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Homemade Minced Beef and Dumplings are the best British comfort food. A hearty meal served hot and bubbly to warm  you from the inside out and it’s all made in one pan. Mince and Dumplings (also known as mince cobbler and puddings in the corner) is a traditional North East of England, real stick-to-your-ribs meal and one of my favorite childhood dishes.

A cast iron skillet with minced beef and dumplings

This is warm you from the inside comfort food. Serve on its own or with peas and mash.

The mince (as we call it in the UK) or minced beef part of this dish is similar to my traditional shepherd’s pie but beef is used instead of lamb and no Guinness.

A closeup of minced beef and dumplings

The dish is started on the stovetop to brown the meat then transferred to the oven to cook the carrots and brown the dumplings that are crispy on the outside and soft inside.

I like to add carrots to my minced beef and dumplings, this way you don’t have to make a vegetable side dish.

This is a traditional Northeast of England, real stick-to-your-ribs meal and one of my favorite childhood dishes.

How to make Minced Beef and Dumplings?

Ground beef is sautéed with onions, carrots,  Worcestershire sauce, beef stock thickened with flour. 

A spoon full of minced beef and dumplings

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How to Make Dumplings?

The dumplings are made a little different as they are made in England because they are traditionally made with beef suet (beef fat) which is not available in the U.S. I also offer options without suet. Vegetable shortening can be used for the dumplings or a healthier choice, refined (unflavored) coconut oil.

Flour, baking powder, salt and parsley are mixed with beef suet, vegetable shortening or coconut oil. Water is added until the dough forms. The dough is rolled into balls and placed on top of the beef. The entire pan is baked until the dumplings are crispy and brown.

You can see the complete demonstration in the video.

Yield: 4

Homemade Minced Beef and Dumplings

Minced beef in a pan topped with dumplings

Ground beef, onion and carrots are simmered with Worcestershire sauce and beef stock, topped with fluffy dumplings and baked.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • For the minced beef:
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound (453 grams) ground beef 80/20
  • ¾ cup (96 grams) yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup (118 ml) red wine (optional)
  • ½ cup (64 grams) carrot, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups (354 ml) beef stock (low sodium if possible)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • For the dumplings:
  • 1 cup (220 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening (or shredded beef suet)
  • ½ (118 ml) cup water

Instructions

  1. For the minced beef:
  2. Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C.
  3. Add the oil to an oven-proof skillet or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the beef and stir until it starts to brown. Add the onion, cook until the onions soften.  Stir in the tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce, optional red wine, simmer until reduced. Stir in the carrots and flour. Cook for 1 minute. Add the beef stock, salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
  4. For the dumplings:
  5. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, parsley and shortening or suet to a mixing bowl. Use your fingers to rub the shortening into the flour until it resembles crumbs. Add water and mix until a soft dough forms, not too sticky or wet. Divide the dough in half, then quarters then into eighths. Roll into balls.
  6. Turn off the heat under the beef and drop the balls of dough onto the top. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 20 minutes until the dumplings are browned.

Notes

Taste your stock, if it is salty, you may need to adjust the amount of salt in the dish

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 286Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 20mgSodium 553mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 8g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.

© Culinary Ginger
Cuisine: British / Category: Dinner Ideas