Hamburger Steak with Onion Gravy is a comforting, easy meal. It’s done in just 30 minutes and only uses easy ingredients. Salisbury steak is a family favorite for holidays or special occasions.
I love to make special burgers for Father’s Day. If you want a great burger, try my Whiskey Burger and my Spicy Sriracha Burgers. They will not disappoint.
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Why this Hamburger Steak with Onion Gravy Recipe is a Keeper
I love this hamburger recipe because it’s a quick, easy and delicious one pan meal. This recipe is perfect to add to an easy dinner recipe stash.
- Classic Comfort: Juicy hamburger steaks are smothered in rich onion gravy that is perfectly comfortable.
- Budget Friendly: Made with simple ground beef and pantry staples.
- One-Pan Dinner: Easy cleanup and quick cooking.
- Family Favorite: A nostalgic meal that everyone loves.
- What to Serve with My Burgers: Apple Carrot Slaw, Loaded Pizza Fries, and my Homemade Strawberry Cake.
What is the Difference Between Hamburger Steak and Salisbury Steak?
Hamburgers are generally just meat and seasoning, while Salisbury steak often contains an egg and breadcrumbs in the meat patties.
Pro Tip for Onion Gravy
Finish with a tiny splash of apple cider vinegar or Dijon mustard.
Just ½ teaspoon.
It brightens the gravy and makes the beef taste beefier
Ingredient Notes for Hamburger Steak and Gravy Recipe
This recipe uses easy, fresh ingredients that pack a punch of flavor.
This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Ground Beef: Use a 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio for this recipe. The amount of fat brings just enough flavor and texture.
- Onion: One large onion ends up being about 1.5 cups of onion, or you can use two, small-medium sized onions. Thinly slice for sautéed and minced the rest.
- Beef Broth: This is what will bring together the gravy. I prefer to use low or reduced sodium broth to control the salt content.
- All Purpose Seasoning: You can use a store bought seasoned salt for this part, or you can make your own with garlic powder, onion powder salt and pepper. This is a good place to change up the flavor with Cajun Seasoning, if you want.
Variations for Hamburger Steak and Brown Gravy
This easy to make recipe is customizable. I like to take it to the next level by adding different veggies or trying different flavors.
➡️ Add Mushrooms: Cook sliced mushrooms with the onions for mushroom onion gravy.
➡️ Use Ground Turkey: Swap ground beef for turkey for a lighter option.
➡️ Add Garlic: Stir minced garlic, or garlic powder, into the onions for extra flavor.
➡️ Add Herbs: Sprinkle parsley or thyme over the finished dish.
➡️ Oil: If you don’t have or want to use vegetable oil, you could use olive oil instead.
Special Equipment Needed/Kitchen Tools To Make It Easier
Make this hamburger steak and gravy with onions recipe perfectly with a mandolin and a large skillet.
- Mandolin Slicer: Gives you perfectly even, thin onion slices in seconds. This helps the onions soften faster, caramelize more evenly, and melt beautifully into the gravy.
- Large Skillet or Cast‑Iron Pan: Essential for getting a deep, flavorful sear on the hamburger steaks and building the browned bits that make the gravy rich.
How to Make Hamburger Steak and Gravy Recipe
This recipe comes together in just 3 quick and easy steps. These hamburger steaks with onion gravy are so good, my family can’t get enough of them.
These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Make Burger Mixture: Mix together the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, All Purpose Seasoning and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Then, mix in the minced onion. Flatten and form the mixture into 8 beef patties and set aside.
- Sear Patties: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the vegetable oil. When hot, add in the sliced onions and patties. Cook the onions and patties for a few minutes on each side to let them brown. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Make Gravy and Cook Patties: Reduce heat to medium-low, and melt the butter to then whisk in the flour. Mix in the beef broth, All Purpose Seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Add patties to the gravy, cover, stirring occasionally, and let simmer until done.
Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips for Gravy and Onions
Preparing ingredients ahead of time can help to save me time and kitchen space when it comes to making the recipe.
➡️ Form Patties Ahead: Prepare hamburger steaks up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate.
➡️ Slice Onions Early: Store sliced onions in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
➡️ Mix Gravy Base: Combine broth and seasonings beforehand.
Alternate Cooking Methods
Make this classic recipe in the oven or crockpot with a couple tweaks.
- Slow Cooker: Brown patties first, then cook with onions and gravy ingredients on low for 4–5 hours. High heat doesn’t usually result in tender enough patties.
- Oven Method: Brown patties and add onions. Then finish simmering in a covered skillet in the oven and serve with gravy on top.
What Kind of Ground Beef Works Best?
A lean, 80/20 blend of ground beef works perfectly for these hamburger patties with gravy.
How Do You Keep Hamburger Patty From Falling Apart?
Including an egg and breadcrumbs in the meat mixture helps hold it all together. Also, giving the patties a good, deep brown sear helps it from falling apart when thoroughly cooking.
Store and Use Leftover Hamburger Steak with Onion Gravy
- Storing: Store hamburger steak with gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Warm gently in a skillet or microwave until heated through. Flip burgers halfway through for even heating.
- Using Leftovers: Slice leftover hamburger steak and serve over a starch like mashed potatoes, rice or noodles.
Expert Tips for the Making Southern-Style Skillet Meal
➡️Do Not Overmix: Overworking ground beef makes patties dense.
➡️Brown First: A good sear adds flavor to both the patties and gravy. You know you’ve added the flavor when the patties are nicely browned.
➡️Scrape the Pan: Scrape up those browned bits off the bottom of the skillet when you add the beef broth to help build a rich gravy.
➡️Simmer Gently: Avoid boiling the patties in gravy or they may become tough rather than tender.
➡️Thicken: If you need to thicken the gravy, stir in a cornstarch slurry while it simmers. Use a 1:1 cornstarch to water ratio.
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Hamburger Steak with Onion Gravy
Equipment
- Food processor optional
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Ingredients
Hamburger Steak
- 1 ½ pounds Lean ground beef, 80/20 blend
- ¼ cup Bread crumbs
- 1 Egg
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
- ½ cup Minced onion
- 1 Tablespoon Vegetable oil
- 1 cup Thinly sliced onion
Onion Gravy
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 Tablespoons All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, bread crumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce and All Purpose Seasoning. Set aside.
- Finely mince the onion. I use a mini food process for this. Add the onion to the beef mixture and mix until combined.
- Form the beef into 8 oval shaped patties.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil.
- Add the sliced onions and patties and cook for 2-3 minutes, until browned on each side. They will not be fully cooked at this point.
- Remove the patties from the pan and set aside.
- Turn the heat to medium-low and add the butter.
- When the butter has melted, add the flour and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and All Purpose Seasoning Blend and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits.
- Return the patties to the pan, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the patties are cooked through.
Christina’s Notes
- Go Easy on the Mixing: Handle the ground beef gently. Overmixing packs it too tightly and leads to dense patties.
- Get a Deep Brown Sear: Let the patties take on real color before moving on. That golden crust is where so much of the flavor for both the patties and the gravy comes from.
- Use Those Browned Bits: When you pour in the broth, scrape up every little browned bit from the bottom of the skillet. They melt into the liquid and build a richer, more flavorful gravy.
- Keep the Simmer Low: Let the patties gently simmer in the gravy. A hard boil can make them tough instead of tender.
- Thicken as Needed: If the gravy needs a boost, stir in a cornstarch slurry (equal parts cornstarch and cold water) while it simmers until it reaches your perfect consistency.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.