Poor Man's Steak

Ingredients

• 1½ pounds ground beef, 80–85% lean
• 1 packet (about 1 ounce) dry onion soup mix
• 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• ½ cup whole milk

Instructions

1. 

   1

   Prepare the oven and baking dish – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. 

   2

   Mix the beef – In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and dry onion soup mix. Mix just until the seasoning is evenly distributed. Avoid overmixing, which can make the patties firm instead of tender.

3. 

   3

   Shape the patties – Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and gently shape into oval patties about ¾ inch thick. For smaller portions, shape the mixture into 8 patties instead.

4. 

   4

   Prepare the gravy – In the same bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and whole milk until smooth.

5. 

   5

   Assemble and bake – Arrange the patties in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, leaving a little space between each one. Pour the gravy evenly over the patties, then cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 35–40 minutes.

6. 

   6

   Finish baking – Remove the foil and continue baking for 5–10 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened slightly, the edges are lightly browned, and the patties reach an internal temperature of 160°F.

7. 

   7

   Rest and serve – Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon the rich mushroom gravy over each patty and serve over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or cooked rice.