Poor Man’s Steak

This Poor Man’s Steak is a classic “comfort in a bowl” recipe that turns humble ground beef into a savory, melt-in-your-mouth main course. By slow-braising the patties in a mixture of mushroom soup and onion mix, you create a deep, umami-rich gravy that naturally tenderizes the meat. It’s essentially a Salisbury steak made easier, perfect for those nights when you want a “meat and potatoes” dinner with almost zero prep.

Poor Man’s Steak

Ingredients:

How To Make Poor Man’s Steak:

Step 1: Prep and Season: Lightly grease the inside of a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker. In a medium bowl, gently mix the ground beef with the black pepper.

Tip: Avoid overworking the meat when mixing in the pepper. Handling it too much can make the “steaks” tough and dense rather than tender and juicy.

Step 2: Form the Patties: Divide the beef into 4 equal portions. Shape them into flat, even patties about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. This thickness ensures they cook through evenly without falling apart in the slow cooker.

Step 3: Layer the Meat: Lay the raw patties in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker. It’s okay if they touch, but try not to overlap them so the gravy can surround each piece.

Step 4: Whisk the Gravy: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, the dry onion soup mix, and the water until smooth. This concentrated mixture will thin out slightly as the beef releases its juices, creating a perfect gravy.

Step 5: Pour and Cook: Pour the soup mixture over the patties, making sure each one is well-covered. Cover and cook on LOW for 5/6 hours or on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Step 6: Serve: The steaks are done when they are no longer pink in the center. Give the gravy a quick stir and serve the patties hot, smothered in the mushroom-onion sauce.