An easy slow cooker recipe for hamburger steaks and gravy (or Salisbury steak) using frozen ground beef patties such as Bubba Burgers and just a few other ingredients.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- JUMP TO THE RECIPE
- CONDENSED SOUP VARIATIONS
- GRAVY/SAUCE PACKET VARIATIONS
- OTHER RECIPE VARIATIONS
- MORE HAMBURGER AND CUBED STEAK RECIPES
This has to be THE easiest recipe I’ve ever created. EVER.
Using frozen hamburger patties (such as Bubba Burgers) delays the cooking process so the meat doesn't turn into rubber by the time you dig in.
And since most frozen burgers are already seasoned, you don't need a ton of other ingredients. This is no culinary masterpiece but it's easy and my family loves it so it's a weeknight WIN for me!
I work from home now (one of the only good things that came from 2020!) but before that, I left home for the office around 7AM every morning then didn’t get back until about 6PM.
Which meant that most crock pot meals wouldn’t work for me. Even when I used the automatic shut-off, I’d still come home to corkboard meat and burnt-tasting sauces because, unless you’re cooking a whole chicken or a boston butt, most meat can’t cook that long.
I had this idea way back when, then 2020 happened and I didn’t really need it anymore. Then I got to thinking that it was a good idea and there are plenty of people in the same predicament I was once in so I decided to give it a shot!
I really didn’t know what would happen. I didn’t know if the meat would fall apart. Or taste frozen. Or what.
But I decided to give it a go anyway! And I'm so glad I did!
Again, this isn't going to earn me a Michelin Star but it's EASY and the family likes it. Especially over egg noodles!
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT HAMBURGER STEAKS & GRAVY
STEP 1 - Arrange frozen hamburger patties in a slow cooker as shown in the picture below (overlapping so everything fits in one layer).
STEP 2 - Combine soup, one can of water and gravy mix, pour evenly over hamburger patties then cook.
STEP 3 - Thicken the gravy with cornstarch then serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles or rice!
CONDENSED SOUP VARIATIONS
You will need one can of condensed soup. I like Golden Mushroom best but any of these are great:
- Cream of Mushroom
- Beef Consommé
- Golden Mushroom
- Cream of Celery
- Beefy Mushroom
- Cream of Onion
GRAVY/SAUCE PACKET VARIATIONS
You will add a packet of gravy or sauce mix. I typically use Brown Gravy but you can use any of these:
- Brown Gravy
- Au Jus
- Beef Gravy
- Pork Gravy
OTHER RECIPE VARIATIONS
SALISBURY STEAK - If you’d like a more Salisbury Steak vibe, choose a condensed soup that’s more brothy than creamy and add 1-2 tablespoons ketchup when you thicken the gravy.
MUSHROOM GRAVY - add sliced mushrooms and use either Golden Mushroom, Beefy Mushroom or Cream of Mushroom
ONION GRAVY - add sliced onions and use Beef Consommé or Cream of Onion.
MORE HAMBURGER AND CUBED STEAK RECIPES!
THE BEST SWISS STEAK EVER - An absolutely perfect, tried-and-true recipe for cubed round steak so tender you won't need a knife, braised in a rustic tomato gravy.
SALISBURY STEAK & POTATO SKILLET DINNER - A one-pan meal with tender hamburger steaks, potatoes and scratch-made gravy that cooks in just 30 minutes.
COUNTRY FRIED CUBED STEAKS WITH GRAVY - A simple recipe for classic southern-style cubed round steak pan fried until crispy and golden brown with homemade pan gravy.
HAMBURGER STEAKS WITH BROWN GRAVY - The BEST recipe for Hamburger Steaks made from fresh ground beef with an easy, homemade brown gravy.
Recipe for Crock Pot Hamburger Steaks Gravy
Shortcut Crock Pot Hamburger Steaks & Gravy
A super simple slow cooker recipe for Hamburger Steaks or Salisbury Steak using frozen ground beef patties and just a few other ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 2-lb box frozen hamburger patties
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 10.5-oz can Golden Mushroom Soup
- 1 soup can of water
- 1 packet brown gravy mix
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Season frozen hamburger patties with salt, pepper and garlic powder then arrange in a slow cooker as shown in the pictures (overlapping so everything fits in one layer).
- Combine soup, one soup can of water and gravy mix in a separate bowl then mix well. Pour mixture evenly over hamburger patties.
- Cook on low for 5-7 hours or high for 2-4 hours.
- Optional: So long as the hamburger steaks have cooked undisturbed, grease should settle in the middle of the slow cooker (between the patties). Use a ladle to skim the grease or paper towels to absorb it.
- Remove hamburger steaks and cover to keep warm then cover slow cooker immediately and increase temperature to High.
- Combine 1/2 cup water with cornstarch in a small bowl then mix until smooth.
- Pour cornstarch slurry into slow cooker, whisk until completely smooth, cover then cook for about 10-15 minutes or until thickened. For a quicker option, you could also combine the liquid from the slow cooker with the cornstarch slurry in a pan on the stove then bring to a boil.
- Add hamburger steaks back to gravy then serve.
Notes
- See recipe variations and suggestions above.
- You can use another brand of hamburgers or make your own but you’ll want patties that are a minimum of 1/3 pound each (2 pounds for 6 patties).
- Serve with mashed potatoes, egg noodles or rice!
Hi, what size crockpot or does it matter?
ReplyDeleteI used my large one but as long as they fit, I doubt it matters :)
DeleteI make mine this way too. Only difference is I give them a short pan fry to crisp them up first and it cooks some of the fat out. Delish!
ReplyDeleteThis was fantastic! I used cream of mushroom, beef broth and brown gravy packet and then heated up a jar of brown gravy to go with mashed potatoes, corn and green beans. Everyone loved this recipe. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am going to use 2 jars of gravy with a can of mushroom soup and leave out cornstarch will the gravy be thick and some mushrooms
DeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteHusband stockpiles these darn frozen patties! On it now
Good morning . Don’t have eggs noodles. Is ok I use my box of velvets skillet in place of egg noodles . I am omit ground beef. I don’t know if use seasoning.Thank you
ReplyDeleteCan this be doubled? I have a large family and they can eat more than one serving at a meal.
ReplyDeleteYes, everything should cook in the same time but allow for more just in case.
DeleteI made this and it was great! Wondering how to do it in the InstantPot?
ReplyDeleteJust put it to the slow cooker setting with the vent in the open or "venting" position. Set the time to four or more hours, depending on the amount of meat you're using.
DeleteCan I substitute jarred gravy instead of cream of soup? And if I can, would I still have to add water?
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to change the whole recipe (cornstarch, water, etc.) so no, I don't think so. The starch in the gravy will "break" after being cooked this long and will no longer be thick. Maybe use one jar to cook with then add another jar at the end?
DeleteMade this today with cream of mushroom & brown gravy…Super delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe! ❤️
ReplyDeleteThis is really good, after scooping out some fat/grease, you can put an ice cube in a ladle, then dip the back of the dadle on top, the excess grease will harden and stick to the back of the ladle. Just scrape off into trash can.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip, thank you!
DeleteCan i use defrosted patties?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure since I've never made it that way but probably. You'd need to reduce cooking time. Let us know how it goes if you try it!
DeleteTrying this recipe with better the bouillon grayvy. Added a jar of water that the gravy came in. Didn’t have anything but cream chicken soup. 🤷♀️hope it turns out.
ReplyDelete