Hamburger Steak with Gravy

This delicious hamburger steak is cooked on the stovetop, covered and smothered in a thick gravy, and then simmered on low until done. It’s tender, juicy, and oh, so good!

Sometimes you just want something a little more than a hamburger. Don’t get me wrong, hamburgers are great. But at times, it’s nice to dress up that burger. This easy hamburger steak recipe with gravy and onions is just the thing to take an ordinary burger and make it extraordinary!

Why Should I Make This Recipe?

I cook a lot of meals with ground beef. It’s economical, easy to prepare, and there are so many dishes to make with ground beef. Some of my favorites are meatballs, meatballs and cheese, meatloaf, and Sloppy Joes.

Tonight I wanted something a little fancier than a hamburger patty. And, of course, I immediately thought about hamburger steak with gravy and onions. It’s always a hit with the family and requested often.

What About this Recipe is Fantastic?

Hamburger Steak is easy enough for a weeknight meal and quickly comes together. It just requires a little mixing and patting. The ingredients are simple, and the taste is huge. It’s completely foolproof and goes great over some garlic mashed potatoes—a great way to have a fancy meal on a budget.

Hamburger Steak vs. Salisbury Steak

Both Salisbury Steak and Hamburger Steak are made from ground beef. They are both formed into round patties. 

A hamburger steak is just ground beef with salt and pepper, shaped into patties, and browned in a skillet. Then your patties are smothered in an onion and mushroom gravy. 

Salisbury steaks contain binders like oatmeal, soup mix, and egg. 

Technically we are making a Salisbury steak, but here in the south, where I live, we call it hamburger steak. I like to keep it simple.

Ingredients Needed for the Best Hamburger Steak with Mushroom Gravy and Onions

The ingredients are very basic and most of the items are pantry staples.

• ground beef
• uncooked quick oats
• Worcestershire sauce
• Onion Soup Mix
• egg
• oil
• onion, thinly sliced
• mushrooms
• brown gravy mix

Gravy and Onions for Hamburger Steak

Gravy: Truth moment… I stink at making brown gravy from scratch. I’ve tried it many times, and so far–no dice. One day I hope to master this – but for now.. I stink at it. 

So what do I do about the gravy for this dish? I buy a great-tasting brand that I often use and enjoy. Since gravy is one of the main ingredients, I like to make sure there is plenty to cover the hamburgers and go on top of the mashed potatoes. I prefer to use a dry mix and add water. This seems to do the best for this recipe. The gravy cooks and thickens as the hamburger steaks finish cooking.

Onions: In my opinion, there can never be enough onions for this dish. I usually buy Vidalia Onions in bulk. They are my favorite, but they are only in season for a short time. Any onion will work for this recipe, choose your favorite–yellow, sweet, or white will be delicious. 

What Sides are Good with Hamburger Steak?

There are so many sides that would be fabulous with Hamburger Steak. My favorite potato recipes are garlic mashed potatoes, pan-fried potatoes and onions, and au gratin potatoes. I also love a good basic baked potato.

For more side dishes, be sure to try grilled corn on the cob, fried green beans, and parmesan zucchini fries. 

How to Make Homemade Hamburger Steaks

Combine: Combine the ground beef with the egg, oatmeal, onion soup, and Worcestershire sauce in a large mixing bowl. (I mix this up with my hands) Make into about 6-8 hamburgers. 

Brown Burgers: Heat oil in a skillet and brown beef on both sides about 2 minutes each side. Remove to a plate. 

Saute: Add onions and mushrooms in the same skillet with leftover oil and drippings from the hamburger. Cook for 7-10 minutes. Add gravy mix.

Cook on Low: Add hamburgers back to the skillet, turn the heat to low, and cook for about 15 minutes or until doneness desired. (My burgers were large and thick. However, I like them pink in the middle, so my time may differ from your time). 

Tips for Making the Best Hamburger Steaks

• Don’t overwork the meat. Just mix until everything is combined.

• Keep in mind that your burgers are going to shrink while they cook. So make them a little bigger. 

• You are just browning the patties on both sides. Then, you will finish cooking the patties with the onions and gravy. 

• Cook onions and mushrooms in the same skillet with the hamburger drippings for a great tasting dish.

• Choose a great brand of gravy for the best outcome. I like to use a dry mix and add water. Or make your gravy from scratch—your choice. 

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Hamburger Steak

Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.

To reheat: Place in the oven at 350 degrees and heat until warm all the way through. This usually takes about 15 minutes or so. Or microwave for a minute or two or until hot. 

Recipe Questions