Ground Beef and Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes: 50-Minute Meal

Ground beef and gravy over mashed potatoes delivers pure comfort on a plate with its hearty combination of savory meat, rich gravy, and creamy potatoes. This unpretentious meal has withstood the test of time in countless family kitchens because it perfectly balances simplicity with satisfying flavor.

Each component comes together to create a dish that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long day. The velvety mashed potatoes provide the perfect foundation for the well-seasoned ground beef, while the homemade gravy ties everything together with its savory richness. Perfect for busy weeknights yet soul-satisfying enough for weekend dinners, this humble meal transforms basic ingredients into something truly special.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Creates a complete, budget-friendly meal using pantry staples and ground beef
• Offers pure comfort food satisfaction with minimal preparation or fancy techniques
• Provides a versatile base recipe that adapts easily to your family’s preferences

I inherited this recipe from my grandmother, who made it for my mother, who then passed it down to me. The first time I prepared it for my own children, watching their faces light up with the same delight I remembered feeling as a child created a powerful connection across generations.

My typically picky eight-year-old actually requests this meal regularly, calling it “the best dinner ever.” There’s something profoundly satisfying about creating a dish that not only nourishes your family but also weaves a thread of tradition through your family’s story.

Simple Ingredients

• Ground beef (1 pound): Forms the hearty protein base that becomes infused with savory flavors
• Russet potatoes (2 pounds): Create fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes that perfectly complement the meat
• Beef broth (1½ cups): Provides rich flavor foundation for the gravy without complicated preparation
• Onion (1 medium, diced): Adds subtle sweetness and texture that enhances the beef mixture
• Cornstarch (2 tablespoons): Creates silky, thickened gravy without lumps or complicated techniques

Preparation Steps

Potato Preparation Peel and cut potatoes into uniform 1-inch chunks to ensure even cooking.

Place potato pieces in a large pot and cover with cold salted water by at least an inch.

Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium and cook until fork-tender, about 15 minutes.

Making Perfect Mash While potatoes cook, warm milk and butter together until butter melts completely.

Drain cooked potatoes thoroughly and return them to the hot pot for a minute to evaporate excess moisture.

Mash potatoes to your preferred consistency, then gradually incorporate the warm milk mixture while stirring.

Beef Cooking Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.

Once meat is no longer pink, drain excess fat but leave a little for flavor development.

Add diced onion to the beef and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.

Gravy Development Whisk cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold beef broth in a small bowl until completely smooth.

Pour remaining beef broth into the meat mixture, stirring to combine and scraping up any flavorful browned bits.

Add seasonings and bring to a simmer before whisking in the cornstarch mixture to thicken.

Final Assembly Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly as the gravy thickens to perfect consistency.

Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt, pepper, or garlic powder if needed.

Serve generous portions of mashed potatoes topped with the beef and gravy mixture immediately.

You Must Know

• Warm milk and melted butter create significantly creamier mashed potatoes than cold ingredients
• Making a cornstarch slurry separately ensures smooth gravy without lumps every time
• This meal reheats beautifully for leftovers, with the flavors often improving overnight

I particularly appreciate how this recipe connects me to my family’s culinary heritage. My grandmother always said, “Simple food made with love tastes better than any fancy dish,” and this meal proves her right every time.

When my mother prepared this during my childhood, she would always add an extra pat of butter to my serving, saying it was “our secret.” Now I find myself doing the same for my daughter, creating a small tradition within the tradition. These little moments of connection through food create memories that last far longer than the meal itself.

Serving Suggestions

This versatile dish pairs beautifully with simple sides that complete the meal without competing with the main attraction.

Serve with steamed green beans or broccoli dressed with just a touch of butter and lemon for brightness.

Add a simple side salad with vinaigrette dressing for fresh contrast to the rich main dish.

Include dinner rolls or crusty bread for soaking up every last bit of the delicious gravy.

For special occasions, a side of cranberry sauce adds unexpected color and tangy counterpoint to the savory flavors.

Recipe Variations

Customize this basic recipe with simple adjustments that create entirely new flavor experiences.

Add sautéed mushrooms to the beef mixture for deep, earthy notes reminiscent of stroganoff.

Incorporate frozen mixed vegetables during the last few minutes of cooking for a complete one-dish meal.

Try ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter version, adding a beef bouillon cube for depth of flavor.

For an elevated version, finish with a sprinkle of fresh herbs like thyme or parsley just before serving.

Storage Solutions

Refrigerate cooled leftovers in airtight containers where they maintain excellent quality for up to three days.

Store potatoes and beef mixture separately when possible for best texture upon reheating.

Reheat gently in the microwave with a splash of broth or milk to refresh the consistency.

For freezing, cool completely and store for up to two months in freezer-safe containers.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for best results and texture preservation.

Kitchen Wisdom

• For extra-fluffy mashed potatoes, use a potato ricer instead of a traditional masher
• Keep a splash of warm milk or broth ready to adjust mashed potato consistency as needed
• If gravy becomes too thick, simply whisk in additional broth until desired thickness is achieved

My journey with this ground beef and gravy recipe began in my grandmother’s kitchen, where I watched her prepare it countless times before learning to make it myself. There’s something deeply satisfying about continuing this culinary tradition with my own family, knowing that this unpretentious meal has nourished multiple generations of my family.

What I treasure most about this recipe is its ability to transform ordinary ingredients into a meal that creates silence at the dinner table – that rare moment when everyone is too busy enjoying their food to speak. In our busy, often chaotic lives, creating these moments of simple pleasure and connection through food becomes increasingly valuable.

The timeless appeal of meat, potatoes, and gravy reminds us that good cooking doesn’t require complexity or expensive ingredients – sometimes the most memorable meals are the simplest ones, prepared with care and served with love. This dish has earned its place in my family’s regular rotation not just for its practicality but for the comfort and contentment it reliably delivers.

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