These Hamburger “Steaks” are the ultimate comfort food meal that’s an old-school delicacy. Seasoned ground beef shaped into patties and browned and smothered in rich onion gravy. This recipe has deep Southern roots and makes for an easy, delicious meal that folks will love. Serve these meltingly tender hamburger steaks alongside mashed potatoes and peas for a super comforting, homestyle meal!

hamburger steaks with onion gravy in blue skillet

Friends, how we doing? I hope you’re holding up as best as you can and enjoying this time of year. I mean, can y’all believe Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks?! I’m spending the next two months packing and moving houses. Moving during the holidays feels cruel because ain’t much time to decorate and be festive, ha. However, I’m super hype about my new spot and can’t wait to settle on in. Listen, I’ve got many recipes to share with you before the year ends, too!

Hamburger Steaks with Onion Gravy 😋

I can’t begin to tell you how much I adore this recipe. These hamburger “steaks” smothered in rich and flavor-loaded onion gravy hit the soul nicely. This dish is an iconic Southern classic that’s up there with staples like cornbread and collard greens. It’s easy to make, deeply comforting, and just so damn good!

hamburger steaks with mashed potatoes and peas in bowl

Here’s Why You’ll Enjoy ♡:

COZY GOODNESS. Do you remember those old-school, TV dinner-style meals? These hamburger steaks have always reminded me of them. It was one of my best-loved recipes that my mom made growing up because it has that signature comfort food feeling that hits the spot!

EASY WITH FLAVOR GALORE. This dish is super simple yet filled with flavorrr and plenty of depth. The patties themselves are seasoned well and the gravy is gravy-ing to the max lol. Also, it comes together with a quickness and makes for the perfect weeknight-friendly recipe.

SOUTHERN FLAIR. If you’re a longtime BBR reader, you already know that Southern-style recipes are my jam. These types of recipes are some of my favorites to preserve and share on the website! Hamburger steaks are such a nostalgic meal that hails from the American South.

ingredients for hamburger steaks with onion gravy

Ingredient Lineup For This Dish:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

  • Ground beef: These hamburger “steaks” have an unusual name, I know. All in all, it’s just traditional ground beef that’s used here.
  • Scallions: Or green onions- whatever you call ’em.
  • Spices: I use Cajun seasoning (<< my homemade version or you can use store-bought), dried minced onion, and Sazon seasoning. Sazon seasoning is a popular Latin spice blend used in a variety of cooking applications. I love the added depth and flavor it lends to the ground beef, delish.
  • Garlic: Adds plenty of garlicky flavor.
  • Worcestershire sauce: For a richer taste, this condiment is it.
  • Maple syrup: A subtle pinch of sweetness for balance.
  • Oil: For sautéing the steaks and aromatics.
  • Onion: We’re developing onion gravy ya know, bloop.
  • Beefy Onion soup packet: It’s a dry seasoning/soup mix found in the soup aisle of grocery stores! Think of this store-bought ingredient as the foundation for developing a richly flavored onion gravy.
  • Flour: Helps to thicken the gravy.
  • Beef broth: For a more robust, beefy flavor in the gravy!
raw ground beef with spices in bowl
seasoned raw ground beef in mixing bowl
raw beef patties on baking sheet
browned beef patties in skillet

How To Make Hamburger Steaks with Onion Gravy:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

  • Assemble the hamburger mixture. Combine the ground beef, chopped scallions, Cajun seasoning, Sazon seasoning, garlic paste, worcestershire sauce, maple syrup, and dried minced onion. Use your hands to work the mixture until just combined.
  • Marinate beef. Cover the seasoned ground beef and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
  • Shape into patties. Use a spring-loaded scoop (or your hands) to form individual patties.
  • Brown the steaks. In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, add the oil. When hot, add a few patties into the pan, working in batches. Let the steaks brown until a deep brown sear appears, about 3-4 minutes. Then carefully flip the steaks to brown on the other side, about 2-3 minutes. Then use a slotted utensil to transfer the browned steaks to a clean plate and set aside.
sautéed onions in skillet
broth being poured into skillet
hamburger steaks with onion gravy in skillet
hamburger steaks with onion gravy on wooden spoon in skillet

Developing The Onion Gravy & Finishing:

  • Build the onion gravy. Add the chopped onion into the same pan and sauté until tender and golden, about 5-6 minutes- scraping up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Then add the beefy onion soup packet and flour and toss well to combine, let cook for about 1 minute until the mixture dissolves.
  • Add the beef broth and use a wooden utensil to continue scraping up any bits collected on the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture up to a boil, the gravy will thicken.
  • Finish steaks & onion gravy. Reduce the heat and return the steaks to the pan with the gravy, gently tossing well to combine. Let the steaks simmer along with the gravy for all the flavors to meld, about 5-7 minutes. Then remove from heat.
  • Serve. I recommend serving these hamburger steaks with onion gravy on top of mashed potatoes for pure comforting excellence! 🤘🏾👅
hamburger steaks with onion gravy on top of mashed potatoes with peas in bowl

Mmm these gravy-rich, Hamburger Steaks are a family favorite. This classic dish is so comforting, flavorful, and delicious. Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

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hamburger steaks with onion gravy in blue skillet

Southern Hamburger Steaks with Onion Gravy

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Quin Liburd
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Southern
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Description

These Hamburger “Steaks” are the ultimate comfort food meal that’s an old-school delicacy. Seasoned ground beef shaped into patties and browned and smothered in rich onion gravy. This recipe has deep Southern roots and makes for an easy, delicious meal that folks will love. Serve these meltingly tender hamburger steaks alongside mashed potatoes and peas for a super comforting, homestyle meal!

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground beef (I use 85/15)
  • ¼ cup chopped scallions, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, plus more for gravy as desired
  • 1 packet Sazon seasoning (about 1 ½ teaspoons)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey)
  • 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or avocado oil)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 Beefy Onion soup packet (see notes)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef broth

Instructions

  1. Assemble the hamburger mixture. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped scallions, Cajun seasoning, Sazon seasoning, garlic paste, worcestershire sauce, maple syrup (or honey), and dried minced onion. Use your hands (fitted with disposable gloves if desired) to work the mixture to fully combine all of the ingredients until just combined- careful not to overwork to prevent tough patties.
  2. Marinate beef. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
  3. Shape the patties. Use a large spring-loaded scoop (or your hands) to form individual patties. Then flatten the beef patty in the palm of your hands just until a smooth shape is formed. Place the formed patties on a clean plate/vessel and repeat this process until all patties are shaped, you should end up with about 12-13 “steaks.”
  4. Brown the steaks. In a large, deep skillet or braiser over medium heat, add the oil. When hot, gently swirl the pan to evenly coat the bottom. Add a few steaks (beef patties) into the pan, careful not to overcrowd, work in batches. Let the steaks brown until a deep brown sear appears, about 3-4 minutes. Then carefully flip the steaks to brown on the other side, about 2-3 minutes. Use a slotted utensil to transfer the browned steaks to a clean plate and set aside.
  5. Build the onion gravy. Add the chopped onion into the same pan and sauté until tender and golden, about 5-6 minutes. Use a wooden utensil to scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Then add the beefy onion soup packet and flour into the pan and toss well to combine, let cook for about 1 minute until the mixture dissolves.
  6. Add the beef broth and use a wooden utensil to continue scraping up any bits collected on the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture up to a boil. The gravy should thicken up nicely. Give the gravy a taste test and adjust with more Cajun seasoning to personal preference if desired.
  7. Finish steaks & onion gravy. Reduce the heat to medium-low and return the steaks to the pan with the gravy, gently tossing well to combine. Let the steaks simmer along with the gravy for all the flavors to meld, about 5-7 minutes. Then remove from heat. Garnish the finished dish with more chopped scallions, if desired.
  8. Serve the hamburger steaks + onion gravy on top of mashed potatoes and cooked green peas/corn for a complete, homestyle meal- as desired. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Beefy Onion Soup Mix: We use Lipton Recipe Secrets Beefy Onion, it’s a dry seasoning mix found in the soup aisle of grocery stores!
  2. Please read blog post in its entirety for more tips + tricks.

Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: The Mindful Hapa