Burger Steak

Burger Steak is super moist and flavorful, with tender beef patties smothered in a rich mushroom gravy. It's an easy weeknight dinner meal with steamed rice or mashed potatoes.

I was initially going to call this Jollibee's Burger Steak copycat but thought against it. This burger steak doesn't taste like the restaurant's; it's better!

I mean, no offense to Jollibee; it's a Filipino icon for good reason. I've tried many fried chickens, and their Chicken Joy with loads of gravy and steamed rice just can't be beaten. But when it comes to my burger steak, I want the hamburger patties to be plump, meaty, and without many extenders.

This recipe is my take on this restaurant classic. If you're looking for other easy and affordable ground beef dishes, check out Korean Ground Beef with sweet and savory tastes and Tarlaqueno Bagis with tangy and sour notes.

Ingredient notes

• Ground Beef- use ground with a good fat ratio, such as 80/20 ground chuck, for flavor and tenderness.
• Bread- the secret to super moist meatloaves or meatballs is the panade made by soaking bread crumbs in milk or broth for a few minutes until softened.
• Mushrooms- the recipe uses canned button mushrooms. Feel free to substitute fresh like white button or baby bella mushrooms.
• Onions- grate the onions instead of chopping. This makes the meat patties juicier and more flavorful, and there are no chunks of onions to bite into!
• Egg- acts as a binder to hold the patties together.
• Oil- for pan-frying
• Butter and Flour- for the roux to thicken the gravy
• Beef Broth- use instead of water to boost flavor.
• Sat and Pepper- seasonings

How to Make Juicy Beef Patties

1. Combine ground beef, panade, eggs, onions, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
2. Gently mix until well distributed.
3. Divide meat into portions and shape into patties.
4. With your thumb, gently press in the center of each patty to make a slight indentation.

While burger patties are one of the easiest and tastiest dishes you can make, they can just as quickly turn into a dry, flavorless bundle of ground meat. By following the tips below, you'll have super juicy beef patties swimming in flavorful mushroom gravy that everyone at the table will fight over!

Two Ways to Make Gravy

• Gravies and sauces usually require a thickening agent called roux, which is made of equal parts butter (or fat) and flour. The butter is heated in the pan until melted, and the flour is whisked to form a smooth paste. The mixture is cooked, stirring continuously until the desired color is reached. The broth is gently poured in while whisking vigorously until it thickens. This is the method I prefer as browning the roux not only rids off the raw flour taste but deepens the flavor of the gravy as well.
• Another method of making the gravy is to combine melted butter and flour and whisk the mixture into the boiling stock until the gravy is thickened. This is the method if I'm short of time to make a proper roux or if the sauce/gravy is thinner than I like and want to adjust consistency easily.

How to Make Burger Steak

1. Heat oil in a wide pan and quickly saute mushrooms. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and keep warm. 
2. Pan-fry beef patties on each side lightly browned but not cooked through. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Keep warm.
3. In the pan, heat the butter until melted. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk until smooth and blended. Continue to cook, stirring regularly, until the roux turns lightly golden.
4. Slowly add beef broth, whisking consistently until smooth and the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Add browned patties in a single layer in the pan and simmer until fully cooked.
6. Add mushrooms during the last 5 minutes and cook until heated through.

Two Ways to Cook

• You can pan-fry the beef patties until fully cooked and then serve them with the gravy. This way, everyone can add as much or as little sauce as they like or skip it altogether (but why?).
• You can pan-fry the beef patties until they form an outside crust and finish them in the gravy. This is the method I prefer because the rendered fat from beef patties cooked in the sauce adds depth of flavor.

Serving suggestions

Burger steak is a mouthwatering main dish the whole family will love and is budget-friendly, too! Serve with steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles for a filling and tasty lunch or dinner.

How to Store

• Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Allow the beef patties and gravy to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container.
• To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a skillet or bake in an oven-safe dish at 350 F until internal temperature is at 165 F.