.
  3. Transfer beef and sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker. Add Guinness stout, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Stir gently.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours until beef is fork-tender. Adjust seasoning halfway through cooking if needed.
  5. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, parsley, and chives. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk just until combined.
  6. About 30-40 minutes before serving, drop spoonfuls (about 1 tablespoon each) of dumpling batter onto the stew surface. Cover and cook without lifting the lid until dumplings are puffed and cooked through.
  7. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot with dumplings on top.

Notes

Brown the beef before slow cooking to develop deep flavor. Do not lift the lid while dumplings cook to keep steam trapped. If stew is too thin before adding dumplings, thicken with cornstarch slurry. For gluten-free, substitute flour and milk accordingly. Dumplings should be soft and springy when done.

Nutrition

Keywords: Guinness beef stew, slow cooker stew, herb dumplings, comfort food, Irish stew, easy slow cooker recipe

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