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Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe

Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe
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★★★★★

5.1 from 27 reviews

This hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings recipe combines savory ground beef simmered in a flavorful gravy with fluffy, tender dumplings steamed on top. Perfect for chilly evenings, this comforting dish is easy to prepare with simple ingredients and offers a satisfying balance of protein and carbohydrates for a fulfilling home-cooked meal.

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 avoid greasiness.
  2. Add Aromatics: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Then stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
  3. Build the Sauce: Mix in the tomato paste and cook for another minute to deepen its flavor. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the mixture and stir to coat the beef, combining well. Slowly pour in the beef broth while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Season with dried thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Let the mixture simmer gently for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens into a rich gravy. At this point, optionally stir in frozen peas or mixed vegetables for color and nutrition.
  4. Prepare the Dumpling Dough: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter and use your fingers or a fork to work it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the milk and stir just until the dough comes together; avoid overmixing to keep dumplings light and tender.
  5. Add Dumplings to the Pan: Using a spoon, drop heaping tablespoons of the dumpling dough evenly over the simmering beef mixture, aiming for 6 to 8 dumplings. Cover the skillet tightly with a lid and reduce the heat to low to allow the dumplings to steam.
  6. Simmer and Cook: Let the dumplings steam undisturbed for 15 minutes. During this time, they will puff up and cook through by steaming in the moisture from the beef mixture beneath them.
  7. Serve: Once the dumplings are cooked, remove the skillet from heat and let it sit uncovered for 5 minutes to slightly cool and set. Serve hot by scooping portions of savory ground beef and one or two fluffy dumplings into each bowl, perfect for a comforting meal.

Notes

  • If using lean ground beef (90% or higher), adding the olive oil is recommended to prevent the filling from drying out.
  • For extra flavor, you can add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a teaspoon of soy sauce to the beef mixture.
  • Ensure the lid stays closed while dumplings cook to trap steam and allow proper rising.
  • Feel free to substitute the beef broth with chicken broth or vegetable broth for different flavor profiles.
  • This dish can be made ahead and reheated; add a splash of broth if it thickens too much when reheating.
  • Leftover dumplings can be pan-fried the next day for a crispy texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef dumplings, hearty beef stew, comfort food recipe, easy dumpling recipe, one-pot meal

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