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Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe: Easy 30-Minute Comfort Meal

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This hearty ground beef and dumplings recipe is the ultimate comfort food, ready in just 30 minutes with simple pantry staples. Fluffy dumplings steam right on top of a savory beef and veggie gravy, making it a cozy, family-friendly one-pot meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred, but lean works too)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced or diced (optional)
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for thickening)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or oil (for sautéing)
  • For the Dumplings:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (or neutral oil)
  • 1/3 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened non-dairy)
  • 1 large egg
  • Chopped fresh parsley or chives, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep all ingredients: dice onion, mince garlic, slice carrots, and measure out peas, flour, broth, and seasonings.
  2. Heat a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter or oil. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Add diced onion and carrots to the beef. Sauté until onions are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons flour over the beef and veggies. Stir to coat. Add tomato paste and mix well.
  5. Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in thyme, salt, and pepper.
  6. Bring to a gentle simmer. Add peas. Let simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors and thicken gravy.
  7. While the beef simmers, make the dumpling batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a separate cup, whisk egg, melted butter, and milk. Pour wet into dry and stir until just combined (batter will be thick and lumpy).
  8. Drop heaping tablespoons of dumpling batter on top of the simmering beef mixture, spacing about 1 inch apart (makes 8-10 dumplings). Do not press down.
  9. Cover skillet tightly with a lid or foil. Reduce heat to low and steam dumplings for 12-15 minutes. Do not lift the lid during cooking.
  10. Check dumplings for doneness (they should be puffed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean).
  11. Serve hot, garnished with parsley or chives if desired.

Notes

For lighter dumplings, do not overmix the batter and keep the lid on while steaming. Swap in ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version, or use gluten-free flour for a GF meal. Add extra veggies or a splash of cream for richness. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge. Dumplings are best made fresh and not recommended for freezing.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, dumplings, comfort food, one pot, easy dinner, family meal, quick recipe, weeknight dinner, beef stew, skillet meal

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/ground-beef-and-dumplings-recipe-easy-30-minute-comfort-meal/