Poor Man’s Steak

We love recipes that are easy to make, with not a lot of ingredients and that is why this Poor Man’s Steak is a family favorite. This recipe is hearty, delicious and full of flavor.

There is a variety of ways to make this simple ground beef recipe. Add a side of mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetables and your meal is complete. You may also love these Baked Hamburgers.

What is Poor Man’s Steak?

If you have never had Poor Man’s Steak then you will definitely want to try this easy recipe. This delicious meal starts by making a hamburger patty combining cracker crumbs and seasoning. Then the hamburger patty is rolled in flour and then the seared patties are fried in a skillet.

The hamburger patty’s are then cooked in the oven with smothered gravy. It then becomes poor man’s hamburger steak. This recipes gets its name because of steak is an expensive cut of meat.

Since hamburger is cheaper than steak, that is why this recipe was created. Some say that this taste like hamburger steak that poor people eat.

Ingredients

• Lean Hamburger Meat – Feel to substitute with ground turkey
• Saltine Cracker Crumbs – Substitute with breadcrumbs
• Italian Seasoning – Learn how to make Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe
• Cayenne Pepper – If you are out check out these Best Cayenne Pepper Substitute
• Garlic Powder – See The Best Garlic Powder Substitute if you are out.
• Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup – You may like to make Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe 

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

How to Make Poor Man’s Steak

• Step 1 – Prepare Oven and Baking Pan – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9X13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  

Step 2 – Combine Ingredients for Hamburger Patties – Mix together the hamburger meat, cracker crumbs and seasoning in a large mixing bowl (using your hands).  

Step 3 – Form the Hamburger patties – Then form the mixture into 8 hamburger patties.  Then roll the patties in the flour.  

Step 4 – Fry Hamburger Patties – Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Then melt the butter and fry the patties in the butter. Fry the hamburger patties over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are golden browned.  

Step 5 – Add Patties to baking dish – Then move the patties to the baking dish. In a medium size bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soups and the milk. Pour this mixture evenly over the top of the browned patties in the baking pan. 

• Step 6 – Bake Ingredients – Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 50-55 minutes. Bake until the steaks reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees or the top is golden brown.
• Step 7 – Serve and Enjoy – Remove, top with the fresh parsley and then the steaks are ready to serve and enjoy. This is the perfect recipe to served with mashed potatoes.

Expert Tips

• Use Lean Ground Beef – We recommend using lean ground beef so that the steaks are not greasy.  
• Make Large Patties – The patties will shrink down once they are cooked. So make sure to form the patties larger than you think they would need to be.  
• Pan Fry – Don’t skip pan frying hamburger patties before baking them. We think that it adds more flavor to the patties.
• Makes a lot – This recipe is perfect for our large family, but if you are making for your smaller you may want to cut the recipe in half.
• Add Mushrooms – If your family loves slice mushrooms, mix in some with this gravy. We love hamburger steak and mushroom gravy.
• Onion Powder – Add in some onion powder for some additional flavor.
• Instant Pot – You can make this recipe in the Instant Pot.
• Panko Bread Crumbs – Panko Bread Crumbs is a great alternative if you don’t have any saltine crackers.

What to Serve with Poor Man’s Steak

This hamburger steak recipes is the ultimate comfort food. We love to serve with these delicious side dishes to complete the meal.

• Baby Glazed Carrots
• Mashed Potatoes
• Garlic Bread

Can I Make this Recipe in the Crock Pot?

If you would rather make this recipe in the crock pot, follow these steps to make it in the slow cooker.

• Mix together hamburger patty ingredients – Mix the hamburger and the ingredients that are added and place in a loaf pan. Cover pan and refrigerator for up to 8 hours or overnight. This is a great idea to make in advance.
• Cut Hamburger – Cut the refrigerator hamburger loaf into slices.
• Sear Patties – Place hamburger patties in a large skillet and brown for about 2 minutes.
• Place in Crock Pot – Once hamburgers have cooked, place in the crock pot and pour mixed gravy ingredients over top.
• Cook – Once you have placed all ingredients in the crock pot, cook for about 6 to 8 hours.
• Serve and Enjoy – Add a side of potatoes and steamed vegetables and your meal is complete.