Beef Stew with Dumplings in the Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1

Beef Stew with Dumplings in the Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1

Servings: 5 Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Family Friendly Family Friendly Smoke & Sear Fav. Smoke & Sear Fav.
Classic Comfort Food Made Easier

There’s nothing like a rich, comforting beef stew to chase away the winter chill. Thanks to the Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker, making this hearty classic is a breeze. This recipe ensures perfectly tender beef, luscious gravy, and golden dumplings every single time. Whether served solo in a steaming bowl or paired with creamy mashed potatoes and crusty bread, this stew will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Beef Stew with Dumplings in the Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1

Prep Time 30 mins Cook Time 2 hrs Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Difficulty: Intermediate Cooking Temp: 180  C Servings: 5 Estimated Cost: £ 25 Calories: Approximately 550 per serving Best Season: Winter

Ingredients

For the Stew:

For the Dumplings:

Instructions

  1. Browning the Beef:

    • Pat the diced braising steak dry with kitchen towel and season with salt and pepper.
    • Set the Ninja Foodi to SEAR/SAUTÉ on HI-5. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pot.
    • Once hot, sear half the beef for 3–4 minutes on each side. Remove and repeat with the remaining beef, adding another tablespoon of olive oil.
  2. Sauté the Aromatics:

    • Lower the SEAR/SAUTÉ to level 3 (medium). Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté the chopped onion for 5 minutes until golden.
    • Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
  3. Build the Base:

    • Reduce heat to level 1 (low) and mix in the flour and tomato paste, cooking for 1 minute.
    • Gradually pour in the red wine, deglazing the pot by scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spatula.
    • Add beef stock and Worcestershire sauce, stirring to combine.
  4. Pressure Cooking – Phase 1:

    • Return the beef to the pot, adding thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
    • Set to Pressure Cook on HI for 18 minutes with the NATURAL RELEASE option.
    • After the timer finishes, allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
  5. Pressure Cooking – Phase 2:

    Add cubed potatoes and sliced carrots. Pressure cook on HI for 5 minutes using the QUICK RELEASE option.

  6. Dumpling Time:

    • Prepare dumpling mix per the packet instructions.
    • Switch the slider to AIR FRY/HOB and select BAKE at 180°C. Add dumplings on top of the stew and bake for 7 minutes. Flip the dumplings and bake for an additional 8 minutes.
  7. Serve & Garnish:

    • Remove bay leaves before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
    • Serve the stew alone in bowls or with sides like mashed potatoes and crusty bread.

Equipment

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Note

Deglazing is key to incorporating all the flavours from the browned bits. Use a wooden or silicone spatula to avoid scratching the non-stick surface.

For extra richness, try adding a splash of balsamic vinegar or a spoonful of mustard when adding the liquids.

Keywords: beef stew, Ninja Foodi recipe, beef stew with dumplings, winter comfort food, Ninja multi-cooker, hearty beef recipe
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🔥 THE LAZY BUZZARDS BBQ 2026 🔥

Some weekends you enjoy . . .

Some weekends you remember.

This was definitely one of those.

Fifteen teams. Two days. Incredible food. New friendships. A bit of healthy competition . . .and an evening BBQ Olympics that had teams and judges laughing together long after the turn-ins were done.

A huge thank you to Alan & Jo for creating something that’s so much more than a BBQ competition. It’s a weekend built around great food, great people and a genuine BBQ community.

Massive respect to every team that competed too. Thanks for letting me wander around with a camera all weekend and capture what UK BBQ is really about.

This is the second BBQ competition I’ve attended now—back-to-back—and I’ve genuinely caught the bug. I’d love to shine a bigger spotlight on this side of the UK BBQ scene next year.

Could you see yourself competing one day? Let me know in the comments . . .👇🔥

#TheLazyBuzzardsBBQ #UKBBQ #BBQCompetition #LiveFireCooking #BBQCommunity
Six years ago I stepped into the UK BBQ scene.

I had no idea that buying a smoker during lockdown would completely change my life.

Since then I’ve shared 100+ free recipes, created over 1,000 pieces of content, surpassed ONE MILLION website views, welcomed 600,000+ active users to Smoke & Sear, and built social profiles, groups and communities with 70,000+ members and followers.

But the numbers aren’t what I’m most proud of.

It’s the friendships, the community, and seeing more and more people across the UK discovering outdoor cooking.

A massive thank you to every brand that’s believed in me over the last six years. Whether you’ve trusted me with your products, invited me to events, or somehow flown me to Nashville . . . (still can’t quite believe that one! ❤️)

Then there’s @fourge.bbq . . . 

Starting a business with three great lads I met through the BBQ community is genuinely a dream come true.

It’s still early days, but seeing so many FOUNDERS backing us, our rubs selling so well, and people proudly wearing FOURGE merch honestly means more than I can put into words. Pellets, fuel and plenty more are just around the corner, and I can’t wait to cook for so many of you at @meatupfestival in just a few weeks.

Thank you to everyone who’s followed my journey over the last six years.

I’m just one bloke trying to do his small part to help push UK BBQ forward.

Here’s to the next chapter. 🔥🇬🇧

#UKBBQ #OutdoorCooking #PassTheFlame
First time guest judging at Whole Hog 2026 with @comp_bbq_uk . . . and what a weekend🔥

Six rounds. Two days. Nine teams. A LOT of pork.

Honestly, it opened my eyes to a whole other side of UK BBQ. So much skill, creativity, graft and proper passion for cooking over fire.

Massive respect to Comp BBQ UK for building something special, and huge respect to @weberuk and cranswickplc for everything they do to support this event and help the competition BBQ scene grow.

UK BBQ is gathering serious momentum… and this definitely won’t be the last BBQ comp I attend.

Who’s ever thought about getting a few mates together and entering a BBQ team? 👀🔥

#CompBBQUK #WholeHog2026 #UKBBQ #BBQCommunity #CompetitionBBQ
This started as a daft little comp I set up in the UK BBQ WhatsApp Community to get the regional groups talking, cooking, meeting up and generally giving each other grief.

Most regions went suspiciously quiet.

But two actually stepped up.

SOUTH vs NORTH

The South came in swinging with a proper land, sea and fire feast — venison haunch wrapped in nori, reverse-seared smoked lamb, lobster, scallops, shell-on prawns, Sussex mackerel, monkfish, black sea bream, focaccia, fresh green sauce and a Sussex Smokie finished with a breadcrumb crust.

Then the North answered with an absolute monster board — rack of lamb, black pudding burnt ends with Newcastle Brown Ale sauce, sticky pork ribs, Cumberland sausage, smoked chuck scouse, fish and chips, roast beef, ribeye steaks, venison burgers, grilled potato skewers, sweet Yorkshire pudding with bone marrow crème pâtissière and smoked sticky toffee pudding with bourbon ice cream.

And honestly, this is exactly what it was meant to be about.

People getting together. Cooking outdoors. Making new mates. Sharing ideas. Having a laugh. Creating something that represents where they’re from.

But… there can only be one winner.

To vote, comment:

SOUTH

or

NORTH

I’ll somehow collate the votes from Instagram and Facebook on Monday 6th July, and we’ll find out who takes the regional glory for 2026.

More details on both cooks are on the website, and you can also join the UK BBQ WhatsApp Community there if you fancy getting involved. It really is a cracking bunch.

Now then…

Who gets the glory?

SOUTH or NORTH?
Second walk out with the Lads Project today and honestly… what a proper day.

Hot as anything, big Peak District views, Thor’s Cave, River Dove, miles in the legs, plenty of laughs and just a really good bunch of lads getting outside and doing something positive.

No pressure, no awkwardness, no forced deep chats — just fresh air, good people, proper conversation when it comes, and a reminder that getting out of your usual routine does a lot.

Any lads want to join the next monthly social walk? Drop me a DM and I’ll send you the link to the WhatsApp group where it’s all planned.

#LadsProject #PeakDistrict #MensMentalHealth #MensCommunity #HikingUK