Description
A hearty and comforting Ground Beef and Dumplings recipe that comes together in just 45 minutes. Tender dumplings steam to perfection atop a flavorful beef mixture enriched with onions, garlic, tomato paste, and warm spices for an easy, satisfying meal perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 2 tbsp Flour
- 1 cup Beef Broth
- 1 tsp Thyme
- 1 tsp Paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 cup Frozen Vegetables
Dumplings
- 2 cups All-purpose Flour
- 1 tbsp Baking Powder
- Pinch of Salt
- 1/4 cup Butter, softened
- 3/4 cup Milk
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes, ensuring the beef is nicely browned. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for about 4 minutes or until soft and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant, enhancing the aroma of the dish.
- Mix Tomato Paste and Flour: Stir in the tomato paste and flour, coating the beef mixture evenly. Gradually pour in the beef broth while stirring constantly to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth sauce consistency.
- Season and Simmer: Add thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper to your taste. Let the mixture simmer on low heat for 8–10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and flavors to meld.
- Prepare the Dumpling Dough: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Cut in the softened butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk just until the dough comes together; avoid overmixing for light dumplings.
- Add Dumplings to Beef Mixture: Drop heaping tablespoons of the dumpling dough evenly over the simmering beef mixture, aiming for 6–8 dumplings. Cover the skillet to trap steam and reduce heat to low.
- Steam and Serve: Let the dumplings steam for 15 minutes without lifting the lid to retain moisture and allow them to cook through. Once done, remove the cover and let the dish sit uncovered for 5 minutes before serving to let flavors settle.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Frozen vegetables can be swapped out for fresh vegetables if available.
- Plant-based milk can replace dairy milk to make the recipe dairy-free.
- You can substitute gluten-free flour for a gluten-free option, though the texture of dumplings may vary slightly.
- Do not lift the lid while dumplings are steaming to prevent them from collapsing.
