Description
This Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe is the ultimate comfort food—savory ground beef in a rich gravy topped with fluffy, tender dumplings. Perfect for weeknights, Sunday dinners, or a cozy date night, this hearty one-skillet dish delivers big flavor with everyday ingredients. Easy to make, easy to love.
Ingredients
For the beef base:
- 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
For the dumplings:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
- ½ cup milk
- Optional: chopped parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
3. Sprinkle flour over beef and stir well. Slowly add broth while stirring. Add Worcestershire and thyme. Simmer 5–7 minutes to thicken.
4. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in cold butter until crumbly. Stir in milk to form a sticky dough.
5. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto simmering beef mixture. Cover tightly and reduce heat to low. Steam for 15–20 minutes. Do not lift lid.
6. Remove lid, check that dumplings are cooked through. Garnish with herbs and serve hot.
Notes
Keep the butter cold and avoid overmixing the dough for light dumplings.
Add mushrooms, herbs, or Parmesan for a fancier version.
Recipe can be halved for dinner for 2.