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Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe

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3.9 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Eve
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Description

Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings is a comforting, warm dish perfect for satisfying family dinners. Ground beef is cooked with aromatic onions, garlic, and a rich tomato-based gravy seasoned with thyme and paprika, then topped with fluffy homemade dumplings steamed to perfection. This dish combines savory flavors and a tender, pillowy texture that will delight any comfort food lover.

Ingredients

Ground Beef Filling

  • 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
  • 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

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 reduce greasiness.
  2. Add Aromatics: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to release its flavor.
  3. Build the Sauce: Mix in the tomato paste and cook for another minute to deepen the flavor. Sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture and stir to coat evenly, which will help thicken the sauce. Slowly add the beef broth while stirring continually to avoid lumps. Add dried thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens into a gravy-like consistency. Stir in optional frozen vegetables during the last few minutes of simmering to warm through.
  4. Prepare the Dumpling Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the 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 forms a sticky, cohesive mass.
  5. Add Dumplings to the Pan: Using a spoon, drop heaping tablespoons of the dumpling dough onto the surface of the beef mixture in the skillet. You should get about 6–8 dumplings. Cover the skillet with a lid and reduce the heat to low to allow for gentle steaming.
  6. Simmer and Cook: Let the dumplings steam for 15 minutes without lifting the lid to ensure they puff up and cook through evenly using the steam and heat from the beef mixture. Avoid lifting the lid to prevent steam from escaping.
  7. Serve: Once the dumplings are cooked through and fluffy, remove the skillet from heat and let it sit uncovered for 5 minutes to slightly cool and set. Serve hot by scooping a portion of the savory beef filling with one or two dumplings into each bowl for a hearty meal.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner alternative to beef.
  • Adding frozen peas or mixed vegetables boosts the dish’s nutritional value and color.
  • If beef is already fatty, the olive oil can be omitted to reduce excess fat.
  • For dairy-free options, use plant-based milk and butter substitutes in the dumpling dough.
  • Do not lift the lid while dumplings cook to ensure they steam properly and become fluffy.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://everecipes.com/hearty-ground-beef-and-dumplings-recipe-2/