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Juicy Poor Man's Steak

Featured in Evening Meal Excellence.

Soft burger patties mixed with crushed crackers, milk, and spices. Coated in flour, fried lightly in butter, and covered in dreamy mushroom sauce. Perfect paired with noodles or mashed potatoes. Quick, freezer-friendly, and can work gluten-free for family meals.
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Ranah
Updated on Sat, 19 Apr 2025 20:58:48 GMT
A baking dish filled with tender beef patties, showcasing a homey, wallet-friendly meal called poor man's steak. Pin it
A baking dish filled with tender beef patties, showcasing a homey, wallet-friendly meal called poor man's steak. | chefemmakitchen.com

Take ordinary ground beef and make it into an amazing poor man's steak that tastes just as good as pricey cuts. This old-fashioned meal pairs well-seasoned burger patties with thick mushroom gravy, giving you a budget-friendly dinner that's super tasty. You'll get juicy meat with a crispy outside all covered in smooth, creamy sauce.

Back on our family farm, we'd always have this as our special Sunday meal. When the meat was cooking and that gravy was bubbling, everyone would rush to the kitchen ready to dig in.

Key Ingredients

  • Top-notch ground beef: Mix of round and chuck for best taste
  • Crisp crackers: Saltines help everything stick together
  • Vidalia onions: They bring moisture and sweet flavor
  • Basic spices: Nothing fancy needed to make the meat shine
  • Condensed mushroom soup: The secret to that smooth, rich sauce

Cooking Process

Mix Your Ingredients
  • Stir beef with crumbled crackers, milk, and spices without overworking.
Shape Into Steaks
  • Press mixture into even-sized thick patties so they'll cook the same way.
Add The Coating
  • Roll each patty in flour to get that nice golden outside later.
Get A Good Sear
  • Cook patties in melted butter until they're dark golden brown for extra flavor.
Arrange For Baking
  • Put browned patties in a baking dish with some space between them.
Prep The Gravy
  • Mix soup and milk together well, then pour it all over your patties.
Finish In The Oven
  • Bake everything until the meat's soft and the sauce is hot and bubbly.

My grandma always told me you can't rush the browning step when making poor man's steak - those crispy edges are what makes it so good.

A casserole dish filled with meatballs, depicting a wholesome and affordable meal often termed poor man's steak. Pin it
A casserole dish filled with meatballs, depicting a wholesome and affordable meal often termed poor man's steak. | chefemmakitchen.com

Perfect Pairings

Make this simple dish even better by putting it on top of fluffy mashed potatoes that soak up all that yummy gravy. Sprinkle some fresh parsley on top and serve with bright green veggies like broccoli or Brussels sprouts for a pretty plate. Want the full diner experience? Add some buttered corn, homemade slaw, and warm rolls to mop up every bit of that sauce.

Fun Twists

Give this old favorite some new life by playing with different flavors. You can throw in some cooked mushrooms to make the gravy richer, or mix Italian herbs or Cajun spices into your meat. Try switching up the soup base with cream of onion or cream of celery for a different taste. Want something lighter? Use ground turkey or chicken instead, but you'll need to adjust your seasonings. You can also mix cheese into the meat or top everything with slow-cooked onions.

Keeping Leftovers

Make your poor man's steak last by keeping it in sealed containers. It'll stay tasty in your fridge for about three days, which makes it great for planning meals ahead. Need to store it longer? Put uncooked patties between sheets of wax paper and stick them in the freezer for up to three months. When you're warming leftovers up, add a splash of milk or broth to keep the gravy from getting too thick, and heat it slowly in your oven or microwave until it's hot all the way through.

A filled casserole dish showcasing meatballs, symbolizing a comforting and economical dish often referred to as poor man's steak. Pin it
A filled casserole dish showcasing meatballs, symbolizing a comforting and economical dish often referred to as poor man's steak. | chefemmakitchen.com

Final Thoughts

Our family's been making this poor man's steak for years, showing that basic ingredients can make meals you'll always remember. The recipe isn't complicated, but paying attention to how you form and brown the patties really makes it special. Just remember that good comfort food isn't rushed - let each cooking step finish properly for the tastiest results.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I replace crackers with breadcrumbs?
Absolutely! Switch crushed saltines for an equal measure of breadcrumbs.
→ How can I make it free of gluten?
Opt for gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs for a gluten-safe option.
→ What's the best way to store leftovers?
Pop everything into a sealed container and refrigerate for 3 days max. Warm up again on the stove or in the microwave.
→ Is freezing okay for this dish?
Totally fine! Freeze cooked patties and sauce in portions for 3 months. Let them defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
→ What should I serve alongside?
Perfect matches are mashed potatoes, butter-coated noodles, or some roasted veggies.

Juicy Poor Man's Steak

A cozy meal of juicy meat patties coated in a creamy mushroom sauce, taking inspiration from traditional Amish comfort food.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
65 Minutes
Total Time
95 Minutes
By: emma

Category: Dinner

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Amish

Yield: 8 Servings (8 patties)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

→ Main Ingredients

01 1 cup milk
02 ½ small onion, finely chopped
03 2 lb. ground beef
04 ½ tsp. garlic powder
05 1 cup crushed saltine crackers (roughly 28 crackers)
06 ½ tsp. chili powder
07 1 ½ tsp. salt
08 ½ tsp. black pepper
09 ¼–½ cup flour, for coating
10 3 Tbs. butter for frying

→ Gravy

11 1 to 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
12 1 ½ cups milk (use the empty soup can to measure)

Instructions

Step 01

In a big bowl, combine the milk, crushed crackers, onion, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Toss in the ground beef and mix well until everything's combined.

Step 02

Take the mixture and divide it into 8 even parts. Shape each into a thick patty.

Step 03

Dunk each patty into the flour, making sure it's coated all over.

Step 04

Heat the butter in a skillet over medium-high. Sear the patties on both sides until they turn golden and develop a nice crust.

Step 05

Place the browned patties in a 9×13-inch dish. Mix the cream of mushroom soup and milk together and pour it over the patties.

Step 06

Cover the dish and bake in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 50–55 minutes. Uncover it and bake for an extra 10 minutes to thicken up the gravy.

Step 07

Dish out the patties while hot. They go great with mashed potatoes, noodles, or any side dish you love.

Notes

  1. To make it easier, crush the saltines in a zip bag with a rolling pin.
  2. Want more or less gravy? Use one can of soup for less, or two for more.
  3. You can swap milk in the gravy for water if you'd like.
  4. Store leftovers in the freezer for up to three months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before warming it up.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large bowl for mixing
  • Plastic bag (for crushing crackers)
  • Rolling pin
  • Big skillet
  • Baking dish (9×13-inch size)
  • Measuring tools (cups and spoons)

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Includes dairy (butter, cream of mushroom soup).
  • Works for gluten-free diets if you use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 482
  • Total Fat: 20 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein: 29 g