I make this when the day runs long and the kitchen feels like home again. Comfort Food Recipes fit nights like that. A pot holds savory beef and soft dumplings. Steam lifts. The broth smells rich and warm. We sit close, spoons up, and talk while it bubbles. I keep this easy and on track. I use Ground Beef Recipes For Dinner and ground beef recipes for dinner as my guide, since both point to what most of us want on a weeknight. The beef browns fast. The dumplings drop in and puff. You get that calm moment when the lid lifts. It looks simple. It tastes deep. It lands well with kids and grown ups. It works with easy ground beef dinner recipes goals, and it hits that cozy lane without fuss. This pot also helps with planning. I love recipes with ground beef when I need a budget win. If I have broth to use, I lean toward ground beef soup recipes and keep it lighter. If I cooked too much yesterday, leftover ground beef recipes save me from waste. Either way, dinner feels sure, the sink stays tame, and everyone leaves the table fed and happy.
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
- 4 How to Make Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
- 5 Tips for Making Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
- 6 Making Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
- 8 Try these dinner recipes next
- 9 Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
This pot brings warm comfort and steady flavor. Comfort Food Recipes guide the mood and the method. Comfort Food Recipes set the table with ease and heart. The beef browns fast. The dumplings turn soft and light. The gravy tastes rich and clean. We keep tools simple and the steps short. I wrote this with calm hands and a clear mind at Lila Cooks by Lila.
Ground beef adds depth without stress. The broth carries that depth without weight. Dumplings make the bowl feel full and kind. Each step fits a busy night. The work stays small. The reward stays large.
This plan works for a weeknight and a slow Sunday. It scales well for friends at the table. It also holds as leftovers for lunch. The goal stays the same. Cook with care. Serve with joy. Keep the sink quiet.
2 Easy Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Recipe
I make this when life runs fast. Comfort Food Recipes steady the room. Comfort Food Recipes also keep the cook relaxed. A skillet warms. Beef sizzles. Onions soften. The room smells like a hug. Dumplings sit ready. They drop in and puff. We ladle bowls and breathe out.
Ground beef gives body and a friendly price. One pot means fewer dishes. The dumpling lid traps steam. That steam turns dough into soft clouds. I like the way each spoon hits beef then broth then a tender bite of dough.
Short ingredient list. Clear steps. No guesswork. This fits easy ground beef dinner recipes without strain. It also lands with recipes with ground beef that lean cozy. If you love ground beef soup recipes this will slide into that lane with ease.
3 Ingredients for Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
Ground beef Lean beef cooks clean and brings deep flavor. I like the sizzle and the quick color. The fat level stays modest so the broth stays bright.
Olive oil A small pour helps the beef sear and the onions soften. It adds a round note without weight.
Onion Dice it small. It melts into the base and adds quiet sweetness. Each spoon finds a bit of that sweetness.
Garlic Minced cloves bring warmth and a friendly edge. The scent hits first then the taste follows.
Beef broth One and one half cups give body and a savory backbone. The broth lifts the beef and carries the dumplings.
Tomato paste A small spoon gives color and gentle depth. It toasts for a minute to wake the flavor.
Dried thyme A soft herbal line that plays well with beef. The note stays calm and clean.
Paprika A touch adds warmth and a hint of color. It rounds the base without heat.
Salt and pepper Season in small steps. Taste near the end. Let the broth speak and then finish the balance.
Butter A little knob brings gloss to the gravy. It softens edges and adds comfort cooking energy.
All purpose flour This forms the dumpling body. It drinks the steam and turns tender.
Baking powder This lifts the dumplings. The crumb turns light and kind.
Milk Whole or two percent works well. It binds the dough and keeps the bite soft.
Carrots and peas These add color and gentle sweetness. Use what you have. The bowl welcomes both.
4 How to Make Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
Step one Set a deep skillet over medium heat. Add oil. Add beef. Break it up. Cook until brown and crumbly. Spoon off extra fat if needed so the base stays bright.
Step two Stir in onion and garlic. Cook until soft. Add tomato paste and toast one minute. Add thyme paprika salt and pepper. The scent turns full and friendly.
Step three Pour in broth and add butter. Bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in carrots and peas. Let the mix bubble for a short bit so flavors meet.
Step four Mix flour baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add milk and stir to a shaggy dough. Do not overwork the dough. Soft dough makes soft dumplings.
Step five Keep the skillet at a low simmer. Drop small spoonfuls of dough over the beef. Space them so steam can move.
Step six Cover the skillet tight. Cook twelve to fifteen minutes without lifting the lid. The dumplings set in the center. Lift the lid. Taste the gravy. Adjust salt and pepper. Ladle into warm bowls.
5 Tips for Making Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
Keep the lid closed during the dumpling cook. Steam builds and turns dough tender. Open the lid early and the dough may fall. Patience helps here.
Size of the drops matters. Small mounds cook even and quick. Large mounds can feel heavy. A spoon works well for neat shapes.
For thicker gravy simmer one minute with the lid off at the end. For a silk touch whisk a splash of milk into the broth. This keeps comfort recipes energy high without extra steps.
6 Making Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings Ahead of Time
Cook the beef base a day ahead. Chill it safe. Reheat to a light simmer. Mix and drop fresh dough then. The dumplings taste best when cooked to order.
You can chop onion and carrots in the morning. Store in sealed containers. Dinner moves faster at night. Comforting recipes love a short prep window.
For parties double the beef base in a dutch oven. Hold warm on low. Drop dumplings in small batches so texture stays light. Guests will ask for more bowls.
7 Storing Leftover Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
Cool the pot to room temp. Spoon into shallow containers. Refrigerate for up to three days. The flavor softens and blends in a nice way.
Reheat over low heat. Add a splash of broth to loosen the gravy. Let the dumplings warm through without a hard boil. Gentle heat keeps the crumb soft.
For lunch boxes pack the beef base in a jar and the dumplings in a second jar. Warm both and unite in the bowl at work. Leftover ground beef recipes do not need to feel dull.
8 Try these dinner recipes next
9 Hearty Ground Beef and Dumplings
Ground Beef and Dumplings Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredients
Beef Base
- 1 lb ground beef, lean
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp butter
Dumplings
- 1 1/8 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup milk whole or 2%
Optional Veg
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
Beef Base
- Warm a deep skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil.
- Add ground beef. Break it up. Cook until brown.
- Stir in onion and garlic. Cook until soft.
- Add tomato paste. Toast it for one minute.
- Season with thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in beef broth and add butter. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in carrots and peas if using. Simmer five minutes.
Dumplings
- In a bowl whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add milk. Stir until a thick, shaggy dough forms. Do not overwork.
- Reduce the skillet to a low simmer. Using a spoon, drop dough in small mounds over the beef.
Finish
- Cover the skillet tightly. Simmer without lifting the lid for 12 to 15 minutes until dumplings are set in the center.
- Uncover. Taste the gravy. Adjust salt and pepper.
- Ladle beef and dumplings into warm bowls and serve hot.
10 Nutrition
Serving size one bowl works well for most. Estimated values per serving read as follows. Calories about four hundred twenty. Protein around twenty four grams. Carbohydrates near thirty two grams. Fiber near two grams. Fat near twenty two grams with about eight grams saturated. Sodium near six hundred eighty milligrams. Cholesterol near sixty five milligrams. These numbers guide your plan not your joy.
Use lean beef to lower fat and sodium. Add more peas and carrots for fiber. If you track macros this recipe stays friendly for weeknight targets. It fits easy ground beef dinner recipes and it feels right for comfort cooking days.
This recipe comes from Lila at Lila Cooks. It lives in the heart of comfort cooking and it sits well on any table. It also fits recipes with ground beef fans and even ground beef soup recipes seekers who like dumplings.
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