Keto Hamburger Steaks Recipe: A Comprehensive Guide

Keto Salisbury Steak is pure comfort food, transforming humble ground beef into an incredibly satisfying meal. Similar to Salisbury steak, this dinner transforms humble ground beef into an incredibly satisfying meal. A thick piece of ‘steak’ topped off with a rich gravy. Covered in an onion and mushroom gravy, this meal is not only nearly foolproof and ready in under an hour, but it's completely worthy of your dinner table. This article delves into various keto hamburger steak recipes, offering a comprehensive guide to creating delicious and satisfying low-carb meals.

What are Keto Hamburger Steaks?

Hamburger steaks, similar to Salisbury steak, are essentially seasoned ground beef patties. The key difference lies in the absence of tomato-based ingredients, like tomato paste and ketchup, for a more straightforwardly beefy bite. These steaks share more in common with meatballs and meatloaf. Keto hamburger steaks adapt this classic dish to fit a ketogenic diet by minimizing carbohydrates and maximizing fats.

Why Choose Keto Hamburger Steaks?

These hamburger steaks with gravy are the perfect low carb and frugal comfort food! For those following a ketogenic lifestyle, keto hamburger steaks offer several benefits:

• Low Carb: By eliminating traditional breadcrumbs and sugary sauces, these recipes keep carbohydrate intake to a minimum.
• High Fat: The recipes incorporate healthy fats, crucial for maintaining ketosis and providing energy.
• Satisfying: Rich in protein and flavor, keto hamburger steaks are incredibly filling and satisfying.
• Versatile: These steaks can be paired with various low-carb sides for a complete and balanced meal.
• Easy to make: This tasty recipe is a quick fix that’s ready in a jiffy.

Essential Ingredients for Keto Hamburger Steaks

Ground Beef

• Type: I recommend 90% lean ground beef here, but by all means, go with what you like and simply drain off any excess fat. Organic is preferred, but what you can afford is fine. I buy ground meat that is already formed into burgers from Aldi because they look very nice when cooked. You can use a leaner package of ground beef if you want and with the rich sauce it will be fine.
• Preparation: Handle the hamburger meat as little as possible. When mixing the seasoning into the burger, do so until just combined. Overworking can toughen the beef patties. Shape your ground beef into burgers. I made 4 large ones.

Binding Agents

• Egg: I use egg to help the patties hold together, as well as to add some moisture.
• Almond Flour: To make the salisbury steaks, mix together ground beef, egg, almond flour, Parmesan cheese, minced onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs lighten the burgers and help them stay juicy. Avoid seasoned breadcrumbs for this recipe. Plain gives you more control over the flavors in play.

Seasonings

• Garlic Powder: I use a judicious amount of garlic powder to really zhuzh up the flavor of beef.
• Onion Powder: I use a judicious amount of onion powder to really zhuzh up the flavor of beef.
• Paprika: I use a judicious amount of paprika to really zhuzh up the flavor of beef.
• Salt and Pepper: Season generously with salt and pepper and mix until the ingredients are evenly combined
• Coconut Aminos: Coconut Aminos stand in place of soy sauce.

Gravy Components

• Mushrooms: I prefer baby bellas (aka creminis) for the rich, meaty flavor they bring to the gravy. That said, the humble button mushroom has much to recommend it; feel free to swap it in if you prefer. I have used all different types of mushrooms. Any will work. Fresh MushroomsI just use white button mushrooms but you can use baby portobellos or any of your favorite varieties.
• Onion: Thinly sliced yellow onion adds sweetness and savor to the gravy as well as a bit of crunch to the dish.
• Beef Broth: I opted for beef broth to reinforce the flavor of the steaks. Go for low-sodium broth, so you can do the seasoning yourself. Add 1 can of beef broth to the skillet with the beef drippings, stir to loosen any stuck-on bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Worcestershire Sauce: I think of Worcestershire sauce as less a condiment than a potion. There’s just something magical about its powers of flavor enhancement.
• Heavy Cream: Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
• Sour Cream: A low carb remake of the classic Salisbury Steak! Add the sour cream, stir well, and remove from the heat.
• Cream Cheese: Once they are nice and brown, add the cream cheese, heavy cream, gruyere cheese and spices.
• Gruyere Cheese: This creamy keto burger steak with mushroom gravy makes for a delicious low carb skillet dinner you can have any night of the week. The creamy gruyere mushroom sauce is rich and packed with flavor and goes so well with the tender beef patties. Gruyere has a mildly nutty and earthy flavor and is creamy in texture. They sell a Gruyere/Swiss blend at Aldi and that is where I buy mine. If you want to substitute you can try with Swiss or gouda cheeses (learn more).
• Red Wine: These Hamburger Steaks Stroganoff are simply seasoned beef hamburgers that are smothered in a flavorful mushroom gravy made with beef broth and red wine.

Thickening Agents

• Flour: Every gravy needs a thickener. Here I used 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour to give the gravy its silky texture.
• Xanthan Gum: It works perfect as a thickening agent and adds a silky texture to foods, but you do want to be careful not to add too much or you’ll go from silky to slimy real quick. Xanthan gum can be found in just about any well stocked grocery store in the baking aisle near the alternative flours. It’s very commonly used in gluten free products. In my opinion, the most important thing to keep in mind when using xanthan gum in a recipe, is that less is usually more. I almost always add it in ¼ teaspoon increments, until I get the right consistency. Xanthan gum doesn’t thicken immediately, nor does it need to be heated (like flour or cornstarch) to activate its thickening powers. Always follow the recipe recommendations, or start small, with 1/2 teaspoon (yes 1/2 a TEASPOON) of xanthan gum per 2 cups of liquid. Whisk it in and let it rest for 3-4 minutes. It’ll start to thicken! Resist the urge to add more!

Fats and Oils

• Olive Oil: Olive oil tolerates higher heat and is ideal for browning the steaks.
• Butter: Butter is hugely simpatico with mushrooms but is prone to burning, so I wait to add it to the pan until I’m ready to sauté the 'shrooms.
• Ghee: Melt 1 ½ teaspoons ghee.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Keto Hamburger Steaks

Preparing the Hamburger Steaks

1. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine beef, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika; season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, coconut aminos, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Add the beef, egg, almond flour, Parmesan, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl and combine well.
2. Form Patties: Divide beef mixture into 4 patties, then flatten to 1/2"-thick oval patties. Divide the meat mixture into 4 portions, shaping each into a patty. Form beef mixture into 4 oval patties. You will want to make them as thin as possible.
3. Cook Patties: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add patties and cook, turning halfway through, until browned and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Place the patties in a hot skillet and cook until done. Heat the butter and avocado oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the beef patties and cook for 5 minutes, covered. Remove the lid, flip the patties and cook for 4 more minutes or until cooked through. Remove the patties from the pan and set aside. Test the internal temperature of the hamburger steaks before removing it from the skillet. The internal temperature should be 160 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to avoid over-cooking the beef.

Making the Gravy

1. Sauté Vegetables: In same skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add mushrooms and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Melt the remaining 1 ½ teaspoons ghee in the skillet. Stir in the mushrooms and onions. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. When the mushrooms are just about done, add the crushed garlic. Sautee the mushrooms over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes or until they are soft and have given off their liquid.
2. Create Gravy Base: Add flour and toss to coat veggies. Add the butter to the skillet over medium heat and let melt. Stir in the garlic powder and xanthan gum and cook for 30 seconds. Deglaze the skillet with 1/2 cup of the beef broth, scraping up all the yummy bits from the bottom of the pan.
3. Simmer: Slowly whisk in broth, then add Worcestershire and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often. Mix together the beef broth, wine, and arrowroot powder. Stir into the mushroom mixture and cook until the broth has begun to thicken. Add the browned beef patties and any liquid from the plate, tomato paste, and remainder of the broth to the skillet and simmer on low, covered, for about 10 minutes or until the beef is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165-F. Allow the gravy to reduce by about half, then begin adding your xanthan gum in ¼ teaspoon increments - stirring thoroughly after each addition, until you get a gravy-like consistency.
4. Combine: Return steaks to skillet and spoon sauce over. Cook until warmed through, about 1 minute more. Pour the mushroom sauce over the burgers and cook for a few minutes until the burgers are cooked through. Move the onion mushroom mixture to the side and return the beef patties to the skillet. Remove the patties from the pan and set them on a clean plate.

Recipe Variations

Creamy Keto Burger Steak with Mushroom Gravy

This recipe combines ground beef with a creamy gruyere mushroom sauce, perfect for a low-carb skillet dinner.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• White button mushrooms
• Heavy cream
• Sour cream
• Cream cheese
• Shredded Gruyere cheese
• Beef broth
• Garlic

Instructions:

1. Cook burger patties in a skillet and drain excess grease.
2. Sauté mushrooms in butter until golden brown, then add garlic.
3. Add cream cheese, heavy cream, Gruyere cheese, and spices.
4. Pour mushroom sauce over the burgers and cook until heated through.

Keto Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

This adaptation of the American classic strips out carbs for extra fat and flavor.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Heavy whipping cream
• Onion
• Egg
• Dijon mustard
• Worcestershire sauce
• Garlic powder
• Mushrooms
• Beef broth
• Tomato paste
• Xanthan gum

Instructions:

1. Mix ground beef with cream, onion, egg, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.
2. Form patties and pan-fry until caramelized.
3. Sauté mushrooms, deglaze skillet with beef broth, and add tomato paste.
4. Simmer patties in the sauce and thicken with xanthan gum.

Hamburger Steaks Stroganoff

These hamburger steaks are smothered in a flavorful mushroom gravy made with beef broth and red wine.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Coconut aminos
• Mushrooms
• Beef broth
• Red wine
• Arrowroot powder
• Ghee

Instructions:

1. Combine ground beef with coconut aminos, salt, and pepper.
2. Form patties and cook in ghee.
3. Sauté mushrooms and onions, then add beef broth, wine, and arrowroot powder.
4. Simmer until the gravy has thickened.

Tips for Tender and Juicy Hamburger Steaks

• Be Gentle: Overmixing the ground beef and/or packing the patties too tightly will yield tough, dense steaks. For this reason, I prefer to mix with my hands, which gives me a better feel for the texture of the beef mix. Hand mixing has the further advantage of incorporating the ingredients more quickly and evenly.
• Use a Meat Thermometer: Use a meat thermometer to avoid over-cooking the beef.
• Don't Overcook: The internal temperature should be 160 degrees.

Serving Suggestions

This keto Salisbury Steak really must be served with a side of mashed cauliflower or mashed turnips, so that all that gravy has somewhere delicious to go! Pair this meaty dish with creamy mashed cauliflower and you’ll be all set! You need something to soak up all that delicious keto mushroom sauce!

• Mashed Potatoes: In my book, mashed potatoes are a MUST with this meal. They're perfect for soaking up all of the delicious gravy.
• Garlic Mashed Cauliflower: Our favorite recipe to serve with these Hamburger Steaks Stroganoff is Garlic Mashed Cauliflower. The combination is so delicious, it makes my mouth water as I type!
• Parker House Rolls: Nothing completes a hearty comfort food meal like a soft and buttery roll.
• Spinach Salad: If you want something light to contrast the hearty vibes, then this fresh spinach salad is a breeze to make.
• Buttered zoodles
• Cauliflower Rice
• Steamed broccoli
• Green salad
• Egg noodles
• Regular white rice

Storage Instructions

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you want to work ahead, the steaks can be formed in advance and frozen for up to 1 month. Freeze the raw steaks on a parchment-lined baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. To reheat it, thaw it in the fridge overnight and warm it in a low oven (about 325-F) covered, until heated through.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

tags: #keto #hamburger #steaks