When my neighbor Mrs. Miller shared her grandmother's handwritten recipe card last fall, I knew we'd discovered something special. This amish hamburger steak bake recipe has been feeding families for generations with its simple ingredients and incredible flavors. Sprout declared it "better than any fancy restaurant" after his first bite, and I have to agree; there's something magical about this old-fashioned dish that transforms humble ground beef into pure comfort food perfection.
What is Amish Hamburger Steak Bake
Amish hamburger steak bake is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch casserole featuring seasoned ground beef patties baked in a rich, creamy gravy with onions and simple seasonings. Unlike regular meatloaf, this dish creates individual hamburger steaks that stay tender and juicy while absorbing the flavorful sauce. The Amish tradition focuses on using wholesome, simple ingredients that create maximum flavor through slow baking and careful seasoning.
How To Make Amish Hamburger Steak Bake Recipe
What Makes Our Version Special
Our traditional Amish ground beef casserole stays true to the original simplicity while ensuring perfect results every time. The secret is creating well seasoned hamburger patties that hold their shape during baking, then surrounding them with a from scratch gravy that doesn't rely on processed soups. We brown the patties first for extra flavor, then let them finish cooking slowly in the creamy sauce.
Amish Hamburger Steak Bake Recipe Ingredients
Hamburger Steaks:
- 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Creamy Gravy:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Step by Step Method
Form the Hamburger Steaks
- Mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, diced onion, salt and pepper until just combined
- Form into 6-8 oval patties about ¾ inch thick
- Don't overwork the meat to keep patties tender
- Let rest while preparing gravy base for best texture
Brown and Build Flavor
- Heat large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat
- Brown hamburger steaks 3-4 minutes per side until golden
- Remove patties and set aside, leaving drippings in pan
- This step adds crucial flavor depth to the entire dish
Create the Creamy Base
- Add butter to same skillet with drippings
- Sauté sliced onions until softened and lightly golden
- Sprinkle flour over onions and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly
- Gradually whisk in beef broth and cream until smooth
Assemble and Bake
- Nestle browned hamburger steaks back into gravy
- Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes
- Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more until gravy thickens
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving for perfect consistency
What Pairs Well With Hamburger Steak Bake?
This hearty hamburger steak with gravy pairs perfectly with traditional sides like creamy mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or steamed rice to soak up the delicious sauce. Serve alongside green beans, corn, or roasted carrots for classic comfort food balance. The rich, savory flavors also complement simple sides like dinner rolls or biscuits for an authentic farmhouse meal.
Amish Hamburger Steak Bake Variations
Slow Cooker Version:
- Brown patties as directed then transfer to slow cooker
- Pour prepared gravy over hamburger steaks
- Cook on low 6-8 hours until fork-tender
- Perfect for busy weekdays
Mushroom Addition:
- Add 8 oz sliced mushrooms with the onions
- Creates extra umami and hearty texture
- Classic Pennsylvania Dutch variation
- Mushroom lovers' dream dinner
Potato Layer:
- Add thin-sliced potatoes in bottom of baking dish
- Layer hamburger steaks on top with gravy
- One-dish meal with built-in starch
- Even more filling and satisfying
Lighter Version:
- Use ground turkey instead of beef
- Replace heavy cream with milk and cornstarch
- Still creamy but with fewer calories
- Health-conscious comfort food option
Equipment You'll Need
- Large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven
- Whisk for smooth gravy
- 9x13 baking dish (if not using skillet)
- Meat thermometer for doneness
Storage Tips
Best Fresh
Serve immediately while hamburger steaks are hot and gravy is at perfect consistency. The flavors are most comforting when everything is steaming and fresh from the oven.
Leftover Comfort
Store covered in refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in oven at 325°F for 15-20 minutes, adding splash of broth if gravy thickens too much.
Freeze for Later
Cool completely and freeze in portions up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat as above, stirring in extra cream if needed to restore texture.
Top Tips for Perfect Results
- Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor and moisture in the hamburger steaks
- Don't skip browning the patties; this adds essential flavor to the entire dish
- Whisk gravy constantly while adding liquids to prevent lumps from forming
- Let casserole rest after baking so gravy thickens to perfect consistency
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving; old-fashioned cooking relies on proper seasoning
- Cover tightly during most of baking to keep hamburger steaks tender and juicy
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cook a good hamburger steak in the oven?
Brown the seasoned patties first for flavor, then bake in creamy sauce at 350°F for about an hour until tender and gravy thickens perfectly.
How long do steak burgers take in the oven?
In this recipe, after browning, they bake for 45 minutes covered plus 15 minutes uncovered, totaling about an hour for perfect tenderness.
What's the difference between meatloaf and hamburger steak?
Hamburger steak forms individual patties that cook in sauce, while meatloaf bakes as one large loaf. This creates different textures and serving styles.
How long to bake burgers at 400 in the oven?
For this recipe, we use 350°F for slower, more gentle cooking that allows the gravy to develop and hamburger steaks to become tender.
Old-Fashioned Comfort at Its Best
Now you have the secrets to creating this incredible Amish hamburger steak bake that brings generations of comfort food wisdom to your table. This recipe proves that the simplest ingredients often create the most satisfying meals.
Ready for more traditional comfort? Try our Lipton Meatloaf for classic family flavors, or explore our Ramen Noodles Recipe for comforting bowl meals. For perfect sides, our Creamy Mashed Potato Squash complements this dish beautifully with similar old-fashioned techniques.
Share your beautiful creations! Tag us @HannahAndSproutKitchen with #AmishHamburgerSteak, we'd love to see your golden, comforting masterpieces and hear about your family's reactions to this traditional recipe!
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Pairing
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Amish Hamburger Steak Bake
Equipment
- 1 Oven-safe skillet (Or use a Dutch oven)
- 1 Whisk (For smooth gravy)
- 1 9x13 baking dish (If not using skillet)
- 1 Meat thermometer (For checking doneness (optional))
Ingredients
Hamburger Steaks
- 2 lbs Ground beef - 80/20 blend for best flavor
- ½ cup Breadcrumbs - Plain or seasoned
- 1 Egg - Beaten
- 1 Onion - Finely diced
- 2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
Creamy Gravy
- 3 tablespoon Butter - Salted or unsalted
- 3 tablespoon All-purpose flour - For thickening gravy
- 2 cups Beef broth - Low sodium preferred
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 1 Onion - Sliced
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
Instructions
- In a large bowl, gently mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, diced onion, salt, and pepper.
- Form into 6–8 oval-shaped patties. Let them rest while preparing the gravy base.
- Brown patties in an oven-safe skillet for 3–4 minutes per side until golden; remove and set aside.
- In same skillet, sauté sliced onions in butter. Add flour, stir 2 minutes, then whisk in broth & cream.
- Nestle patties into the gravy. Cover tightly and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 more.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
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