Description
This comforting Ground Beef and Dumplings recipe combines a rich, savory beef stew with fluffy, tender dumplings steamed right in the skillet. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s the perfect hearty meal for busy weeknights that fills your home with irresistible aromas and satisfies your craving for classic comfort food.
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
- 1/4 tsp 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 and nicely browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Sauté Onions: Add the diced onion to the skillet, sautéing for about 4 minutes until soft and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Mix Tomato Paste and Flour: Stir in the tomato paste and flour to coat the beef evenly. Gradually pour in the beef broth while stirring constantly until the mixture becomes smooth.
- Season and Simmer: Add thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir in the frozen vegetables and let the mixture simmer on low heat for 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Prepare the Dumpling Dough: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the softened butter using a pastry cutter or fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk just until combined to form a dough.
- Add Dumplings to Beef Mixture: Drop heaping tablespoons of dumpling dough onto the simmering beef mixture, aiming for 6 to 8 dumplings evenly spaced.
- Steam and Serve: Cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid, reduce heat to low, and steam the dumplings for 15 minutes without lifting the lid to retain steam. Remove the lid and let the dish sit uncovered for 5 minutes before serving to allow dumplings to set.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version of this dish.
- Use chicken broth instead of beef broth if desired.
- Fresh vegetables can be used in place of frozen if preferred.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the all-purpose flour and baking powder with gluten-free alternatives.
- Plant-based milk can be used instead of dairy milk to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Do not lift the lid while dumplings are steaming to ensure they cook properly and stay fluffy.
