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Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings : Perfect Dinner Recipe

Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings : Perfect Dinner Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 6 reviews

Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings is a comforting and satisfying dinner dish featuring a flavorful ground beef filling simmered in a rich gravy, topped with fluffy, tender dumplings. This recipe is perfect for a cozy family meal and combines classic flavors with an easy-to-make dumpling topping.

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 and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more 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 evenly over the mixture and stir well to coat the beef. Slowly pour in the beef broth while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Add dried thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Let the mixture simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to a gravy-like consistency. Stir in frozen peas or mixed vegetables if using.
  4. Prepare the Dumpling Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter, working it into the flour mixture with your fingers or a pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the milk and stir just until the dough comes together; avoid overmixing for light dumplings.
  5. Add Dumplings to the Pan: Using a spoon, drop heaping tablespoons of the dough on top of the simmering beef mixture. You should be able to place 6 to 8 dumplings evenly spaced. Cover the skillet with a lid, then reduce the heat to low to gently cook the dumplings with steam.
  6. Simmer and Cook: Let the dumplings steam undisturbed for 15 minutes; do not lift the lid as the steam is necessary to help the dumplings puff up and cook through evenly.
  7. Serve: After cooking, remove the skillet from heat and let sit uncovered for 5 minutes to set the dumplings. Serve hot by scooping portions of the savory beef mixture along with one or two fluffy dumplings into each bowl for a perfect hearty dinner.

Notes

  • If using lean ground beef, adding olive oil ensures the dish remains moist and flavorful.
  • Frozen peas or mixed vegetables add color and nutrients but can be omitted as desired.
  • Do not lift the lid while dumplings are cooking to ensure proper steam cooking.
  • Butter can be substituted with margarine for a dairy-free option, and milk can be swapped with a plant-based milk to make it vegetarian-friendly.
  • This dish can be doubled easily for larger families or leftovers.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/hearty-ground-beef-and-dumplings-perfect-dinner-recipe/