This delicious, tender Amish-inspired hamburger steak recipe is super affordable and simple to make.
Hey, y'all! When I was younger, we took a lot of trips to the Amish Country while visiting our family up north. My mom is borderline obsessed with the Amish culture so we would visit any chance we got. Many people hit up the Amish Country to gaze at the horse and buggies, to pick up handcrafted goods and to get a glimpse at the simpler life.
Don't get me wrong, I always loved that aspect of the trips too but my favorite thing about our visits was visiting the local restaurants. Amish eateries are the epitome of farm to table establishments and lemme tell you... the Amish can cook. Like really cook. The ingredients are always incredibly fresh- the fruits and vegetables are picked at their peak making them even more fabulous. Don't even get me started on the desserts!
We liked to visit buffets so we could sample all kinds of different dishes. One of my favorites was a beef patty smothered in a white gravy. To be honest, I didn't know the name of one of my favorite dishes until recently. I called it Amish Salisbury Steak but the real name is Poor Man's Hamburger Steaks. Okay...so maybe the name isn't the most appealing but let me tell you...there is something about hamburger patties covered in a delicious, creamy gravy that is so simple yet so incredibly comforting and satisfying. Over the years I've tried to play around the recipe to come up with something as so delicious and nostalgic as the dish that inspired this recipe.
The key to this recipe was creating a hamburger steak that stays moist and light. I tried achieving this many different ways but the secret is to use crushed saltines and milk. This whacky combination keeps the beef mixture moist and tender while also adding a little bit of flavor to the mixture. Once you have your hamburger steaks just right, dredge them in a wee bit of flour and sear the patties to lock in the flavor. Adding a layer of delicious gravy also helps to lock in the moisture while the dish bakes and the flavors all meld together.
I have to admit that I took a shortcut in this recipe that most Amish would disapprove of. Traditionally, the Amish make their own condensed cream of mushroom soup for recipes such of this. Yeah... not happening in this household. I substituted 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup in its place. Another substitution that I like to make is to swap out the saltines for my Nana's Ranch Flavored Oyster Crackers. Whipping up a batch of these guys takes just minutes! The seasonings from the oyster crackers help bring even more flavor to this dish.
This delicious, super affordable and ridiculously easy recipe is perfect for weeknights. It is a family favorite! I was a little nervous about feeding it to our 3-year-old foster son but he tore this stuff up! He even went back for seconds, which is saying a lot for him. You'll definitely want to save this recipe for later!
Ingredients: 2 pounds ground beef 1 sleeve of saltine crackers, crushed 1 cup milk (for the beef) + 1 1/2 cups milk (for the gravy) 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/2tsp Italian seasoning Salt and Pepper, to taste 1 cup All-purpose flour, or enough for dredging 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup 1 1/2 tbsp dried parsley
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup mix, 1 1/2 cups of milk and parsley. Set aside.
3. In a separate large bowl, combine ground beef, crushed saltines, 1 cup of milk, and remaining seasonings. Season with salt and pepper. Mix using your hands. Gently form into even-sized patties.
4. Place 1 cup of flour in a shallow dish. Dredge all of the patties.
5. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Wait until the pan is hot before adding the beef to the skillet. Sear the patties on both sides, or until golden brown. Keep in mind that the insides will still be undercooked.
6. Once seared, place the patties into the greased baking dish. Top evenly with the gravy. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until cooked through.
Be sure to save this recipe for later! It's perfect for the back-to-school season! Give me a like on Facebook or follow me on Instagram and Twitter for more simple, delicious and affordable recipes! See you next time!
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