Different Ways to Make Hamburger Steaks

Onions accompany hamburger steaks in many recipes.

Using hamburger to make steaks is an easy way to have the familiar flavor of a steak without the expense. Hamburger is made from several cuts of meat that are considered steaks, like round steak or sirloin steak, both of which provide good flavor. Unlike steak, however, hamburger steaks must be fully cooked to avoid food-borne bacterial illness. Grinding the meat into hamburger exposes the entire batch to any bacteria that rests on the surface of the steaks used to make the ground beef.

Salisbury Steak

One of the easiest ways to make hamburger steaks is to braise them after seasoning the meat with salt, pepper or garlic and onion powder. Adding Worcestershire or steak sauce enhances the flavor. After mixing the ingredients and shaping the patties, the steaks can be topped with onions, mushrooms and beef broth and braised until the meat is fully cooked to 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Removing the steaks and thickening the juices in a frying pan or saucepan with flour and water creates the gravy. Salisbury steak is typically served with mashed potatoes.

Mushroom Steaks

Hamburger steaks made with cream of mushroom soup should be baked in the oven, since the hot, direct stovetop heat weakens the thickeners in mushroom soup. After seasoning with salt and pepper, place the patties inside a baking dish and add sliced onions and mushrooms. Top with a can of cream of mushroom soup, spreading the soup so that it covers the patties evenly. You may not need to thin the soup since the meat releases moisture as it bakes. Serve these steaks with mashed potatoes or rice. Some people place these steaks on toast and cover with the gravy.

Cheesy Hamburger Steaks

Cooks can prepare hamburger steaks by stuffing the interior of the steak with cheese and using a sauce to compliment the kind of cheese used. Form thin patties and place a slice of cheese inside. Top with another thin patty and tightly seal the top and bottom together using your fingers. When meat proteins cook, they tighten up, creating a tight seal. Top with a sauce that works with the cheese. Pizza sauce works with mozzarella and parmesan, cheddar cheese hamburger steaks cook well with stewed tomatoes or enchilada sauce and even salsa.

Swiss Steak

Swiss steak combines round steak with tomatoes and onions and can take hours to cook. However, making it with hamburger steaks eliminates much of the cooking time. After forming the hamburger steaks, the patties go into a frying pan and are browned on each side. Canned or fresh tomatoes provide liquid and flavor. Other additions might include diced green peppers, onions and mushrooms. Mashed potatoes or noodles pair well with these steaks.

References

• All Recipes: Poor Man's Hamburger Steaks
• What's Cooking America: Internal Temperature Cooking Chart
• Food Network: Salisbury Steak
• All Recipes: Hamburger Steak with Onions and Gravy