Poor Man’s Steak

The yummiest recipe ever, enjoy this easy poor man’s steak recipe with juicy, flavorful ground beef, smothered in a delicious mushroom gravy.

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The ultimate comfort food, this poor man’s steak recipe will become a regular on your dinner table. Juicy ground beef smothered in creamy mushroom gravy is an easy and delicious meal that the whole family will enjoy.

Poor Man’s Steak Ingredients

You’ll need:

For the Steaks

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1½ cups saltine crackers, crushed
• 1 cup whole milk
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 cup flour for dredging (or more if needed)
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the Mushroom Gravy

• 2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1½ cups whole milk
• 1½ tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Substitutions and Additions

BEEF: For a less greasy poor man’s steak, use lean or extra lean ground beef. 

SOUP: Any creamy soup will do in this yummy gravy. 

VEGGIES: Add more vegetables to the dish by adding in onions when cooking the hamburger, or add them into the gravy. I like using fresh or canned mushrooms, peas, or corn.

MILK: Whole milk makes this recipe extra creamy but you can also use 1% or 2% milk in its place.

How to Make This Poor Man’s Steak Recipe

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.

STEP TWO: Whisk together the cream of mushroom soup and milk in a medium bowl, then stir in the chopped parsley. Set aside.

STEP THREE: Mix ground beef, saltine cracker crumbs, milk, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

PRO TIP: If you want to reduce the salt in this recipe, use saltine crackers with unsalted tops. 

STEP FOUR: Combine the ingredients until mixed, then shape into similar-sized patties.

STEP FIVE: In a shallow dish, pour in 1 cup of flour and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the patties in the flour.

STEP SIX: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt butter, then add olive oil. Once the skillet is hot, sear the patties on both sides until golden brown. 

PRO TIP: You want to cook your patties in a single layer so you may have to sear them in batches. These will continue to cook in the oven. 

STEP SEVEN: Once browned, place the patties in the greased baking dish. Evenly pour the gravy over the patties, then cover the dish with aluminum foil.

PRO TIP: The gravy can sometimes bubble up while cooking so cover the dish with foil and place your baking dish on a tray in the oven.

STEP EIGHT: Place the baking dish in a preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through.

How To Serve

These poor man’s steaks are filling on their own, but if you want to add more to the table, I recommend serving them alongside creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or roasted broccoli. 

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: In an airtight container, store the leftover hamburger steaks in the fridge for up to 3 days.

IN THE FREEZER: Both the raw patties and cooked leftovers freeze great! Store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.

REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: To reheat, just pop them into the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through. 

This flavorful poor man’s steak comes together easily, so it’s perfect for a busy weeknight or anytime you need a serving of warm and satisfying comfort food.

FAQ:

Question: Can I prep this poor man’s steak recipe ahead of time?

Answer: Yes you can! It can sit in the fridge, ready for the oven for up to 8 hours, so it’s a great recipe to prep ahead. Just be careful and don’t put a cold glass pan in the oven or it could crack. Allow it to warm up to room temperature first.

Question: Does this recipe double well?

Answer: This poor man’s steak recipe doubles very well! You may just need to sear the patties in batches and use multiple baking dishes or an extra large one to fit everything in.

Question: Can I use ground pork instead of beef?

Answer: Yes, you can use any ground meat you want! We also love a beef and pork blend. 

Poor Man’s Steak

The yummiest recipe ever, enjoy this easy poor man’s steak recipe with juicy, flavorful ground beef, smothered in a delicious mushroom gravy.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Ingredients

  

Steaks

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1½ cups saltine crackers crushed
• 1 cup whole milk
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne
• salt and pepper to taste for the flour dredge and patties
• 1 cup flour for dredging or more if needed
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Mushroom Gravy

• 21.5 ounces cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1½ cups whole milk
• 1½ tablespoons fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soups and milk and then stir in the chopped parsley. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crushed saltines, milk, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Using a spoon or your hands, combine the ingredients until mixed. Gently form into even-sized patties.
• Place 1 cup of flour in a shallow dish. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Dredge all the patties in the flour.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter and add the olive oil. Once hot, sear patties on both sides until golden brown. Work in batches. It will continue cooking in the oven.
• Transfer the browned patties to the greased baking dish. Pour the gravy evenly over the top of the patties. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Place baking dish in the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until cooked through.

Notes

Try to use lean ground beef so you don’t end up having your steaks turn out really greasy.

You can put this recipe together up to eight hours in advance and keep it in the fridge, so it’s a great option when you know you’ll have a busy evening.

I like to make the patties on the big side as they will shrink down while cooking.

Keyword Poor Man’s Steak Recipe