Ground Beef & Gravy with Rice

When I was a kid, our elementary school lunch menus were a collection of weird combos and overcooked vegetables. No pizza day was complete without a plateful of baked beans alongside the frozen pizza, and I probably shouldn’t elaborate too much on Tuna Surprise. But I looked forward to lunch when Ground Beef and Gravy was on the schedule. Gloppy, saucy, and kind of bland in a good way, it was a comfort in the middle of the day. This version is seasoned just right with thyme and the umami of