Description
Amish Poor Man’s Steak is a comforting, homestyle dish featuring seasoned ground beef patties smothered in rich homemade beef gravy. This classic Amish recipe blends simple pantry ingredients into a hearty meal perfect for family dinners, accompanied by mashed potatoes or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup cracker crumbs (saltines or Ritz)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Gravy
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mix Meat Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, cracker crumbs, whole milk, finely chopped onion, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir gently until just combined to avoid toughening the meat.
- Form Patties and Chill: Shape the mixture into rectangular or oval patties about 1 inch thick. Arrange the patties on a baking sheet or tray, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to help them firm up for cooking.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the patties with gravy later.
- Sear Patties: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the patties for 2-3 minutes on each side, just enough to develop a crust and seal in the juices. Transfer browned patties into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Make Roux for Gravy: In the same skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to form a roux, which will thicken the gravy.
- Prepare Gravy: Gradually whisk in the beef broth along with onion powder and garlic powder. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the gravy thickens, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble and Cover: Pour the thickened gravy evenly over the browned patties in the baking dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to keep moisture in while baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Afterward, remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for another 10 minutes to allow the gravy to thicken and concentrate flavors.
- Serve: Serve the Amish Poor Man’s Steak hot, ideally with mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Chilling the patties before cooking ensures they hold their shape and cook evenly.
- Use whole milk for the best texture and flavor in the meat mixture.
- For a richer gravy, substitute part of the beef broth with a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with simple sides like steamed vegetables or a fresh salad.
