9 Cozy Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipes for a Fancy Yet Easy Dinner Recipe
This comforting ground beef and dumplings recipe combines savory browned beef in a rich tomato-flavored gravy with fluffy, steamed dumplings. Perfect for an easy yet fancy dinner, it’s a hearty dish that simmers on the stovetop and delivers warm, satisfying flavors ideal for cozy evenings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Gravy
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Dumplings
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
- ½ cup milk
Optional Garnish
- Chopped parsley or chives
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook until soft and translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Brown Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess fat from the skillet. Stir in tomato paste and cook for another minute to deepen the flavor.
- Make Gravy: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour evenly over the beef mixture and stir thoroughly to combine. Slowly pour in beef broth while stirring to prevent lumps. Add Worcestershire sauce and dried thyme or Italian seasoning. Let the mixture simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes until it thickens into a rich gravy.
- Prepare Dumpling Dough: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in cold cubed butter with a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk until a sticky dough forms.
- Cook Dumplings: Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough on top of the simmering beef mixture. Cover the skillet tightly with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let the dumplings steam for 15 to 20 minutes, making sure not to lift the lid during cooking to ensure proper steaming.
- Finish & Serve: Remove the lid carefully, check that the dumplings are cooked through and fluffy. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives, then serve hot for a cozy meal.
Notes
- Do not lift the lid while dumplings are cooking to maintain steam and ensure they cook evenly.
- If preferred, substitute dried thyme with Italian seasoning or fresh herbs.
- Use low-sodium beef broth to control salt levels.
- Dumplings are best served immediately as they lose fluffiness upon standing.
- For a richer flavor, you may add a splash of cream or butter to the gravy before adding dumplings.
Keywords: ground beef and dumplings, beef dumplings, easy dinner, cozy recipes, stovetop dumplings, comfort food, hearty meals
