Poor man’s steak, also known as Amish poor man’s steak or hamburger steak, offers the comfort of steak. It comes without the expensive price tag. The juicy hamburger steaks nestle in a creamy mushroom gravy that slow-cooks to perfection. Served over mashed potatoes or noodles, this recipe becomes a hearty dinner that will make you feel quite well-off!

The recipe is easy to prepare. Cooks of any level can pull off this delicious steak and gravy dinner. It’s also one of those classic comfort food recipes that’s easy to make ahead. Prepare the ground beef mixture the night before, and cook the steaks in the slow cooker the next day.

Poor Man’s Steak Ingredients

• Ground beef: You can make hamburger steaks with any type of ground beef, but we recommend avoiding extra lean beef. Blends with more fat (like ground sirloin, ground round or ground chuck) will be juicier and won’t dry out as they cook.
• Saltine crackers: The crackers work as a binder, holding the ground beef together into a firm patty. Saltines are the traditional choice, but feel free to substitute other crushed crackers or dry bread crumbs instead.
• All-purpose flour: Dredging the steaks in flour creates a golden brown crust on the seared beef.
• Condensed cream of mushroom soup: Condensed soup creates a flavorful gravy without any added effort. If you don’t care for mushrooms, you can use another condensed soup like cream of celery or cream of chicken. Homemade cream of chicken soup works in this recipe too.
• Hot mashed potatoes or noodles: Serve the steaks with hot mashed potatoes or noodles to create a hearty, comforting dinner.
• Minced fresh parsley: Parsley is optional. Sprinkle it on the steaks before serving to give them a pop of color and a fresh finish.

Taste of Home