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Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 75 reviews

This Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings recipe is a comforting and satisfying one-pan meal featuring a flavorful ground beef filling simmered in a rich gravy and topped with fluffy, steamed dumplings. Perfect for a cozy dinner, the dish combines simple ingredients with classic techniques to create a wholesome home-cooked favorite.

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.
  2. Add Aromatics: Add the diced onion to the beef and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
  3. Build the Sauce: Mix in the tomato paste and cook for another minute. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir well to coat the beef evenly. Slowly add the beef broth while stirring to avoid lumps. Add dried thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer the mixture for 8 to 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 the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter and work it into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk just until the dough comes together, being careful not to overmix.
  5. Add Dumplings to the Pan: Using a spoon, drop heaping tablespoons of the dumpling dough on top of the simmering beef mixture; you should get 6 to 8 dumplings. Cover the skillet with a lid and reduce the heat to low.
  6. Simmer and Cook: Let the dumplings steam for 15 minutes without lifting the lid. The dumplings will puff up and cook thoroughly using the steam and heat from the beef mixture below.
  7. Serve: Once the dumplings are cooked through, remove the skillet from heat and let it sit uncovered for 5 minutes. Serve hot by scooping a portion of the beef mixture along with one or two dumplings into each bowl.

Notes

  • Use 85% lean ground beef for best flavor and moisture balance; add olive oil if using leaner meat.
  • Do not lift the lid during dumpling cooking to ensure they steam properly.
  • Frozen peas or mixed vegetables add a nice color and nutrition boost but can be omitted.
  • Use whole or 2% milk for a tender dumpling; avoid skim milk as it may dry out the dough.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.

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

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