Ingredients
1 ½ lbs ground beef: Provides the base for the hamburger steaks, creating a rich and savory component. Alternatives: Ground turkey or ground chicken. Ground beef creates a rich, savory flavor, enhancing the overall taste.
½ cup breadcrumbs: Helps bind the patties and adds texture, creating a tender and cohesive patty. Alternatives: Rolled oats or crushed crackers. Breadcrumbs create a tender and cohesive patty, ensuring a good texture.
1 egg: Acts as a binder and adds moisture, creating a consistent and moist patty. Alternatives: Flax egg (for a vegan option). Eggs provide structure and moisture to the patties, ensuring a tender result.
¼ cup milk: Adds moisture and tenderness to the patties, creating a juicy and flavorful component. Alternatives: Beef broth or water. Milk creates a tender and juicy patty, enhancing the texture.
½ tsp salt: Enhances the flavor of the patties, creating a well-seasoned component. Alternatives: Sea salt or kosher salt. Salt enhances the overall flavor, ensuring a tasty patty.
½ tsp black pepper: Adds a peppery kick, creating a savory and flavorful component. Alternatives: White pepper or a blend of spices. Black pepper adds a classic savory flavor, enhancing the taste.
2 onions, thinly sliced: Provides a sweet, savory base for the gravy, creating a rich and caramelized component. Alternatives: Shallots or leeks. Onions add a rich, caramelized flavor, enhancing the gravy.
2 tbsp all-purpose flour: Thickens the gravy, creating a smooth and consistent sauce. Alternatives: Cornstarch or gluten-free flour. All-purpose flour creates a smooth gravy, ensuring a good texture.
2 cups beef broth: Adds a rich, savory flavor to the gravy, creating a deep and flavorful base. Alternatives: Vegetable broth or chicken broth. Beef broth provides a deep, savory base, enhancing the gravy.
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce: Adds depth and umami to the gravy, creating a complex and savory component. Alternatives: Soy sauce or balsamic vinegar. Worcestershire sauce adds a complex savory flavor, enhancing the taste.
1 tsp dried thyme: Adds an earthy, aromatic flavor to the gravy, creating a warm and herbaceous component. Alternatives: Dried rosemary or Italian seasoning. Thyme adds a warm, herbaceous note, enhancing the aroma.
Instructions
Step-by-Step Instructions: Your Guide to Hamburger Steak with Onions and Gravy Success – Easy and Clear
Prepare the Patties:
In a bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, salt, and pepper. This ensures a well-combined and flavorful patty mixture, creating a consistent texture.
Form into 4-6 patties. Shape the mixture into evenly sized patties, ensuring even cooking.
Brown the Patties:
Brown patties in a skillet over medium heat. This sears the patties and adds flavor, creating a rich taste.
Remove and set aside. This allows the patties to rest while you prepare the gravy, preventing overcooking.
Sauté the Onions:
In the same skillet, sauté onions until soft. This caramelizes the onions, adding sweetness and depth to the gravy, creating a rich sauce.
Sprinkle flour over onions, cook for 1 minute. This creates a roux, which thickens the gravy, ensuring a smooth texture.
Make the Gravy:
Gradually stir in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. This creates a rich, savory gravy, enhancing the flavor profile.
Bring to a simmer. This allows the flavors to meld and the gravy to thicken, creating a rich sauce.
Simmer the Patties:
Return patties to skillet, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the gravy thickens. This ensures the patties are cooked and the gravy is rich and flavorful, creating a complete dish.
Ensure the meat is cooked through. You can check this by cutting into a patty; it should be cooked all the way through, no pink should remain. This ensures safe consumption.