When you’re in the mood for some down-home comfort food that’s full of flavor, it doesn’t get much better than ground beef and gravy over mashed potatoes. The dish: A take on comfort food, with tender ground beef in a rich gravy over smooth, buttery mashed potatoes. Ideal for a family dinner or friend gathering, this dish is comforting and sure to bring everyone back for seconds.
Today, we will delve into the process of creating this delicious dish, starting from the creation of creamy mashed potatoes and ending with a great savory vegan gravy, so stay tuned! We have also included some of the best tips and tricks to achieve a perfect rasam. Let’s dive in!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the grave:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Two tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 t. Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon thyme (optional)
- Add one cup of frozen peas and carrots (optional).
For the mashed potatoes:
- 2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One: Make mashed potatoes
The potatoes are boiled. Place peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot. Set the pot to High and add enough water to submerge the potatoes. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat down a bit and cook until potatoes are tender (for 15–20 minutes). Check for full cooking by piercing the potatoes with a fork, as they should feel soft and insert easily.
Drain and Mash: Once cooked, drain the potatoes and return them to your pot. Add half cup milk and 1/4 cup butter to the potatoes, then mash everything together using a potato masher or a fork to achieve a creamy consistency. To taste, add salt and pepper. Cover the pot and mashed potatoes while you prepare your gravy.
Step 2: Cook the Ground Beef
Add the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook until well browned, breaking with a spatula to ensure even cooking. It should take 7–10 minutes to perform this process. If you don’t want greasy gravy, drain off any extra fat from the skillet after browning.
Saute Onions and Garlic: In a skillet with the beef, add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook onions for 3 to 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. This step gives a nice, rich brown color and fragrant taste to your curry, making it more flavorful.
Step 3: Make the Gravy
Add Flour: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour on top of the cooked beef and onions. Whisk consecutively to give the flour a good stir and make it as natural as possible without lumps. Cook for about 2–3 minutes to both remove the raw flour flavor and make a nice, smooth base that will become your gravy.
Combine Broth and Seasonings: Stir in 2 cups of beef broth very slowly to avoid lumps. Seasaon with the salt and pepper if needed; add 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. Combine them well to form a smooth mixture.
Simmer and Thicken: Keep stirring while you allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes (it should start thickening). Don’t forget to stir so that they don’t stick. If you want it to be a little thicker, it should simmer for some more time. Add 1 cup of frozen peas and carrots for extra nutrition and color; cook until warm.
Step 4: Serve the dish.
To Serve: Spoon generous helpings of the creamy mashed potatoes onto plates or into bowls. Then pour the savory ground beef gravy over top of them and let it ooze down through all those potatoes.
Garnish & Serve: Top with fresh parsley (optional, but it adds a lovely pop of color and element of freshness!). Bring to table piping hot immediately.
Creamed beef over mashed potatoes is perfect.
1. Use Good Beef: Stick with the 80/20 ground beef and you will get a lot of flavor! When it melts, it gives itself back, adding richness to the gravy.
2. After Stirring, Add Flour to Beef: In order to avoid those irritating lumps in your gravy, it is important that you quickly add flour after stirring the liquid into beef.
3. Thickness: If your gravy is too thin, reduce a little longer. If it is too thick, add a little more beef broth until you get to the consistency that you like.
4. Add a boost of flavor: Sprinkle a little red wine or hot sauce on your gravy for an extra spicy kick.
5. Prepare this dish in advance. Keep the gravy and mashed potatoes in airtight containers per serving, then chill them. Before serving, heat it and mix it.
FAQs
Substitute for hot sausage: Can I replace the beef with ground turkey as well?
Ground turkey for ground beef? It will taste a little different, but it will still be good.
Can I freeze this dish?
You can absolutely freeze mashed potatoes, as well as gravy. Cool them completely and transfer to airtight containers. Freeze. Freeze for up to 3 months before frying. You can either warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
How to make this recipe healthier
For a healthier version of this dish, use low-fat ground beef or turkey and cut back on the butter/milk-mashed potatoes. You can also supplement the gravy with extra vegetables for more health benefits.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Beef and gravy over mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food for me. Together, they make a filling and comforting dish—rich gravy over smooth mashed potatoes dipped in salty beef juice. This dish is perfect for those days when you need a boost of energy, and it has the potential to become a family favorite.
Whether you serve it as a weeknight dinner or incorporate it into your meal plan, the flavors of this dish will captivate you. Every bite of the rich, tasty gravy, combined with the creamy whipped potatoes, is divine. Give it a go now and savor the home-cooked goodness of traditional beef stew with minimal effort on your part.
