Get ready to discover your new go-to weeknight dinner! This incredible Dumpling Bake is the definition of comfort food. It’s a warm, savory, and cheesy casserole with a rich ground beef filling, all topped with fluffy, golden-brown biscuit dumplings. If you’re looking for a simple, one-pan meal that the entire family will love, this is it. It’s hearty, satisfying, and comes together with minimal effort, making it perfect for those busy evenings when you crave something delicious without the fuss.
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Dumpling Bake Recipe
This isn’t just another casserole; it’s a game-changer for your dinner routine. Here’s why this recipe will quickly become a household favorite:
- Incredibly Easy: Using simple, accessible ingredients like refrigerated biscuit dough and condensed soup makes prep a breeze.
- Family-Friendly Flavor: The savory beef, creamy sauce, and cheesy biscuit topping are a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults.
- Perfect for Weeknights: With just 15 minutes of prep time, you can have this bake in the oven and dinner on the table in under an hour.
- Ultimate Comfort Food: It’s warm, hearty, and satisfying—like a hug in a dish. A similar comforting dish you might enjoy is our Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this dish lies in its simplicity. We’re using pantry staples to create a rich, flavorful filling that forms the perfect base for our dumpling topping. You’ll need savory ground beef, a can of creamy soup to create the sauce, sharp cheddar for that cheesy pull, and of course, a can of refrigerated biscuits to create the iconic dumpling topping.
How to Make the Perfect Dumpling Bake (Step-by-Step)
Making this cheesy dumpling bake is as easy as prep, assemble, and bake. Follow these simple steps for a flawless result every time.
- Preheat and Prep: First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). While it heats up, brown the ground beef with diced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease.
- Create the Creamy Filling: Stir the minced garlic into the beef and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add the cream of chicken soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, frozen mixed vegetables, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper, and stir until everything is well combined and heated through.
- Assemble the Casserole: Pour the beef mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Cut each refrigerated biscuit into quarters. Arrange the biscuit pieces evenly over the top of the filling.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the biscuit pieces. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the biscuit topping is deep golden brown and cooked through. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Pro Tips for a Flawless Casserole
Want to take your Dumpling Bake from great to absolutely amazing? Here are a few expert tips:
- Use Freshly Grated Cheese: For the best melt and flavor, grate your own cheddar cheese. Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can prevent it from melting as smoothly.
- Don’t Crowd the Dumplings: Give the biscuit pieces a little space on top of the filling. This allows them to puff up and cook evenly, creating a perfect dumpling topping.
- Let It Rest: Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after it comes out of the oven. This helps the creamy sauce to set up, making it easier to serve. If you love cheesy bakes, you should also try our famous Bacon Cheeseburger Lasagna.
Delicious Dumpling Bake Variations to Try
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few variations to inspire you:
Chicken Dumpling Bake
Swap the ground beef for 1.5 lbs of shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked, diced chicken breast. Use cream of chicken or cream of celery soup for a classic chicken pot pie flavor.
Spicy Southwest Twist
Use ground turkey or chorizo instead of beef. Add a can of drained black beans, a can of Rotel tomatoes (with green chiles), and a teaspoon of taco seasoning to the filling. Top with a Mexican cheese blend for a zesty kick.
Veggie-Loaded Bake
For a vegetarian option, skip the meat and double the vegetables. A mix of corn, peas, carrots, green beans, and mushrooms works wonderfully. Use cream of mushroom soup as the base for the sauce.
What to Serve with Your Bake
This Dumpling Bake is a hearty, all-in-one meal, but it also pairs beautifully with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad with a vinaigrette dressing, steamed green beans, or a side of honey-glazed carrots can add a fresh, light contrast to the rich and creamy casserole.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Have leftovers? Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, you can microwave individual portions or place the entire casserole back in a 350°F oven until heated through. The dumpling topping will soften upon refrigeration but will still be delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can prepare the meat and vegetable filling ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to bake, pour the filling into your dish, top with the fresh biscuit dough, and bake as directed.
Absolutely! If you have a favorite recipe for homemade biscuits, you can use that dough instead. Drop spoonfuls of the dough over the filling and bake according to your recipe’s temperature and time, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or place the casserole dish, covered with foil, in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup are excellent substitutes and work just as well in this recipe. You could also make a simple homemade cream sauce with butter, flour, milk, and chicken broth.
This recipe uses refrigerated biscuit dough, like Pillsbury Grands!, for the quickest and easiest dumplings. Simply cut each biscuit into quarters and place them on top of the casserole filling before baking.
More Hearty Casserole Recipes You’ll Enjoy
If you love this easy bake, explore some of our other fan-favorite casserole recipes! For a delicious breakfast option, check out this Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole.
Get the Full Recipe Below!
Dumpling Bake: The Ultimate Easy Comfort Food Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Brown the ground beef with diced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the beef is no longer pink, drain off any excess grease.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one minute until fragrant. Add the cream of chicken soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, thawed mixed vegetables, and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper, and stir until combined and heated through.
- Pour the beef mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cut each biscuit from the can into four equal pieces and arrange them over the filling.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the biscuit pieces. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the filling is bubbly and the biscuit topping is golden brown.
- Let the Dumpling Bake cool for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set.
Notes
Tip 2: Ensure the mixed vegetables are thawed to prevent excess water in the casserole.
Tip 3: Don't have cream of chicken soup? Cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup work as great substitutes.
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