Print

Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 76 reviews

This comforting Ground Beef and Dumplings recipe features tender beef simmered in a flavorful gravy with aromatic herbs and spices, topped with fluffy homemade dumplings steamed to perfection. It’s a hearty, one-pot meal perfect for cozy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef Mixture

  • 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

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 ground beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary to reduce greasiness.
  2. Sauté onions and garlic: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Make the gravy base: Stir in tomato paste and cook for another minute. Sprinkle flour evenly over the mixture and stir well to coat the beef and vegetables. Gradually pour in beef broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Add dried thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture simmer gently for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened to a gravy-like consistency. If using, mix in frozen peas or mixed vegetables now.
  4. Prepare dumpling dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add softened butter and work it into the flour mixture with your fingers or a pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in milk and stir just until the dough comes together; do not over-mix.
  5. Drop dumplings on beef mixture: Spoon heaping tablespoons of the dumpling dough evenly over the simmering beef mixture, aiming for 6–8 dumplings spaced apart.
  6. Steam dumplings: Cover the skillet with a lid, reduce heat to low, and let the dumplings steam undisturbed for 15 minutes. They will puff up and cook through using the steam generated from the beef mixture below.
  7. Rest and serve: Remove skillet from heat and let stand uncovered for 5 minutes. Serve hot by scooping a generous portion of beef and one or two dumplings into each bowl for a satisfying meal.

Notes

  • Use 85% lean ground beef for a good balance of flavor and fat; if leaner beef is used, add olive oil to prevent drying.
  • Do not lift the lid while dumplings are steaming to ensure they cook properly.
  • You can add frozen peas or mixed vegetables to increase the dish’s nutritional value and color.
  • For fluffier dumplings, handle dough gently and avoid over-mixing.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop with a splash of broth to retain moisture.

Keywords: ground beef dumplings, stovetop dumplings, easy beef and dumplings, hearty comfort food, one-pot dinner

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