🥔 Ground Beef and Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes
A comforting, hearty classic made with tender ground beef, onions, and a rich, savory brown gravy served over creamy mashed potatoes. The secret is letting the flour cook briefly with the browned beef before adding the broth—it removes the raw flour taste and gives the gravy a smooth, delicious texture.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Mashed Potatoes:
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 4 tbsp butter
- ½ cup milk, warmed
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Ground Beef & Gravy:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tbsp butter or cooking oil
- 1 tsp beef bouillon, optional
- 1–2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Make the mashed potatoes
Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold, salted water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 15–20 minutes, or until fork-tender.
2. Drain and mash
Drain the potatoes well, then return them to the warm pot. Add the butter, warm milk, salt, and black pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy. Cover and keep warm.
3. Brown the beef
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until nicely browned. Drain excess grease if necessary.
4. Add the onions and garlic
Add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
5. Cook the flour — the important step!
Reduce the heat to medium and sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture. Stir thoroughly so the flour coats the meat and onions. Cook for about 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly. This brief step helps remove the raw flour taste and creates a better base for the gravy.
6. Add the broth gradually
Slowly pour in the beef broth while stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Add the Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and optional beef bouillon.
7. Simmer the gravy
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gravy becomes thick, rich, and glossy. If it gets too thick, add a small splash of beef broth.
8. Taste and adjust
Taste the gravy and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. For extra richness, stir in a small tablespoon of butter just before serving.
9. Serve
Spoon a generous portion of creamy mashed potatoes onto each plate. Ladle the hot ground beef and gravy generously over the top.
10. Garnish and enjoy!
Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
❤️ Serving Tip
For the ultimate comfort-food plate, serve this with steamed green beans, roasted vegetables, or a simple side salad. The creamy potatoes soak up every bit of that rich beef gravy!