Cracker crumb hamburger steak bake layers browned beef patties under a creamy mushroom gravy and bakes them until tender and bubbling. It takes fifteen minutes to prepare, bakes for about an hour, and serves six.
Crushed crackers keep the patties soft and moist, onion and garlic powder season the meat, and a simple gravy of cream of mushroom soup and milk turns into a rich sauce in the oven. Bell peppers and mushrooms add color and flavor, and herbs finish the dish.
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Why This Cracker Crumb Hamburger Steak Bake Works
Cracker crumbs hold moisture in the beef, so the patties stay tender after a long bake.
Browning the patties first builds a deep, savory flavor that seasons the gravy as it bakes.
The dish bakes in one pan with little attention, leaving time for sides.
Ingredients for Cracker Crumb Hamburger Steak Bake
- The patties use two pounds of ground beef, one and a half cups of crushed cracker crumbs, one teaspoon each of onion powder and garlic powder, and enough milk to bind.
- The gravy is two cans of cream of mushroom soup thinned with a cup of milk, with chopped bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, and fresh thyme or parsley added.
Ground beef. It makes rich, juicy patties.
Cracker crumbs. They keep the patties soft.
Cream of mushroom soup. It becomes a creamy gravy.
Peppers and mushrooms. They add color and earthy flavor.
Thyme or parsley. They add a fresh herb finish.
How to Assemble Cracker Crumb Hamburger Steak Bake
1. Mix. Combine the beef, cracker crumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, and a splash of milk gently until just mixed.
2. Shape. Form six patties and dust each lightly with flour.
3. Brown. Cook the patties in a hot skillet over medium heat for three minutes per side until golden.
4. Make the gravy. Stir the soup and milk together in a bowl, then add the peppers and mushrooms.
5. Layer. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F, set the patties in a baking dish, and pour the gravy over the top.
6. Bake. Cover with foil and bake for forty five minutes, then uncover for ten minutes and sprinkle with herbs.
Handle the beef gently. Overmixing compacts the meat and makes the patties dense and rubbery. Mix just until the crumbs and seasoning are spread through the beef, then shape quickly with damp hands. The dusting of flour helps form a light crust and thickens the gravy around the edges.
Do not skip browning. Raw patties baked in gravy look gray and taste flat, while browned ones add depth and keep their shape. They will finish cooking in the oven, so you only need a golden surface, not a fully cooked center.
Notes and Tips for Cracker Crumb Hamburger Steak Bake
Flag the allergens. This dish contains wheat, milk, and soy, and crackers and canned soup vary, so check every label.
Do not taste raw beef mixture. Do not taste the raw beef mixture, and wash your hands and tools after handling raw meat.
Check the temperature. Ground beef is safe at 160 F, so use a thermometer in the center of a patty.
Use saltines. Plain crackers keep the flavor simple.
Pick your soup. Cream of chicken makes a lighter gravy.
Add onions. Sliced onions under the patties sweeten the gravy.
Cover while baking. Foil keeps the patties moist.
Check trusted guidance. Read the FDA safe food handling guidance for cooking and chilling ground beef.
For a lighter gravy, replace the milk with beef broth and add a spoonful of Worcestershire sauce. The sauce will be thinner and more savory, which suits the rich patties. You can also make your own mushroom sauce by cooking sliced mushrooms in butter, whisking in flour, and adding broth and a splash of cream.
If you want a faster dinner, shape thinner patties and bake them uncovered for thirty five minutes. They will brown more on top and the gravy will thicken faster. Thicker patties need the full covered bake, so match the time to the size of your patties.
Side Dishes for Cracker Crumb Hamburger Steak Bake
Serve the patties with mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or rice to catch the gravy, plus green beans or peas. For more hamburger steak ideas, try mushroom smothered hamburger steaks, garlic butter hamburger steak, onion gravy Salisbury steak, or Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy.
Reheating and Freezing Cracker Crumb Hamburger Steak Bake
Cool the bake and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to four days. Reheat covered at 350 degrees F for twenty minutes, adding a splash of milk to loosen the gravy. You can freeze the patties in gravy for up to three months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cracker Crumb Hamburger Steak Bake
How do you keep cracker crumb hamburger steak bake from drying out?
Cover it with foil for most of the bake and use full fat beef.
Can you make cracker crumb hamburger steak bake ahead of time?
Yes. Assemble it a day early and add ten minutes to the bake.
Can you freeze cracker crumb hamburger steak bake?
Yes, for up to three months, then reheat until hot.
What crackers can I use?
Saltines or buttery rounds both work.
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes, but add a little oil to keep it moist.
Cracker Crumb Hamburger Steak Bake
Equipment
- Large skillet
- 9 by 13 inch baking dish
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 lb ground beef
- 1 cup cracker crumbs plus 1/2 cup more
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 can cream of mushroom soup about 10 ounces each
- 1 cup milk plus more to bind
- ¼ cup all purpose flour for dusting
- ½ cup chopped bell peppers
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme or parsley chopped
Instructions
Cooking
- Mix. Combine the beef, crumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, and milk.
- Brown. Shape six patties, dust with flour, and brown 3 minutes per side.
- Gravy. Stir the soup, milk, peppers, and mushrooms together.
- Layer. Heat the oven to 350 F, set the patties in a dish, and pour on the gravy.
- Bake. Cover and bake 45 minutes, then uncover 10 minutes and add herbs.
