"Poor Man's Steak": A Hearty, Budget-Friendly Meal

This recipe is a tasty dish full of flavor with perfectly seasoned ground beef that's not going to break the bank for you to make. It's sure to please even the pickiest of eaters, especially when you pair this with some soft dinner rolls to mop up that delicious gravy! So if you are like me and are currently on a tight budget, give this recipe a try. It's a filling, hearty dish that will be sure to put a smile on everyone's face and in your pocketbook!

Poor Man’s SteakPhoto byPinterest

Pro-Tips

The addition of canned or fresh mushrooms is absolutely divine, as is adding some diced onions to your burger.

Not a fan of mushrooms? No worries; you can absolutely use cream of celery or cream of potato in place of your cream of mushroom soup.

This dish tastes great over some egg noodles or mashed potatoes, with a side salad and rolls.

Poor Man’s SteakPhoto byPinterest

Ingredients for the "Steaks"

• 2 lbs of ground beef (90/10)
• 1½ C saltine crackers, crushed
• 1 C milk
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• ½ tsp. paprika
• ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (for dredging)
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. olive oil

For the mushroom gravy

• 2 cans (10.5 ounces) of condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1½ C milk
• 1½ tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped, or 1 tsp. dried parsley

Directions:

1. Set the oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with a nonstick spray.
2. Whisk the cream of mushroom soup and milk together in a medium bowl, and then stir in the chopped (or dried) parsley. Put it to the side.
3. Add the ground meat, crushed saltines, milk, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a big bowl and mix well. Salt and pepper can be added to taste.
4. Use a spoon or your hands to mix the items together until they are well blended. Gently shape into patties of the same size.
5. In a shallow pie plate dish, add 1–1 1/2 cups of flour. Add your salt and freshly ground pepper to the flour. Dredge each patty through the flour.
6. Melt the butter in a large pan over medium-high heat, then add your olive oil. Once the pan is hot, sear the patties until golden brown on both sides. Work in small batches. Your steaks will not be cooked through, but don't worry; they will continue to cook in the oven.
7. Move the cooked patties to the baking dish that has been coated. Pour the sauce on top of the patties in an even layer. Cover it with aluminum foil.
8. Put the dish in the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. You want the internal temperature of the burger to reach 165 degrees.
9. Enjoy Friends! ❤️