Italian Hamburger Steaks

This recipe transforms ground beef into flavorful Italian Hamburger Steaks with marinara and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, these savory patties are easy to make and super kid-friendly!

I think of this recipe as an Italian-inspired version of my Homemade Salisbury Steak recipe. Easy weeknight comfort food.

Two hamburger steaks with marinara and cheese on a blue plate with salad.

A simply seasoned ground beef mixture is formed into oblong patties, seared, and baked with pasta sauce and cheese to create these Italian-inspired hamburger steaks. They’re loaded with comfort and the familiar flavors that my family loves.

This easy pantry staple recipe is precisely the type of dinner that was on repeat in my kitchen when our boys were school age. It calls for ingredients that I almost always have on hand, so I can literally add it to my menu at the last minute.

When you’re feeding a family, you can never have enough easy ground beef recipes like this one. More favorites like my Ground Beef Pasta Skillet, Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce, and Meaty Tortellini Skillet make a home cooked meal possible on busy weeknights.

Italian hamburger steaks in a baking dish.

Ingredient Notes

Raw ground beef, marinara, cheese and other ingredients in bowls with text.

Fresh produce: Finely diced yellow onion and minced garlic.
Oil: A little olive oil for sautéing the onion and garlic.
Egg: A large egg helps to bind the hamburger mixture.
Bread crumbs: Seasoned panko bread crumbs.
Marinara sauce: Your favorite store-bought or homemade marinara sauce.
Dry seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
Ground beef: 93% lean ground beef.
Cheese: Shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese.
Optional garnish and for serving: A little minced fresh basil or parsley is a nice garnish for a pop of color and more flavor. A little grated Parmesan is a nice way to finish them off when serving.

A fork resting on a blue plate with Italian hamburger steaks and salad.

How to Make Italian Hamburger Steaks

Four images showing onions cooking in a skillet and Italian hamburger steak ingredients in a glass bowl.

In a large nonstick skillet, cook the onion in olive oil until tender. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg, then add the bread crumbs, part of the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and mix to combine.
Crumble the beef over the mixture and then scrape the onions from the skillet into the bowl.
Mix the ingredients until well combined.

Four images of hamburger patties in a skillet and in a baking dish topped with marinara and cheese.

Shape the hamburger mixture into six oblong patties and using the same pan, cook them until nicely browned and partially cooked through. If your pan is not large enough, cook the patties in batches.
Transfer the partially cooked patties to a 13-x 9-inch baking dish.
Top each patty neatly with the remaining marinara sauce.
Divide the shredded mozzarella between the patties and bake in a preheated 375 degree F oven until the cheese has melted and the beef patties are cooked through to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.

If your large skillet is oven-safe and big enough to hold all of the ground beef patties, there’s no need to transfer them to a baking dish. Just top them with marinara and cheese and transfer the pan to the oven to finish the cooking process.

Make-Ahead Tip

Mix the ground beef mixture and form the steak patties in advance. Place them in a dish, cover it with foil, and refrigerate them overnight for an easy dinner the next day. Cook the patties within 24 hours of refrigerating.

Serving Suggestions

Garnish: I like to garnish these Italian Hamburger Steaks with a little fresh parsley or basil for a pop of color and some bright flavor. You can also set out a little grated Parmesan cheese for serving, if you’d like.

Potatoes or Rice: Bulk up this meal by serving it with Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Cheddar Mashed Potatoes, or classic Parsley Potatoes. My favorite rice recipe of all time, my Almond Rice Pilaf, would also work really well.

Pasta: Since you’ll have a little leftover marinara sauce, you can toss it with your favorite cooked pasta for a substantial side dish. We also love my Easy Parmesan Noodles with this meal.

Salad or Veggies: Toss a Simple Italian Salad for a fresh side. Simply Sautéed Green Beans or broccoli would also be a great way to complete this meal.

Italian hamburger steaks on a blue plate with salad on a dinner table.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Storage: Place the hamburger steaks in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days or freeze for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before reheating,
Reheating: Cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes. You can add extra sauce and cheese, if you’d like, and cook them just until warmed through. Or, microwave 1-minute intervals, covered, to prevent them from drying out.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Keyword: italian hamburger steaks

Prep Time:10 minutes

Cook Time:22 minutes

Total Time:32 minutes

Instructions

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over MEDIUM-LOW heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until tender (reduce heat if onion begins to burn). Add the garlic and cook about 30 seconds more. Remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg, then add the bread crumbs, ⅓ cup marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and mix to combine. Crumble the beef over the mixture and then scrape the onions from the skillet into the bowl. Mix well and shape into six oblong patties – mine were about 4-inch long and 1-inch thick.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the same skillet (with oil residue), over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. If the pan is dry, add a little additional oil and when hot, add half the patties, leaving a little space in between. Cook for several minutes on each side, or until nicely browned and partially cooked through. Transfer the browned, partially cooked patties to a 13-x 9-inch baking dish and repeat to brown the remaining patties. Top each patty neatly with the remaining ⅔ cup marinara sauce and the shredded mozzarella.
Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the beef patties are cooked through to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if using. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 308 kcal · Carbohydrates: 7 g · Protein: 29 g · Fat: 18 g · Saturated Fat: 7 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 8 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 113 mg · Sodium: 516 mg · Potassium: 543 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 2 g · Vitamin A: 312 IU · Vitamin C: 4 mg · Calcium: 185 mg · Iron: 3 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.

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