Description
Poor Man’s Hamburger Steaks is a comforting and budget-friendly recipe featuring seasoned ground beef patties coated in flour, pan-seared to a golden brown, and then baked in a creamy mushroom gravy. This hearty dish combines simple pantry staples like crushed saltine crackers and canned cream of mushroom soup to create a flavorful meal that serves 6 to 8 people, perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Hamburger Steaks
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups saltine crackers, crushed (about 1 sleeve)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- All-purpose flour, for dredging
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Gravy
- 2 (10.75 oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350º F (175º C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray to prevent sticking during baking.
- Make the Gravy: In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and 1 1/2 cups whole milk until smooth. Stir in the finely chopped fresh parsley and set this creamy gravy mixture aside.
- Mix the Meat Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, crushed saltine crackers, 1 cup whole milk, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Season liberally with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix gently with your hands or two forks until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the patties tender.
- Form the Patties: Shape the meat mixture into even-sized patties, ensuring they are uniform for consistent cooking.
- Dredge Patties in Flour: Place about 1 cup of all-purpose flour in a shallow dish. Lightly dredge each patty in the flour, coating all sides. Add more flour if necessary for full coverage.
- Sear the Patties: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add patties in batches and sear them on both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. The patties will still be undercooked in the center after searing, which is fine.
- Arrange Patties and Add Gravy: Transfer the browned patties to the prepared baking dish in a single layer. Pour the prepared mushroom gravy evenly over the patties, coating them well. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake to Finish Cooking: Place the covered baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the patties are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of at least 160º F (71º C).
- Serve: Remove the dish from the oven, let it rest a few minutes, then serve the hamburger steaks topped with the rich mushroom gravy. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh parsley and good quality canned cream of mushroom soup.
- Do not overmix the meat mixture to avoid tough patties.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter variation.
- Serve with mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated covered to retain moisture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hamburger steak with gravy (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
