Description
Hearty Amish Poor Man’s Steak delivers budget-friendly comfort straight from rural Pennsylvania kitchens, blending ground beef, crackers, and simple seasonings into a rustic family favorite. Savory and satisfying, this classic dish promises budget-conscious cooks a delicious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef, raw
Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup cracker crumbs, finely crushed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces or 298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can (10.5 ounces or 298 grams) water or broth
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, thoroughly blend ground beef with milk, cracker crumbs, salt, pepper, and finely chopped onion until ingredients are evenly distributed and cohesive.
- Form the meat mixture into a compact loaf, wrap securely with plastic film, and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld and texture to firm.
- Remove chilled loaf and slice into uniform 1/2-inch thick patties, ensuring even thickness for consistent cooking.
- Gently coat each patty with a light dusting of flour, shaking off excess to create a delicate, crisp exterior.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a thin layer of oil, carefully placing patties to avoid overcrowding.
- Cook patties for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and developing a crisp crust, then transfer to a baking dish.
- Whisk mushroom soup with water or broth until smooth, creating a creamy, rich gravy with consistent texture.
- Pour prepared gravy evenly over browned meat patties, ensuring complete coverage.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 45-60 minutes until gravy bubbles and meat is heated thoroughly.
- Serve hot over creamy mashed potatoes or tender egg noodles, generously coating with the savory mushroom gravy.
Notes
- Chill the mixture thoroughly to help the patties hold their shape and prevent crumbling during cooking.
- Use low-fat ground beef or ground turkey for a leaner version of this classic comfort dish.
- Crush crackers finely to ensure even distribution and better binding of the meat mixture.
- Add herbs like thyme or parsley to the meat mixture for extra flavor depth without changing the traditional recipe.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg