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Baked Ground Beef Patties Smothered in Cream of Mushroom Soup
Some of the best comfort food recipes are the ones that practically make themselves. This old-fashioned baked hamburger patty dish is exactly that kind of meal — humble, hearty, and deeply satisfying. With just a handful of ingredients and almost no prep work, you end up with tender, juicy beef patties bathed in a rich, creamy mushroom gravy that begs to be spooned over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
This is the kind of supper that grandmothers made on busy weeknights, and for good reason. It requires minimal effort, uses pantry staples, and feeds a hungry family without fuss. The magic happens right in the oven as the raw beef patties slowly bake under that velvety cream of mushroom blanket, absorbing every bit of savory flavor as they cook through perfectly.
Ingredients
- 1.5 to 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend recommended for best flavor)
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix
- 2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- 1 cup beef broth or water
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: sliced fresh mushrooms for extra heartiness
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish and set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef with the dry onion soup mix, a generous pinch of salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined — avoid overworking the meat so the patties stay tender.
- Divide the seasoned ground beef into 6 equal portions and shape each one into a thick, round patty about an inch tall. Arrange the patties in a single layer in the prepared glass baking dish, leaving a little space between each one.
- In a separate bowl or measuring cup, stir together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and beef broth until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the creamy mushroom mixture evenly over the raw beef patties, making sure every patty gets a good coating of that luscious sauce. If using sliced mushrooms, scatter them over the top now.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven.
- Bake covered for 45 minutes, then carefully remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until the patties are fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly and turned golden around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. The internal temperature of the beef should reach at least 160°F for safe consumption.
Serving Suggestions
These smothered beef patties are absolutely divine served over a generous mound of creamy mashed potatoes, allowing all that mushroom gravy to soak right in. They also pair beautifully with buttered egg noodles, steamed white rice, or even a thick slice of crusty bread to sop up every last drop of sauce. Add a simple steamed vegetable on the side like green beans, broccoli, or roasted carrots and you have a complete, well-rounded dinner on the table.
Tips for Success
Use an 80/20 ground beef blend rather than extra-lean meat. The fat content keeps the patties moist and juicy during the longer bake time, and it also adds incredible richness to the surrounding sauce. If you use very lean beef, the patties can dry out and become tough before the sauce has time to fully develop.
Do not dilute the cream of mushroom soup. Using it straight from the can, condensed, is what gives the gravy its thick, velvety body. Adding the beef broth provides just enough liquid to loosen it into the perfect pourable consistency without watering down the flavor.
Make sure to cover the dish with foil for the majority of the cooking time. This traps steam inside the baking dish, which gently braises the patties and keeps them from drying out. Removing the foil at the end allows the top to brown slightly and the sauce to reduce into a beautiful, glossy gravy.
Make It Your Own
This recipe is wonderfully flexible. You can swap the cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken or cream of celery if that is what you have on hand. Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the beef mixture for a deeper, umami-rich flavor. Stir a dollop of sour cream into the sauce just before serving for an extra layer of creaminess. However you choose to make it, this easy baked hamburger patty casserole is guaranteed to become a beloved staple in your weekly dinner rotation.
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