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Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe

Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 14 reviews

This hearty ground beef and dumplings recipe combines flavorful, tender ground beef simmered in a rich gravy with soft, fluffy dumplings steamed on top. A comforting one-pan meal perfect for cozy family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Ground Beef Filling:

  • 1 lb ground beef (85% lean works best)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (if beef is leaner)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1½ cups beef broth
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: ½ cup frozen peas or mixed vegetables

For the Dumplings:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
  • ½ cup milk (whole or 2%)

Instructions

  1. Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary to prevent greasiness in the final dish.
  2. Add Aromatics: Add the diced onion to the beef and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Then stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more to develop flavor without burning.
  3. Build the Sauce: Mix in the tomato paste and cook for another minute to deepen the flavor. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir well to coat the beef evenly, which will help thicken the sauce. Slowly pour in the beef broth while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Add dried thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens into a gravy-like consistency. If using, stir in frozen peas or mixed vegetables at this stage and let them warm through.
  4. Prepare the Dumpling Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk just until the dough comes together, being careful not to overmix to ensure tender dumplings.
  5. Add Dumplings to the Pan: Using a spoon, drop heaping tablespoons of the prepared dough on top of the beef mixture in the skillet, aiming for 6–8 dumplings evenly spaced. Cover the skillet with a lid and reduce the heat to low to allow gentle steaming.
  6. Simmer and Cook: Let the dumplings steam for 15 minutes without lifting the lid so the trap heat can cook them through. The dumplings will puff up and become soft and fluffy as they cook using the steam and heat from the beef filling underneath.
  7. Serve: Once the dumplings are cooked through, remove the skillet from heat and let it sit uncovered for 5 minutes to slightly cool and set. Serve hot by scooping portions of the beef mixture with one or two dumplings into each bowl for a satisfying and delicious meal.

Notes

  • Use 85% lean ground beef for best flavor and moisture balance; add olive oil if using leaner beef.
  • Do not lift the lid while dumplings steam to ensure even cooking and fluffiness.
  • Frozen peas or mixed vegetables are optional but add color and extra nutrition.
  • Butter can be substituted with a neutral oil if dairy-free version is preferred, though it changes the flavor slightly.
  • For thicker dumplings, slightly reduce the milk amount to make a firmer dough.
  • Leftover dumplings and beef can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef dumplings, hearty beef stew, comfort food, one-pan dinner, easy family meal

Find it online: https://frommamamaya.com/hearty-ground-beef-and-dumplings-recipe/