Amish Poor Man’s Steak Recipe
Amish Poor Man’s Steak is a comforting and hearty dish featuring seasoned ground beef patties combined with crushed saltine crackers, browned to perfection, and slow-cooked in creamy mushroom soup. This simple, budget-friendly meal is perfect for serving over mashed potatoes or noodles for a satisfying family dinner.
- Author: Marco
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup crushed saltine crackers (about 30 crackers)
- 1/3 cup water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- Hot cooked noodles or mashed potatoes, for serving
- Minced fresh parsley (optional)
- Prepare the Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the crushed saltine crackers, water, salt, and pepper. Crumble the ground beef over this mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly to combine the ingredients evenly.
- Shape and Chill: Press the beef and cracker mixture firmly into an ungreased 9-inch square pan. Cover it and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. This chilling step helps the mixture set for easier cutting and cooking.
- Cut into Steaks: After chilling, remove the pan from the fridge and cut the mixture into 3-inch square steaks.
- Dredge in Flour: Coat each steak evenly on both sides by dredging them in all-purpose flour. This helps to develop a nice crust and thickens the sauce later.
- Brown the Steaks: Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the steaks on both sides, about 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Using a slotted spatula or spoon, transfer the browned steaks to a 3-quart slow cooker.
- Add Mushroom Soup: Pour the undiluted condensed cream of mushroom soup evenly over the steaks to coat them well.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on high for about 4 hours or until the meat is fully cooked and no longer pink inside.
- Serve: Serve the creamy, tender steaks hot over cooked noodles or mashed potatoes. Garnish with minced fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Be sure not to overmix the beef mixture to keep the steaks tender.
- Chilling the mixture is important for easy slicing and helps the steaks hold their shape during cooking.
- If you prefer thicker gravy, you can stir in a little flour mixed with water towards the end of slow cooking and cook uncovered for 15 minutes.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- For a richer flavor, substitute half of the water with beef broth in the initial mixture.
Keywords: Amish Poor Man's Steak, slow cooker steak, ground beef recipe, creamy mushroom sauce, easy slow cooker dinner