Here’s a classic Poor Man’s Steak with Onion Gravy—a budget-friendly comfort food made from ground beef patties simmered in rich onion gravy.
🥩 Poor Man’s Steak with Onion Gravy
🥄 Ingredients (serves 4–6)
For the patties
- 500g (1 lb) ground beef
- 1 small onion (finely grated or minced)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
For the onion gravy
- 2 large onions (sliced)
- 2 tbsp butter or oil
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2–2½ cups beef broth
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Optional: 1 tsp soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce for depth
🍳 Instructions
1. Make the patties
- Mix ground beef, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, and seasonings
- Shape into oval “steak-like” patties
2. Brown the patties
- Heat a pan over medium heat
- Lightly brown patties on both sides (they don’t need to cook fully)
- Set aside
3. Cook the onions
- In the same pan, melt butter
- Add sliced onions
- Cook slowly until soft and golden (10–15 minutes)
4. Make the gravy
- Sprinkle flour over onions and stir well
- Cook for 1–2 minutes
- Slowly add beef broth while stirring to avoid lumps
- Season with salt, pepper, and optional Worcestershire sauce
5. Simmer
- Return patties to the pan
- Cover and simmer for 20–25 minutes
- Gravy will thicken and patties will become tender
🍽️ Serve with
- Mashed potatoes 🥔
- Rice 🍚
- Egg noodles 🍜
- Or crusty bread
🧠 Tips
- Don’t rush the onions—they give the gravy its sweetness
- For softer patties, don’t overmix the meat
- Add mushrooms for extra richness
✔️ Why it’s called “Poor Man’s Steak”
It uses ground beef instead of expensive steak, but the gravy makes it taste hearty and satisfying.
If you want, I can also give you a slow cooker version, a spicy onion gravy upgrade, or a no-egg version for binding the patties.
