Diner-Style Hamburger Steak

Seafood in the middle of the country?

Yeah, it’s a thing. And it’s delicious. Some restaurants around here, like The Drake, get fresh seafood flown in daily. These oysters were just about the most buttery, sea-tasting fresh things you could get in Oklahoma.

We went to The Drake for a friend’s birthday. I ate my body weight in oysters and their sumblime hushpuppies with honey butter. We’re not always so fancy, though. Delicious & expensive restaurants aren’t the norm in my household. I like a good old fashioned hamburger every now and then.

After Thanksgiving and a metric ton of poultry, I wanted a homestyle dinner that reminded me of home. I worked at two diners when I was in high school, and two things are always on diner menus in Wichita Falls, Texas: steak on garlic (a sandwich) and hamburger steak.

Don’t let the “steak” name fool you. This isn’t the filet mignon of the beef world. Simply put, hamburger steak is just a hamburger without a bun. It’s usually drenched in a decadent brown gravy and served with onions and mushrooms.

Before making this, I probably hadn’t had hamburger steak in about 10 years. After this, I wanted it every day. It is simply Americana. It is the quintessential meal for a Southern or Midwestern household. Serve it with mashed potatoes and green beans, and you’ll transport yourself back into a 1950’s kitchen.

A lot of hamburger steak recipes on the ‘net have breadcrumbs mixed into the meat, but I decided to use my favorite acronym: KISS. What does that mean? Keep It Simple, Stupid. The simpler the better. Some things, like a classic diner-style dish, don’t need that many ingredients. This is a prime example of that.

Step-By-Step Instructions

In a large bowl, combine beef, steak seasoning, and garlic powder. Take out 1/4 cup meat and form into a ball, and then use your hands to smush down into a patty. Continue with the rest of the meat (makes about 6 patties). Drizzle 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce over the meat.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add patties, 2 at a time, and cook.Cook patties 3-4 minutes on one side, until browned and crispy. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

When all the patties are cooked, add butter to the pan. Melt butter, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet. Add onions, mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook until onions are tender and mushrooms are browned, about 4-5 minutes.

Add flour to pan and stir, cooking for another minute. Slowly pour in broth, sherry, and remaining Worcestershire sauce. Stir and bring to a boil. Continue stirring until gravy is thick, about 3-4 minutes.

Serve hamburger steak with gravy on top.