Description
Poor Man’s Hamburger Steaks is a comforting, budget-friendly dish featuring seasoned ground beef patties coated in flour, seared to a golden brown, and baked in a creamy mushroom gravy. This hearty meal combines simple pantry staples like crushed saltine crackers and condensed cream of mushroom soup to create flavorful, tender steaks perfect for a family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 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 and freshly ground pepper, to taste
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 and lightly 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, then set aside.
- Mix Patties: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with crushed saltine crackers, 1 cup of whole milk, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use your hands or two forks to mix the ingredients gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Form and Dredge Patties: Shape the seasoned meat mixture into even-sized patties using your hands. Place about 1 cup of all-purpose flour in a shallow dish and dredge each patty thoroughly on both sides to coat them lightly with flour.
- Sear the Patties: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is very hot, sear the patties in batches, cooking each side until golden brown. The inside of the patties will remain undercooked at this stage, which is intentional.
- Assemble and Bake: Transfer the browned patties to the prepared baking dish. Pour the prepared mushroom gravy evenly over all the patties. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil to keep moisture in.
- Bake Until Cooked Through: Place the covered baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the patties are cooked through and the gravy is bubbling and thickened.
Notes
- Do not overmix the ground beef mixture to keep the patties tender.
- Using crushed saltine crackers adds moisture and binds the patties without using bread crumbs.
- The initial searing step is key for flavor and texture; don’t skip it even though patties won’t be fully cooked.
- Covering the baking dish ensures the gravy stays creamy and the patties cook evenly.
- Optional: Serve with mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 patty with gravy (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
