How Long To Cook Hamburger Steak In Oven

Long collage of Hamburger Steak

Total comfort food! This Hamburger Steak with Mushroom Gravy (or "Salisbury Steak") is an affordable, easy dinner recipe that the whole family can enjoy!

Salisbury steak on a plate with baking dish in the background

I initially got the idea for this recipe from some of our Mennonite neighbors, who regularly serve this type of dish for large gatherings. They call it "Poor Man's Steak," and they often prepare a big baking sheet full of the ground beef mixture. The chilled beef is then sliced into squares and pan-fried in the same way that I have cooked the round patties here. I just find that the smaller quantity of meat in my recipe works well for a single family's supper!

What's Hamburger Steak?

Hamburger steak is made with ground beef, seasoning and a binder such as cracker crumbs or bread crumbs. It's similar to meatloaf, but the beef mixture is shaped into round patties, which are then fried in a skillet before finally baking in the oven. You'll typically find Hamburger Steak served with a creamy gravy -- better yet if that gravy contains mushrooms!

Like a giant hug at the end of the day, this meal is decadent, cozy and warm. It's classic American "comfort food" at its finest!

Overhead shot of oven baked hamburger steak on a plate

How to make Hamburger Steak in the oven:

This Southern Hamburger Steak comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients. You'll need:

ground beef
Saltine crackers
water, salt, onion powder and pepper

Combine the ingredients in a large bowl and then shape into patties. Chill the patties in the refrigerator for at least an hour -- this will help them "set up" so that they're easier to fry without falling apart.

Raw ground beef patties on a baking sheet

Heat butter and oil in a large, heavy skillet, and brown the patties on both sides (this will only take about 3 minutes per side). You don't need to worry about cooking the meat all of the way through, since the patties will finish in the oven.

Frying ground beef patties in a cast iron skillet

Transfer the fried hamburger patties to a baking dish (any size that comfortably fits your patties is fine).

Salisbury steak patties in a baking dish

Now it's time for the mushroom gravy! You'll need:

Milk
Condensed cream of mushroom soup
Sliced fresh mushrooms

Ingredients for gravy for hamburger steak

Sauté the mushrooms in the same skillet that you used for the hamburger patties, and then combine them with the soup and milk. Pour the gravy over top of the patties.

Bake the hamburger steaks, uncovered, at 325 degrees F for 1 hour. Then just stir the gravy, spoon it over the patties, and serve!

Spatula with hamburger steak in a blue casserole dish

What goes with Hamburger Steak?

Hamburger steak is typically served with a starch, such as rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes. Aunt Bee's 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits are also a great addition to the meal!

I like to include some green veggies on the plate as well. Try this Oven-Roasted Broccoli, a tossed salad, or Perfect Oven Roasted Asparagus.

Close shot of a plate full of salisbury steak

Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations:

I recommend using 85% lean ground beef, because it keeps your steaks juicy without making the sauce too greasy. Any leaner ground beef may result in dry patties.
Some folks like to include onion in the gravy, which is fine! Simply sauté the thinly-sliced onion in the skillet with the mushrooms before adding it to the gravy.
Prep ahead! You can assemble this dish in advance and then keep it in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake the steaks and gravy.
Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the patties in a smaller dish. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
Give the patties plenty of time to chill in the refrigerator (at least an hour, or up to 24 hours). This will help them "set up" so that they're easier to fry without falling apart.
Be careful when you combine the meat mixture. I like to use my hands, and just gently mix until everything comes together. You don't want to over-mix, or the patties will be tough.
I like to press a shallow dimple in the middle of each hamburger patty before frying because this helps to prevent the patty from puffing up in the center and turning into a round ball when it cooks.

Front shot of hamburger steak on a blue and white plate

More easy ground beef recipes that you might enjoy:

Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
4-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole
Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta
5-Ingredient Dump-and-Bake Beefaroni

Hamburger Steak

This Hamburger Steak with Mushroom Gravy (or "Salisbury Steak") is an affordable, easy dinner recipe that the whole family can enjoy!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword Hamburger Steak, Hamburger Steak with Gravy, Salisbury Steak with Cream of Mushroom Soup

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Chilling Time 1 hour

Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes

Servings 4 (6-ounce patties) or 6 (4-ounce) patties

Calories 497.2 kcal

1 ½ lbs. ground beef (85% lean)
½ cup Saltine cracker crumbs (about 14 crackers)
¼ cup water
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon onion powder
Dash of pepper
Butter and oil for pan
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
½ cup milk

Line a tray or baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
In a large bowl, use your hands to gently combine ground beef, cracker crumbs, water, salt, onion powder and pepper. Shape into 4-6 equal-size patties, using your fingertips to pat the middle of the patties slightly thinner than the outer edge (making a "dimple" in the middle of each patty). Place the patties on the prepared tray. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
Heat a pat of butter and about a teaspoon of oil in a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Fry the patties until browned on both sides (about 3 minutes per side). Don't worry about cooking the patties all of the way through, because they will finish in the oven.
Transfer browned patties to a large baking dish.
In the same skillet with the pan drippings, fry mushrooms until tender (about 5-7 minutes). Combine cooked mushrooms, condensed soup and milk. Pour over patties.
Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees F for about 1 hour. Stir the gravy and spoon over patties just before serving.

I recommend using 85% lean ground beef, because it keeps your steaks juicy without making the sauce too greasy. Any leaner ground beef may result in dry patties.
Some folks like to include onion in the gravy, which is fine! Simply sauté the thinly-sliced onion in the skillet with the mushrooms before adding it to the gravy.
Prep ahead! You can assemble this dish in advance and then keep it in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake the steaks and gravy.
Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the patties in a smaller dish. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
Give the patties plenty of time to chill in the refrigerator (at least an hour, or up to 24 hours). This will help them "set up" so that they're easier to fry without falling apart.
Be careful when you combine the meat mixture. I like to use my hands, and just gently mix until everything comes together. You don't want to over-mix, or the patties will be tough.
I like to press a shallow dimple in the middle of each hamburger patty before frying because this helps to prevent the patty from puffing up in the center and turning into a round ball when it cooks.

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