Here’s a classic, comforting recipe for smothered hamburger steak—juicy beef patties in a rich onion gravy:
Ingredients (Serves 4)
For the patties:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the gravy:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the patties:
- In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, chopped onion, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Mix gently and form into 4 oval patties.
- Cook the patties:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a little oil or butter.
- Brown the patties on both sides (about 3–4 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.
- Make the gravy:
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté sliced onions until soft and golden.
- Sprinkle flour over the onions and stir to make a roux (cook 1–2 minutes).
- Gradually whisk in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Cook until slightly thickened.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Smother the steaks:
- Return the patties to the skillet, spooning some gravy over them.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10–15 minutes so the patties cook through and soak up the gravy.
- Serve:
- Serve hot with mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles to soak up all that gravy.
💡 Tips:
- You can add mushrooms to the gravy for extra flavor.
- For creamier gravy, stir in a splash of milk or cream at the end.
- Browning the patties well gives more flavor to both the meat and the gravy.
I can also give you a quick skillet version where everything is done in under 30 minutes if you want to save time. Do you want me to do that?
