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Home » Recipes » Beef

Poor Man's Steak

Modified: Nov 28, 2025 · Published: Apr 8, 2020 by Kay Schrock · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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This tender, classic recipe for poor man's steak is the perfect comfort food. Pour the creamy gravy over a mound of fluffy mashed potatoes, and add a crisp salad on the side. It is one of my husband's favorite meals!

Make the ground beef mixture

Place the eggs, oatmeal, and spices into a large bowl. Stir it together well. Add the ground beef, breaking it up as you add it. Stir the meat and egg mixture together gently.

Try not to over-mix, because over-mixing will make it tough. I use my hands to mix, it seems to work best.

eggs, oats, and ketchup in bowl
Ingredients ready to be mixed.

Form into patties

Divide the meat mixture in half, then divide each half into 8 equal parts. Form each part into a thick patty. Place all patties on a plate.

beef patties on a plate
Half of the patties formed.

Brown the beef patties

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the flour into a bowl. Roll each patty in the flour, then place gently into the hot oil.

Brown on each side for about a minute. You want a nice brown crust but don't cook it all the way through. It will finish cooking in the oven. You may have to fry in batches.

As the patties are browned, place them into a 9x13 baking pan or large casserole dish.

meat patties frying in oil
Cast iron pans gives a nice golden sear.
brown meat patties
Beautifully browned beef patties.

Make the gravy

In a mixing bowl,  pour two cans of cream of mushroom soup. Fill each can with milk and add to the soup. Whisk together well.

Pour the soup mixture over the patties, and cover pan with foil.

meat patties in a pan, gravy pouring over.
Pour all that soup mix over the meat. It will bake into thick, creamy gravy.

Bake the poor man's steak

Bake, covered, at 350 for 1 hour. Serve with potatoes or pasta, to soak up all the delicious gravy!

Pan of baked poor man's steak
The finished product: tender poor man's steak and rich gravy.

Tips:

  • You can substitute crushed saltine crackers or bread crumbs for the oatmeal.
  • Venison works great in this recipe as well. Add 1 chopped onion and 4 cloves diced garlic with wild game.
  • You can substitute water for milk.

 

Comfort food!

Poor Man's Steak

Kay Schrock
Classic Poor Man's Steak smothered in creamy gravy. This recipe is comfort food straight from Amish country.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Main
Cuisine Amish
Servings 8
Calories 501 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 2 cups quick oatmeal
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 TBL Worchestershire
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 cans milk
  • ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup oil

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Place eggs, oatmeal, ketchup, worchestershire sauce, salt, nutmeg, and pepper into a bowl and stir well. Add meat and gently mix together.
  • Heat oil in a pan over med-high heat. Divide meat into 16 portions, form into thick patties. Roll patties in flour and brown well on each side. Place meat patties into a 9x13 pan.
  • Pour soup into a large bowl. Fill the cans with milk, and add to the soup. Whisk together. Pour soup mixture over the meat patties and cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour.

Notes

If using venison: add 1 finely diced onion and 4 diced garlic to the meat.

Nutrition

Calories: 501kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 27gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 1370mgPotassium: 529mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 136IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 4mg
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woman wearing gray cowboy hat and cream silk shirt with long brown hair in a braid

Welcome!

I am Kay, a mom, homeschooler, Wyoming gal, and disciple of Jesus. I was raised by an Amish mother who was a great cook, baker, and homemaker. I learned to cook like her: comfort food from scratch.

More about me

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