Of course! The Amish Hamburger Steak Bake is a classic, comforting casserole that embodies simple, hearty, home-cooked goodness. It’s essentially a deconstructed hamburger steak smothered in a rich, creamy sauce and baked with potatoes until tender.
This is a one-dish wonder that’s perfect for feeding a family.
Amish Hamburger Steak Bake
This recipe creates a savory, creamy gravy as it bakes, making the hamburger “steaks” and potatoes incredibly tender and flavorful.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
For the Hamburger Steak Layer:
· 1.5 lbs ground beef
· ½ cup breadcrumbs (or crushed saltine crackers)
· 1 large egg
· ¼ cup milk
· ½ teaspoon garlic powder
· ½ teaspoon onion powder
· 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
· 1 tablespoon ketchup (optional, for flavor)
· Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Casserole:
· 4-5 medium russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about ⅛-inch thick)
· 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
· 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
· 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of celery soup
· 1 soup can of milk or water
· Salt and pepper for layering
· Paprika, for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat Oven & Prep Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Make the Hamburger Steak Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined (do not overmix). Form the mixture into 6-8 oblong patties, similar to the shape of a small meatloaf.
- Brown the Patties (Optional but Recommended): Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the hamburger steaks for about 2-3 minutes per side, just to develop a crust. They do not need to be cooked through. This step adds a tremendous amount of flavor.
- Assemble the Casserole:
· First Layer: Spread the thinly sliced potatoes evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Season with a little salt and pepper.
· Second Layer: Scatter the thinly sliced onions over the potatoes.
· Third Layer: Arrange the browned (or raw) hamburger steaks over the onion layer.
· Sauce Layer: In a medium bowl, whisk together the two cans of soup and the one can of milk (or water) until smooth. Pour this mixture evenly over the entire casserole, making sure to cover the hamburger steaks.
· Seasoning: Sprinkle the top lightly with paprika for color. - Bake:
· Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
· Bake for 1 hour.
· Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender and the top is golden and bubbly. - Rest and Serve: Let the casserole stand for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to thicken slightly. Serve hot, spooning the creamy sauce from the bottom over each portion.
Tips for the Best Hamburger Steak Bake
· Slice Potatoes Thinly and Evenly: This is key to ensuring they cook through at the same time as the meat. A mandoline slicer is perfect for this.
· Don’t Skip the Browning: Taking the extra few minutes to brown the patties adds a deep, savory flavor that you can’t get from baking alone.
· Customize It:
· Add Vegetables: Add a layer of frozen mixed vegetables (like peas and carrots) over the onion layer for extra nutrition and color.
· Cheesy Topping: Sprinkle a cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top for the last 10 minutes of baking, after you’ve removed the foil.
· Creamier Version: Stir ½ cup of sour cream into the soup mixture before pouring it over the casserole.
· Make it a “Pot Pie”: For a top crust, you can use a sheet of store-bought puff pastry. Remove the foil after 45 minutes, place the pastry over the top, brush with an egg wash, and bake for the remaining 20-25 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden.
This is a quintessential comfort food dish that is simple, satisfying, and sure to please everyone at the table. Enjoy