Place raw ground beef patties into a glass casserole dish and add just four basic pantry ingredients to create a meal so delicious your family will keep asking for it again and again.
This 4-Ingredient “Poor Man’s Easter Weekend Beef” is a simple Salisbury steak–style bake that turns basic ground beef into a tender, comforting main dish. The patties are gently baked in a rich mixture of condensed cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, and onion soup mix, which slowly cooks into a flavorful gravy. As it bakes, the sauce thickens and infuses the meat, creating soft, juicy patties coated in a creamy onion-mushroom glaze that tastes far more elevated than the short ingredient list suggests.
4-Ingredient Poor Man’s Easter Weekend Beef
Ingredients:
- Ground beef (formed into 4 patties) — 1 1/2 lbs
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup — 1 can (10 1/2 oz)
- Beef broth — 1 can (10 1/2 oz)
- Onion soup mix — 1 packet (1 oz)
- Black pepper (optional) — 1/2 tsp
Step-by-Step Directions:
Step 1: Prepare the patties
Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape the ground beef into four equal patties, about 3/4-inch thick.
Tip: Handle the meat lightly to keep the patties tender instead of dense. Arrange them in a single layer in a 9×13-inch glass casserole dish without overlapping.
Step 2: Make the sauce
In a bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, onion soup mix, and optional black pepper. Pour the mixture evenly over the patties, making sure they are fully coated.
Step 3: Cover and bake
Tightly cover the dish with aluminum foil. This helps trap steam, keeping the meat moist and allowing it to cook evenly. Bake for 45 minutes.
Step 4: Finish uncovered
Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes.
Look for: The sauce should be bubbling around the edges, and the patties should be fully cooked through with no pink in the center.
Step 5: Rest before serving
Let the dish rest for about 5 minutes after removing it from the oven.
Tip: As it sits, the sauce will thicken into a rich gravy that clings to the beef instead of running off.
