Old-fashioned comfort. Rich gravy. No fuss.
This is the kind of dinner that feels like it belongs on a farmhouse table — hearty, simple, and made to feed hungry people. Tender hamburger steaks baked in creamy mushroom gravy… perfect over mashed potatoes or rice.
🛒 Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1½ cups saltine crackers, crumbled
- 1 cup milk (for beef mixture)
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Dash cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup milk (for gravy)
🥣 Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat & Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2️⃣ Make the Beef Mixture
In a large bowl, combine:
- Ground beef
- Crumbled saltines
- 1 cup milk
- Italian herbs
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne (optional)
- Salt & pepper
Mix until just combined — don’t overwork the meat.
3️⃣ Form the Steaks
Shape mixture into 8 patties, about ½-inch thick.
4️⃣ Coat & Brown
Lightly dredge each patty in flour, shaking off excess.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown patties 2–3 minutes per side until golden.
(They don’t need to cook through yet.)
5️⃣ Make the Gravy
In a bowl, whisk together:
- Cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup milk
Whisk until smooth.
6️⃣ Assemble & Bake
Place browned patties in baking dish in a single layer.
Pour gravy evenly over the top.
Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes, until bubbling and fully cooked.
Let rest a few minutes before serving.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Buttered egg noodles
- Steamed rice
- Fresh green beans or peas
Spoon extra gravy over everything.
💡 Helpful Tips
- Don’t skip browning — it builds flavor.
- Add sliced mushrooms or onions to the gravy if you want more texture.
- For extra richness, stir a spoonful of sour cream into the gravy before baking.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully.
🧊 Storage
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Reheat gently in oven or microwave
- Add a splash of milk if gravy thickens too much
This is one of those recipes that doesn’t try to be fancy.
It just works.
Warm, savory, filling — the kind of meal that makes everyone quiet at the table for a few minutes because they’re too busy eating.
