Name: Easy Ground Beef and Gravy (The Ultimate Comfort Food!)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds Russet or Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and cubed; 3 tablespoons Salted Butter; ½ cup Whole Milk; ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder; ½ teaspoon Salt, plus more for boiling; To taste Freshly Cracked Black Pepper; 1 pound Lean Ground Beef; 2 cups Low-Sodium Beef Broth, divided; 1 Small Onion, chopped; 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1 teaspoon Salt; ¼ – ½ teaspoon Freshly Cracked Black Pepper; 2 tablespoons Cornstarch

Description

This Ground Beef and Gravy over fluffy mashed potatoes is the meal that feels like a warm hug on a plate. This recipe is incredibly easy, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor, delivering a complete and satisfying comfort food classic—from scratch—in about 40 minutes.

Ingredients

For the Fluffy Mashed Potatoes

$2$ pounds Russet or Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and cubed
$3$ tablespoons Salted Butter
$1/2$ cup Whole Milk
$1/2$ teaspoon Garlic Powder
$1/2$ teaspoon Salt, plus more for boiling
To taste Freshly Cracked Black Pepper

For the Savory Ground Beef and Gravy

$1$ pound Lean Ground Beef
$2$ cups Low-Sodium Beef Broth, divided
$1$ Small Onion, chopped
$1$ teaspoon Garlic Powder
$1$ teaspoon Salt
$1/4$ - $1/2$ teaspoon Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
$2$ tablespoons Cornstarch

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Part 1: Making the Fluffy Mashed Potatoes

Boil Potatoes: In a pot of salted, boiling water, cook the cubed potatoes for 7-8 minutes, or until fork-tender.
Warm Milk & Butter: While potatoes boil, gently heat the butter and milk in a small saucepan until the butter is melted and the mixture is warm.
Mash Potatoes: Drain the cooked potatoes well and return them to the hot pot. Mash to your desired consistency. Gradually stir in the warm milk-butter mixture until creamy. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Part 2: Making the Savory Ground Beef and Gravy

Make Cornstarch Slurry: In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with ¼ cup of COLD beef broth until completely smooth. Set aside.
Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it into crumbles, until no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat.
Simmer and Thicken Gravy: Add the remaining 1 ¾ cups of beef broth, chopped onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the beef. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until the onion is soft. While whisking, slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened.

Part 3: Assembling Your Meal

Serve and Enjoy: Divide the mashed potatoes among four bowls. Spoon a generous portion of the hot ground beef and gravy over the top and serve immediately.

Notes

Creamy Mashed Potatoes Secret: Warming the milk and butter before adding them to the boiled potatoes is the key to achieving an extra creamy, lump-free texture.
Smooth Gravy Tip: To ensure a smooth, non-lumpy gravy, always whisk the cornstarch with COLD liquid to create a slurry before adding it to the hot skillet.
Flavor Base: For a richer flavor, be sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet when you add the beef broth to the cooked ground beef.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course, Dinner, Comfort Food
Method: Simmering, Sautéing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 500kcal
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 1150mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 48g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 27g
Cholesterol: 85mg