Hamburger Steak {Poor Man’s Steak}

Total comfort food! This easy hamburger steak with mushroom gravy (also known as “poor man’s steak”) is an affordable, easy dinner recipe that the whole family can enjoy! Serve the ground beef patties with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits, or a loaf of crusty bread to soak up any extra sauce.

For even more ground beef recipes, be sure to try these cast iron skillet burgers, a pot of creamy tomato soup with ground beef and noodles, this Jiffy cornbread taco bake, and a bacon cheeseburger casserole with rice, too!

Hamburger Steaks

I initially got the idea for this hamburger steak recipe from some of our Amish and Mennonite neighbors, who regularly serve this type of dish for large gatherings. They call it “Poor Man’s Steak,” and they often prepare a big baking sheet full of the ground beef mixture. The chilled beef is then sliced into squares and pan-fried in the same way that I’ve cooked the round patties here. I just find that the smaller quantity of meat in my recipe works well for a single family’s supper!

What is Hamburger Steak?

Hamburger steak is made with ground beef, seasoning, and a binder such as cracker crumbs or bread crumbs. It’s similar to meatloaf, but the beef mixture is shaped into round patties, chilled, and then fried in a skillet. While a classic Salisbury Steak recipe often includes a brown gravy made with beef broth, you’ll typically find Hamburger Steak served with a creamy milk-based mushroom gravy. Like a giant hug at the end of the day, this meal is simple, cozy, and warm. It’s classic American “comfort food” at its finest!

Ingredients for Salisbury Steak with Cream of Mushroom Soup

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for our favorite hamburger steak recipe. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

• Ground beef: I typically use 85% lean ground beef.
• Saltine cracker crumbs: a flavorful binder that keeps the hamburger steak moist. You can use other bread crumbs or cracker crumbs (like Ritz) if you prefer.
• Worcestershire sauce: for savory, salty, umami flavor that pairs nicely with the beef.
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper: to enhance the other flavors in the dish.
• Onion powder: for more savory flavor in the patties.
• Butter and oil: for pan-frying the hamburger steaks. By using these two different types of fat, you get the higher smoke point of the oil, paired with the rich flavor of the butter.
• Mushrooms: use fresh, sliced white button mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, or baby bella mushrooms for the gravy.
• Garlic: for extra flavor in the gravy.
• Cream of mushroom soup: a can of Campbell’s condensed cream of mushroom soup is a great shortcut base for the creamy gravy (no roux or flour necessary).
• Milk: to thin the savory gravy.
• Parsley: for a bright, fresh, green finishing touch.

How to Make Hamburger Steak

You don’t need any fancy ingredients or labor-intensive steps for this Southern hamburger steak!

1. Combine the ground beef, egg, cracker crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, onion powder, and pepper in a large bowl with a fork or with your hands. Do not over-mix the meat mixture.
2. Shape the meat into 4 equal patties.
3. Chill the ground beef patties in the refrigerator for at least one hour or overnight — this will help them “set up” so that they’re easier to fry without falling apart.
4. Fry the patties in a large skillet over medium-high heat with butter and oil until the patties are browned and crisp on the outside and cooked through on the inside, about 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Remove the patties to a plate and tent loosely with foil while you make the gravy.
6. Sauté the mushrooms and garlic in the same skillet with additional butter.
7. Stir in the condensed soup and milk. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
8. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the gravy for about 5 minutes.
9. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley.
10. Return the patties to the skillet. Warm them over low heat, spooning the gravy over top.
11. Garnish with additional parsley and serve!

What Sides Go with Hamburger Steak?

Pair the Poor Man’s Steak with a starch (like mashed potatoes, bread, or noodles) to soak up the extra gravy, plus some veggies on the side. Here are some easy options that go well with hamburger steak:

• 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Party Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, or Skin-On Mashed Red Potatoes
• Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, Shells and Cheese, or Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
• Jiffy Corn Casserole
• Egg Noodles
• Cornbread Stuffing or Sausage Stuffing
• Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn, Jalapeno Cheddar Mexican Cornbread, Skillet Cornbread, Old-Fashioned Corn Sticks, or Honey Cornbread
• Corn Muffins, Brown Sugar Sweet Cornbread Muffins, or 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins
• Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Bread, or Applesauce Pumpkin Muffins
• 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, or Cheese Biscuits
• Southern-Style Green Beans, Roasted Green Beans, Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon, or Green Bean Casserole
• Creamed Peas
• Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
• Southern Collard Greens
• Sauteed Spinach or Creamed Spinach Casserole
• Easy Broccoli Casserole, Broccoli and Rice Casserole, or Broccoli and Cheese
• Apple and Butternut Squash Casserole or Southern Squash Casserole
• Sauteed Zucchini
• Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
• Cranberry Orange Sauce
• Mixed Greens with Dijon Vinaigrette, Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette, Wedge Salads, House Salad or Caesar Salad

Preparation and Storage Tips

• Prep Ahead! You can prepare the patties up to 24 hours in advance. Keep them covered in the fridge until ready to cook.
• How to Freeze: You can freeze the patties before or after cooking. Wrap cooked hamburger steaks tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Wrapped properly, the cooked hamburger steak will stay fresh in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 days.
• How to Reheat: Warm the patties and gravy in a skillet, covered, over low heat just until warmed through.

Recipe Variations

• Some folks like to include onion in the gravy, which is fine! Simply sauté thinly-sliced onion in the skillet with the mushrooms until soft.
• Try other herbs in addition to the parsley. Good options include basil, oregano, rosemary, chives, and thyme. Garlic powder would also be a nice addition in lieu of fresh garlic.
• Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half and prepare just two patties. Similarly, you can double all of the ingredients to feed a larger family. Just brown the patties in batches so that you don’t overcrowd the pan.
• Use a combination of ground beef and ground pork, a meatloaf mix of pork, beef, and veal, or even ground turkey.
• Swap out the Saltine cracker crumbs and use other cracker crumbs or breadcrumbs instead.

Tips for the Best Hamburger Steak Recipe

• I recommend 85% lean ground beef, because it keeps the hamburger steak juicy without making the sauce too greasy. Any leaner ground beef may result in dry patties.
• Give the patties plenty of time to chill in the refrigerator (at least an hour, or up to 24 hours). This will help them “set up” so that they’re easier to fry without falling apart.
• Use your hands or a fork to gently combine the meat mixture. Be careful not to over-mix the meat, or it will become dense and mushy.

More Hamburger Recipes to Try

• Homemade Salisbury Steak
• Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
• Ground Beef Casserole with Cornbread Crust
• 4-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole
• Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoes
• Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
• Dorito Casserole with Ground Beef
• Tater Tot Casserole
• Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole
• Ground Beef Casserole with Noodles
• Cabbage Beef Casserole
• Mexican Ground Beef Casserole (“Taco Pie”)

Hamburger Steak

4.50 from 4 votes

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 25 minutes minutes

Chilling Time 1 hour hour

Total: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4 patties

Calories 424 kcal

This Hamburger Steak with Mushroom Gravy (or "Poor Man's Steak") is an affordable, easy dinner recipe that the whole family can enjoy!

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 egg
• ½ cup Saltine cracker crumbs (about 14 crackers)
• ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
• 2 cloves garlic, minced, pressed, or grated
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, not diluted
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus extra for garnish
• Optional, for serving: mashed potatoes, noodles, or crusty bread

Instructions

• Line a tray or baking sheet with wax paper; set aside.
• In a large bowl, use your hands or a fork to gently combine the ground beef, egg, cracker crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Shape the meat mixture into 4 equal patties.
• Place the patties on the prepared tray. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the patties until browned and crispy on the outside and cooked through on the inside, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the patties to a plate and tent loosely with foil to keep warm while you make the gravy.
• Add 1 more tablespoon of butter to the drippings in the skillet. When the butter melts, add the mushrooms to the skillet and fry until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in the condensed soup and the milk; bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer the gravy for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the parsley.
• Return the patties to the skillet. Warm over low heat, spooning the gravy over the patties.
• Garnish with additional fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

• I recommend 85% lean ground beef, because it keeps the hamburger steak juicy without making the sauce too greasy. Any leaner ground beef may result in dry patties.
• Give the patties plenty of time to chill in the refrigerator (at least an hour, or up to 24 hours). This will help them “set up” so that they’re easier to fry without falling apart.
• Use your hands or a fork to gently combine the meat mixture. Be careful not to over-mix the meat, or it will become dense and mushy.
• Some folks like to include onion in the gravy, which is fine! Simply sauté the thinly-sliced onion in the skillet with the mushrooms until soft.
• Try other herbs in addition to the parsley. Good options include basil, oregano, rosemary, chives, and thyme.
• Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half and prepare just two patties. Similarly, you can double all of the ingredients to feed a larger family. Just brown the patties in batches so that you don’t overcrowd the pan.
• Use a combination of ground beef and ground pork, a meatloaf mix of pork, beef, and veal, or even ground turkey.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of the recipeCalories: 424kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 27gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 798mgPotassium: 1066mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 266IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 3mg

Keyword: Hamburger Steak, Hamburger Steak with Gravy, poor man’s steak, Salisbury Steak with Cream of Mushroom Soup

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Author: Blair Lonergan

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This recipe was originally published in September, 2019. It was updated in June, 2022.