Name: Easy Hamburger Steak with Homemade Onion Gravy
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 egg; 1/3 cup bread crumbs; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 2 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced; 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour; 1 cup beef broth

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If comfort food met a meat and potatoes eater, the ultimate recipe would start with this hamburger steak with homemade onion gravy. Whether it's served over the standard mashed potatoes, with rice, or even over egg noodles, one thing is for sure. This is a delicious comforting meal that is simple yet full of flavor, and dare I say, a bit of umami.

Hamburger Steak with Homemade Onion Gravy

When I was a toddler, my mother and I were in a car accident that left her in a wheelchair and me in a full-body cast. While there are many rough days involved in healing for both of us, one thing is for sure. I had a lot of hamburger steaks during that time. You see, one meal my dad was very good at making happened to be a hamburger steak. He served it with baked potatoes (made in the microwave for a fast side), and my favorite, green beans.

This meal, as it was easy for him and loved by all of us, became a go-to in my life, and to this day, is one of the things I crave when I miss my family. Being so far apart from them now makes it tough, but I can go to the kitchen and whip up this dish and serve up a meal that is delicious, easy and reminds me of my Daddy all at the same time.

What Cut of Meat is a Hamburger Steak?

I don't know who coined the term, but a hamburger steak is really just ground beef patties very similar to what you would have on a bun as a hamburger. Some people add breadcrumbs and egg to bind them and make them similar to a mini meatloaf. Others just season the meat and throw it into a pan. One thing is for sure, this meat is often served with gravy and always a budge meal.

The cut of meat is your everyday ground beef. I reach for lean ground beef with 7% fat, but you could use a fattier option if that's what your family prefers. This can be made with ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground pork if you wanted, but it's best with a good ground chuck.

What Goes with Hamburger Steaks?

In our house, it was always served with baked potato and green beans. For others, hamburger steak is a must with mashed potatoes or rice. Since it is super versatile, below are a few ideas that you could consider for serving when you make this dish.

Southern Style Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Slices of Soft Potato Bread or this Garlic Parmesan Pull Apart Bread
A side of Crispy Seasoned Cottage Fries
Classic Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Potato Bites orLeftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
Homemade Egg Noodles

What Onion is Best for Making Gravy?

In our house, the yellow onion reigns supreme. There are different options for different flavors, but the sweetness of the yellow onion is what I find myself grabbing most often. I like that it, in the words of my husband, doesn't bite back as much as the white onion.

For a rich gravy, you may prefer a white onion, but I think the yellow onion mellows out the meal nicely and pairs well with the richness of the fattier beef. So, for me, the yellow onion is one to choose, but you can use any onion you have on hand for this gravy. Minor changes in flavor will still be delicious over this hamburger steak.

Ingredients

Vegetable oil
Ground beef
Egg
Breadcrumbs
Worcestershire sauce
Salt
Black pepper
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Yellow onion
All-purpose flour
Beef broth

How to Make Hamburger Steaks and Onion Gravy

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, teaspoon salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce until incorporated and well combined.

Divide the meat mixture into at least 4 portions and pat out into patties. You can also make these smaller for faster cook time and serve multiple patties per portion.

Add the vegetable oil to a medium skillet and heat over medium heat.

When hot but not smoking, add the patties into the skillet in a single layer.

Cook the patties on each side for 3-4 minutes on each side or until nicely browned.

Remove the patties from the skillet and set aside.

To the skillet, add the onions and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened.

Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir to combine breaking up any cooked-on food from the bottom of the skillet.

Stir in the beef broth and whisk to remove any lumps then cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until it begins to thicken.

Add the patties back to the mixture, reduce heat to low, and simmer for another 3-5 minutes until the meat is cooked through and the gravy has thickened.

Season the gravy to taste with salt if needed, and serve with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Chef's Tip

I admit that one of my favorite kitchen tools is a simple hamburger shaper. This helps me make patties exact sizes. While it isn't necessary, it's a handy option to get nice uniform patties, and is especially handy if you are working to keep macros the same in your meals.

More Tasty Comfort Food Recipes

Comfort foods come in many shapes and sizes, and what comforts you may be different for me. That said, there are tons of great comforting recipes here to share, and below are a few I especially enjoy.

The classic homestyle baked chicken paprikash recipe is a family favorite and if you like that flavor, you'll also enjoy the traditional Hungarian goulash recipe. Pasta and meat in a rich sauce are always a favorite and these are perfect for satisfying the meat and potatoes fans. You may also love my copycat IKEA Swedish meatballs or a simple bean and sausage casserole.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 4