Description
A comforting and hearty meal featuring savory ground beef gravy served over creamy mashed potatoes, perfect for a satisfying family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Ground Beef and Gravy:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
For the Mashed Potatoes:
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 tbsp butter
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: Place peeled and quartered potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Add a pinch of salt, then bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes.
- Mash the Potatoes: Drain the cooked potatoes thoroughly and return them to the saucepan. Add milk and butter, then mash until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste, cover, and set aside to keep warm.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a small amount of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Sauté the Onion and Garlic: To the same skillet, add the finely diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and tender.
- Prepare the Gravy: Sprinkle the flour over the cooked beef and onion mixture, stirring constantly. Cook for 2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add Beef Broth and Worcestershire Sauce: Gradually pour in the beef broth while stirring continuously to combine. Add Worcestershire sauce and scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the skillet, incorporating them into the gravy. Bring to a gentle simmer and let thicken for about 5 minutes.
- Incorporate Peas and Carrots (Optional): Add frozen peas and carrots during the final minutes of cooking to warm them through while maintaining their color and texture.
- Serve: Spoon mashed potatoes onto each plate and ladle the ground beef and gravy mixture over the top. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- For creamier mashed potatoes, you can substitute half and half or heavy cream for milk.
- To enhance flavor, add a splash of cream or sour cream to the mashed potatoes.
- Adjust seasoning in the gravy to your preference, adding more Worcestershire sauce or broth as needed.
- Adding frozen peas and carrots boosts the nutritional value and adds color but can be omitted if preferred.
- This recipe can be prepared ahead by making the mashed potatoes and gravy separately and combining just before serving.
