Imagine a dish that transforms ordinary ground beef into a mouthwatering, melt-in-your-mouth masterpiece with minimal effort. This Crock Pot Hamburger Steak is the ultimate comfort food that promises to rescue your dinner routine from bland and boring meals. With just a few simple ingredients and your trusty slow cooker, you'll create a restaurant-quality meal that will have your family begging for seconds and asking, "How did you make this magic happen?"
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 15 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly but gently to avoid overworking the meat.
- Shape the ground beef into 4 oval-shaped patties, approximately 1/2 inch thick. Create a slight indentation in the center of each patty to prevent them from puffing up during cooking.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and quickly sear each hamburger steak for 2-3 minutes on each side to develop a rich brown crust. This step helps seal in flavors and improves overall texture.
- Slice the onion into thin rings or half-moon shapes, preparing them for layering in the crock pot.
- Spray the inside of the crock pot with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Place the seared hamburger steaks in the bottom of the crock pot, creating a single layer.
- Distribute the sliced onions evenly over and around the hamburger steaks.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the hamburger steaks and onions, ensuring even coverage.
- Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours, or on high heat for 3-4 hours, until the meat is tender and fully cooked.
- Before serving, taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve hot, spooning extra sauce over the hamburger steaks. Recommended side dishes include mashed potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables.
Tips
- Meat Matters: Use ground beef with a moderate fat content (80/20 or 85/15) to ensure juicy, flavorful patties that won't dry out during slow cooking.
- Searing Secrets: Don't skip the initial searing step! This technique locks in flavors and creates a beautiful caramelized exterior that adds depth to your dish.
- Indentation Trick: When forming patties, create a slight dimple in the center. This prevents the meat from puffing up and ensures even cooking.
- Sauce Success: Whisk the sauce ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, well-integrated flavor profile that will coat the hamburger steaks perfectly.
- Low and Slow is the Way to Go: Cooking on low heat for 7-8 hours allows the meat to become incredibly tender and lets the flavors develop fully.
- Onion Optimization: Slice onions thinly and distribute evenly to ensure they're perfectly caramelized and infused throughout the dish.
- Serving Suggestions: Pair with creamy mashed potatoes or fluffy rice to soak up the delicious sauce, turning this main dish into a complete, satisfying meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 350kcal
Carbohydrates: 8g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 85mg
