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
Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year . . . 

2025 has been a huge personal challenge but with the kids by my side there is no obstacle we can’t overcome . . . and we’ve made sure we’ve had plenty of fun on the way.

I’ve been slacking off a little with the ‘U.K. BBQ scene’ lately and content creation . . . but behind the scenes I’ve been working on something honestly HUGE and within a month or two I’ll be able to share something that, well, is going to change the U.K BBQ game for sure!  I’m excited just thinking about it . . . 

I want to thank all those who’ve been checking in lately and the thousands and thousands of people who still rely on my Website and WhatsApp Community to help support their own BBQ journey . . . It still amazes me how many of you use what I’ve created.

2026 . . . Let’s do this!  It’s gonna be a wild ride!
Today marks one year since I relaunched the Smoke & Sear website — and honestly, I thought it wouldn’t survive.

With everyone jumping to AI for recipes and reviews, I genuinely expected my little BBQ site to fade away.

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Massively wrong.

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🔥 Nearly 180,000 new people visited the site — enough to fill Wembley twice.

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🔥 Brisket content pulled 13,000+ views… and I’ve only cooked TWO briskets in my entire life. 😂

🔥 Even the 404 page somehow got 8,406 views.

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I can’t thank you enough for reading, cooking, sharing, messaging, and keeping this whole thing alive.

In a year where everyone said websites were dead . . . you showed me that real cooks, real stories, and real honesty still matter.

Here’s to year two — bigger, hotter, smokier, and even more ridiculous. 🔥❤️

www.smokeandsear.world

— Lee
Coffee-Infused Beef Short Ribs slathered in a bourbon & maple sauce that was so good I nearly licked the plate clean . . . twice.

Rich, sticky, smoky, sweet, boozy — proper grown-up BBQ that hits different.

🔥 The real star though? That sauce.

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🧪 Bourbon & Maple BBQ Sauce

	•	160g Maple Syrup
	•	80g @woodfordreserve Bourbon
	•	60g Ketchup
	•	60g Brown Sugar
	•	4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
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⏪ Did I cook these exact ribs 4 years ago to the day? You bet I did.
1 year living next door to RAF Coningsby . . . and what a year it’s been.

Didn’t miss a single Typhoon display practice, caught every Red Arrows pass I could, and those Lancaster moments over the garden will always feel special.

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Can’t wait to see what 2026 brings. ✈️🔥
Not just cooked . . . this tomahawk was forged in fire.

Reverse-cooked low ‘n slow, then straight-up dirty seared right on the coals for that primal crust. Finished with a fat slice of cowboy butter — melted over the top with a chunk of red-hot charcoal.

Flavour? Savage.
Style? Full caveman.
Crust? Absolute filth.

👉 Full step-by-step recipe now live over on the site if you’re keen to give it a go.

www.smokeandsear.world
Too early for a Christmas-themed turkey cook? Maybe.

But with Thanksgiving just around the corner and festive planning in full swing . . . now feels like the perfect time to drop this belter.

Smoked, brined, and slathered in herby garlic butter – this wood-fired turkey’s an absolute showstopper.

Full cook on the Kamado Joe. Full flavour. Full-on festive vibes. 🎄🔥

🎥 Watch the reel
📌 Save it for the big day
🖱️ Full recipe’s up on the site now

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