Hamburger Steaks with Mushroom Gravy

As I wipe my mouth clean, I need to tell you how amazing this meal is. Herb-infused beef patties, seared crust, savory gravy - served over slices of warm and crusty bread. It's just out-of-this-world. And ready in about 30 minutes.

I am obsessed with this recipe! Here's a quick rundown of how it came together: First, I seasoned and shaped ground beef into patties. Next, I seared the patties until they were beautifully crisp on the outside (and still pink on the inside). Then, I scraped up the gorgeous bits of seared beef from the bottom of the pan and incorporated them into a fabulous mushroom gravy. It's pure comfort food on every level.

A note of caution: The aroma of the seasoned steaks simmering in the rich gravy might entice the neighbors to stop by unexpectedly.

Hamburger Steaks with Mushroom Gravy

For the hamburger steaks: 
1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
For the mushroom gravy:
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Warmed baguette or crusty artisan bread for serving, optional

To make the steaks, in a large bowl, combine the beef, basil, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine and shape the mixture into four round patties, each about 1 1/2-inches thick. Set aside.
To make the gravy, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside.
Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the hamburger steaks and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until browned. Remove the steaks from the pan and set aside.
To make the gravy, melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, making sure to incorporate the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the beef broth and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder. Return the steaks and mushrooms to the pan and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, until the steaks are cooked through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the hamburger steaks over warm baguette slices if desired.

Serves 4