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Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe – Easy One-Pot Comfort Dinner

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This hearty one-pot ground beef and dumplings recipe is the ultimate comfort food, featuring savory ground beef, tender vegetables, and fluffy homemade dumplings. It’s budget-friendly, easy to make, and perfect for cozy weeknight dinners with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (85% lean recommended)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced (optional)
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium or homemade)
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt (for dumplings)
  • 1/2 cup whole milk (or unsweetened dairy-free milk)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (or margarine)
  • Optional: 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or chives (for dumplings)
  • Optional: peas or corn (add during last 5 minutes of simmering)
  • Optional: fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pot.
  2. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and onions are translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  3. Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Add thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
  4. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. If using peas or corn, add them now.
  5. While the beef simmers, prepare the dumpling dough: In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in milk and melted butter until just combined. Fold in herbs if using. Do not overmix.
  6. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough (about 1 heaping tablespoon each) onto the simmering beef mixture, spacing them apart. Cover tightly with a lid.
  7. Cook, covered, for 15-18 minutes without lifting the lid. Dumplings should be firm and cooked through. Test with a toothpick—if it comes out clean, they’re done.
  8. Remove lid, sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired, and serve hot. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth; if too thin, simmer uncovered for a few minutes.

Notes

Don’t overmix the dumpling dough for fluffier dumplings. Keep the lid on while steaming dumplings to ensure they cook through. Add extra veggies like peas or corn for variety. For gluten-free or dairy-free adaptations, use appropriate flour and milk substitutes. Dumplings are best eaten fresh but can be reheated with a damp paper towel.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, dumplings, one-pot, comfort food, easy dinner, weeknight meal, family recipe, beef stew, homemade dumplings, cozy dinner

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/ground-beef-and-dumplings-recipe-easy-one-pot-comfort-dinner/