Hearty Beef Cobbler

My Beef Cobbler is simply the ultimate comfort food! This rich and hearty beef stew topped with flaky cheese scones is perfect for cold wintry days.

What’s a Beef Cobbler Then?

If you are more familiar with sweet cobbler recipes, you are not alone! A beef cobbler is simply a savory version – a beef stew topped with scones (a.k.a biscuits if you are across the pond).

The scones are added on top of the stew towards the end of the cooking time so that they rise in the oven. The uneven topping resembles cobblestones giving this dish its whimsical name.

Serving the tender beef and rich gravy with the flaky scones definitely elevates this hearty rustic recipe!

Why I Love This Recipe!

• A great way to switch up your beef stew!
• Easy to make in the oven or the slow cooker
• Sure to be a crowd pleaser

Grocery List

You will need a large lidded pot (Dutch Oven) for this recipe or you can use a slow cooker. The beef stew ingredients can be adjusted to suit whatever is in season or in your fridge!

Stew Ingredients

• The Beef: choose cheaper cuts that benefit from long cooking time such as braising steak, stewing beef, chuck steak, shin or brisket.
• The vegetables: I used onions, mushrooms and carrots but you can use any vegetables you like. I have made this stew with potatoes, parsnips, squash, leeks and so on.
• And the rest: olive oil, butter, flour, garlic, tomato paste, salt, pepper, brown sugar, Worcester sauce, beef stock (or broth) and red wine.

Biscuit (Aka Scone) Ingredients

These easy biscuits (or scones for UK readers) use self-rising flour and Greek yogurt as the base. The remaining ingredients are butter, milk, Worcester sauce, grated Cheddar cheese, salt and mixed herbs. If self-raising (self-rising) flour is unavailable, you can use all-purpose flour with added baking powder.

How to Make Beef Cobbler

↓ For the full ingredients and detailed method, jump to the recipe card.

Prepare the Beef Stew

1. Cut the beef into bite sized chunks and season liberally with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a deep pot (Dutch Oven) and sear the beef over high heat, in batches, until nicely browned. Set aside.

1. Stir in the butter and flour and gradually add the wine. Lower the heat and add the onions, mushrooms and carrots, cooking for about five minutes, stirring.
2. Add the salt, pepper, brown sugar, tomato paste, minced garlic and bay leaf. Pour in the stock (broth) and Worcester sauce. Bring to a simmer then add the browned beef. Cover the pot and transfer to a preheated oven. Cook for 90 minutes.

Make the Biscuits (Scones)

1. Prepare about an hour into the stew bubbling away in the oven. Combine the flour, salt, butter and grated cheese in a bowl. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to rub the butter into the flour.

1. Stir in the yogurt, Worcester sauce, herbs and a little milk to create a sticky dough. Add just enough milk until the mixture comes together but is on the drier side.
2. Tip onto a lightly floured worktop. Gather the dough with your hands and press into a rectangle about an inch high (you can very briefly knead it but don’t overwork it).
3. Use a round cutter to cut out 8 biscuits (or up to 10), patting any leftover scraps of dough down to cut more scones. Leave for 10 minutes or so before adding to the stew.

1. Place the biscuits over the stew, spaced slightly apart. Brush with a little milk. Increase the oven temperature and cook the cobbler, with the lid off, for a further 35-40 minutes or until risen and golden.
2. Discard the bay leaf and check the seasoning. Serve the beef stew with the scones and some steamed greens or over mashed potatoes.

Making Beef Cobbler in a Slow Cooker

Brown the beef then add together with remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low setting for 7 hours or on high setting for 4 hours. Add the scones and cook on the high setting for an additional hour or until they are cooked through.

Recipe Tips

• Brown the beef in batches so it can sear rather than stew. Add the beef cubes in the pot once the oil is very hot and allow them to brown properly.
• If you are using all-purpose flour for the biscuits then sift the flour and four teaspoons of baking powder into the mixing bowl before adding any of the other ingredients.
• The scones need a light touch. Avoid overworking the dough, just pat it together until it forms a ball.
• Freezing and storage: Leftovers will keep very well in the fridge for 3 days. The stew can also be frozen for up to three months without the scones.