This hamburger steaks with onion gravy recipe is an old school soul food dish in the South. Considered a classic comfort food meal, it combines seasoned ground beef patties with a flavorful onion gravy, creating a hearty and satisfying meal.
Break out your pots and pans, folks! It’s freezing outside and we are cooking up something cozy and comforting. These country hamburger steak and gravy recipe is a kindred cousin of our famous smothered Southern oxtail recipe.
Ground beef patties are browned and cooked in a rich, brown, flavorful onion gravy and then served over creamy whipped mashed potatoes. It’s the epitome of soul food and one of my favorite one-pot comfort food recipes.
Even the pickiest of eaters love this recipe! As a family of eight, we are always looking for budget-friendly meals that will make everyone in our crew happy. Our kids devoured these hamburger steaks, and the gravy too! Pair it with mashed potatoes, collards, cabbage, cornbread, or black-eyed peas for a complete, satisfying meal.
For more dinner recipes, check out our Soul Food Sunday Dinner Ideas roundup.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Garlic (roasted)
- Worcestershire sauce
- Soul Food Seasoning
- Oil
Onion Gravy
- Onion
- Flour
- Butter
- Beef Broth
- Soul Food Seasoning
Note: Brown onion gravy is a savory and flavorful sauce made from caramelized onions, broth (such as beef or vegetable broth), and seasonings. It is often used as a topping for dishes like meats, mashed potatoes, and roasted vegetables.
How to Make Hamburger Steak and Gravy
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, oven roasted garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and soul food seasoning. Gently mix until all ingredients are incorporated. If using raw garlic, mince before mixing with ground beef.
- Form the ground beef mixture into 6-ounce patties. Heat cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the hamburger steaks on each side for approximately 2 minutes, or until they develop a golden-brown crust. Once seared, remove the hamburger steaks from the pan and set them aside.
- Prepare Onion Gravy: Reduce heat to medium and add 3 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Add onion slices and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the onion becomes tender.
- Stir in all-purpose flour, forming a thick paste. Slowly whisk in beef broth to the skillet, preventing any clumps from forming. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Adjust the flavor with seasoning according to your taste.
- Return the seared hamburger steaks to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until the steaks reach an internal temperature of 160°F. For a smoother consistency of the gravy, add 1 tablespoon of butter and stir until melted.
- Serve the hamburger steaks and gravy over a bed of mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort food meal.
What to Serve
Whipped mashed potatoes are a classic and comforting choice. Here’s a basic mashed potato recipe featuring baby white creamer potatoes – they offer a smooth and rich texture that complements hamburger steak and gravy.
Whipped Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- 3 pounds baby white creamer potatoes
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Place the potatoes in a large pot of cold, salted water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook until they are fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain potatoes and pass them through a potato ricer into a large mixing bowl. If you don’t have a potato ricer, you can use a masher or fork to mash. Add the softened butter, then use a hand mixer on low speed to whip.
- Pour in the sour cream, whole milk, and heavy cream. Continue using the hand mixer on low speed to whip until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning gradually, tasting as you go.
- Increase the speed of the hand mixer to medium and whip for a couple of minutes until light and fluffy. Be careful not to overmix.
- Serve whipped mashed potatoes immediately while warm with hamburger steaks and onion gravy.
More Serving Suggestions
- Creamed Corn: Sweet, tender corn kernels are simmered in a rich, creamy sauce, making this dish a true comfort classic that’s easy to prepare and impossible to resist.
- Collard Greens: Collard greens seasoned with ham hocks or collard greens with smoked turkey provide a hearty and flavorful side that balances the richness of the beef and gravy.
- Boiled Cabbage: This Southern cabbage recipe features boiled cabbage in a smoky, meaty broth with seasonings and spices.
- Macaroni and Cheese: We have two recipes: Southern mac and cheese and Gouda mac and cheese.
- Cornbread: Sweet or savory cornbread makes for a classic Southern accompaniment. We have two versions: Southern cornbread and sweet potato cornbread.
- Black-Eyed Peas: Seasoned black-eyed peas provide a protein-packed and flavorful side dish that’s both traditional and delicious.
- Rice: Serve the hamburger steaks and onion gravy over a bed of rice for a satisfying and wholesome option.
- Steamed or Roasted Vegetables: Serve a side of veggies such as roasted zucchini, green beans, carrots, or asparagus.
- Garlic Bread or Dinner Rolls: Enjoy some crusty garlic bread or soft dinner rolls on the side. They are perfect for soaking up the delicious onion gravy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Maintain Patty Thickness: When forming the ground beef mixture into patties, aim for consistent thickness. This helps ensure even cooking, preventing some parts from being overcooked while others are undercooked. Using a cake ring or biscuit cutter (see above), burger press, or shaping them with your hands while keeping an even thickness will yield more uniform results.
- Preheat the Skillet for Searing: Ensure your skillet is thoroughly preheated before searing the hamburger steaks. A hot skillet helps create a flavorful crust on the patties. To test if it’s ready, flick a few drops of water onto the skillet – they should sizzle and evaporate quickly.
- Deglaze the Skillet for Flavorful Gravy: After searing the hamburger steaks, the browned bits left in the skillet (fond) contain loads of flavor. Deglaze the skillet by adding a small amount of beef broth and scraping the bottom with a spatula to incorporate those flavorful bits into the gravy. This step enhances the overall taste of the dish.
- Gradual Whisking for Smooth Gravy: When whisking in the beef broth to create the gravy, add it slowly and whisk continuously. This gradual process helps prevent lumps from forming, resulting in a smoother and velvety gravy. Take your time to achieve the desired consistency.
- Resting Time for Juicy Patties: Allow the seared hamburger steaks to rest for a few minutes before serving. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute within the meat, ensuring each bite is flavorful and juicy. Tent the patties with foil to keep them warm while resting.
How do I know when the hamburger steaks are fully cooked?
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the hamburger steaks. They should reach at least 160°F (71°C) to ensure they are fully cooked and safe to eat.
How can I adjust the thickness of the gravy?
If the gravy is too thick, you can add more broth to achieve the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, you can simmer it for a bit longer to allow it to reduce and thicken.
What type of potato should I use for mashed potatoes?
Yukon Gold, Russet, white creamer, or red potatoes are commonly used for mashed potatoes.
Summary
Hamburger steaks with onion gravy are affordable, simple, and filling, making them a popular choice among large families and a staple Southern dinner recipe. Serve with mashed potatoes, collard greens, cornbread, or black-eyed peas for a delicious, well-rounded, and satisfying Southern meal.
Hamburger Steaks with Onion Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef preferably 80/20
- 4 cloves roasted garlic if using raw garlic, mince before mixing with ground beef
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soul food seasoning
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
Gravy
- 1 large white onion
- 5 tablespoons flour
- 4 tablespoons butter divided
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water as needed
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- soul food seasoning as needed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, roasted garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and soul food seasoning. Gently mix until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Form the ground beef mixture into six 6-ounce patties.
- Heat cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear the hamburger steaks on each side for approximately 2 minutes, or until they develop a golden-brown crust. Once seared, remove the hamburger steaks from the pan and set them aside.
- Prepare Onion Gravy: Reduce heat to medium and add 3 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Add onion slices and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the onion becomes tender.
- Stir in all-purpose flour, forming a thick paste.
- Slowly whisk in beef broth to the skillet, preventing any clumps from forming. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Adjust the flavor with seasoning according to your taste.
- Return the seared hamburger steaks to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until the steaks reach an internal temperature of 160°F. For a smoother consistency of the gravy, add 1 tablespoon of butter and stir until melted.
- Serve the hamburger steaks and gravy over a bed of mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort food meal.