Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings is a comforting, hearty dinner that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly tender dumplings every time. The golden, fluffy dumplings and creamy, flavorful peas make this dish irresistible. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Mango Coconut Protein Shake for Easy Breakfast and Easy Baked Chicken Roll Ups with Ham and Swiss Cheese.

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, chopped
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
• Optional: Crumbled bacon
• Optional: Shredded cheddar cheese

How to Make Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

1. Step 1: Soak peas overnight. In a large pot, combine peas, beef, onion, broth, water, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and garlic. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and melted butter, mix until a soft dough forms. Drop spoonfuls of dough into the pot, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes more until dumplings are cooked through.
3. Step 3: Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese if desired.

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 can be cooked ahead and reheated with dumplings.

Freezing Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

Freeze for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker broth, mix 2 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water and stir into the pot before adding the dumplings.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or omit for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: Peas can be cooked ahead and reheated with dumplings.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
• Troubleshooting: If dumplings are tough, they were overcooked or the dough was too hard. Try a softer dough and reduce cooking time.

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

⏱

Prep

15 min

🍳

Cook

1 hr

⏳

Total

1 hr 15 min

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 cups dried peas
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tbsp butter, melted

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Optional Toppings

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Crumbled bacon
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: Soak peas overnight. In a large pot, combine peas, beef, onion, broth, water, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and garlic. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and melted butter, mix until a soft dough forms. Drop spoonfuls of dough into the pot, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes more until dumplings are cooked through.
3. Step 3: Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker broth, mix 2 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water and stir into the pot before adding the dumplings.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or omit for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: Peas can be cooked ahead and reheated with dumplings.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
• Troubleshooting: If dumplings are tough, they were overcooked or the dough was too hard. Try a softer dough and reduce cooking time.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• Make ahead: Peas can be cooked ahead and reheated with dumplings.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 580
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 14g
• Carbs: 75g
• Fiber: 15g
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 60mg
• Sat. Fat: 7g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner FAQs

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!