Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for dinner. After making this countless times, I’ve perfected the recipe to ensure creamy peas and fluffy dumplings every time. The cozy, hearty stew is perfect for cold winter nights. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Refreshing Watermelon Rose Cooler Recipe for Hot Days and Easy Balsamic Roasted Garlic Mushrooms Recipe.
Why This Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, comforting stew
- Fluffy, homemade dumplings
- Easy, one-pot recipe
- Perfect for cold winter nights
What You'll Need for Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 cups dried peas
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Thyme
- Bay leaves
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Crumbled bacon
📝 Ingredient Notes
- dried peas: Soak overnight for faster cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Saves time and energy → See on Amazon
- Cast iron Dutch oven — Even heat distribution → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
- Soak peas: Cover peas with water and soak overnight. Drain and rinse before cooking.
- Cook peas: Cook peas in broth and water until tender. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Brown meat: Brown ground beef in a separate pan. Drain fat and add to peas.
- Make dumpling dough: Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Add water and mix until smooth.
- Drop dumplings: Drop spoonfuls of dough into simmering peas. Cover and cook until dumplings are done.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overfill the pot with dumplings. They need space to cook properly.
- Tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef and use vegetable broth.
- Tip: To make ahead, cook peas and meat separately. Reheat and drop dumplings just before serving.
Storing & Reheating Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Peas and meat can be made ahead. Drop dumplings just before serving.
Freezing Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Freeze cooked peas and meat for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat. Do not freeze dumplings.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker stew, add a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water) before adding dumplings.
- Best substitution: Use canned peas for a quicker recipe.
- Make-ahead: Cook peas and meat separately. Reheat and drop dumplings just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled.
- Troubleshooting: If dumplings are tough, they were overcooked. Reduce cooking time.
Want to level up this recipe?
Meat thermometer — Ensures beef is cooked to safe temperature → Check price on Amazon
Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups dried peas
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Thyme
- Bay leaves
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Soak peas: Cover peas with water and soak overnight. Drain and rinse before cooking.
- Cook peas: Cook peas in broth and water until tender. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Brown meat: Brown ground beef in a separate pan. Drain fat and add to peas.
- Make dumpling dough: Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Add water and mix until smooth.
- Drop dumplings: Drop spoonfuls of dough into simmering peas. Cover and cook until dumplings are done.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker stew, add a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water) before adding dumplings.
- Best substitution: Use canned peas for a quicker recipe.
- Make-ahead: Cook peas and meat separately. Reheat and drop dumplings just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled.
- Troubleshooting: If dumplings are tough, they were overcooked. Reduce cooking time.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked peas and meat for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat. Do not freeze dumplings.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Peas and meat can be made ahead. Drop dumplings just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 550
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbs: 70g
- Fiber: 12g
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sat. Fat: 6g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner FAQs
Yes, cook peas and meat separately. Reheat and drop dumplings just before serving.
They were overcooked. Reduce cooking time.
Yes, for a quicker recipe. Drain and rinse before using.
Add a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water) before adding dumplings.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
