• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast and Breads
    • Snacks and Appetizers
    • Entree
    • Side Dishes
    • Freezer Friendly Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Sauces & Seasonings
  • Menus
  • Resources

This Moms Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast and Breads
    • Snacks and Appetizers
    • Entree
    • Side Dishes
    • Freezer Friendly Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Sauces & Seasonings
  • Menus
  • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes

    Published: Jan 18, 2018 ·Updated: Oct 6, 2020 by Sabra · 33 Comments

    Hamburger Steaks and Gravy | Keto

    Jump to Recipe Rate this Recipe

    These hamburger steaks with gravy are the perfect low carb and frugal comfort food! They are so easy to make and with only 1 total carb per serving, you can feel good about making them a regular on your meal plan! 

    This Mom's Menu is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This post may be sponsored or contain affiliate links but all opinions are my own. I may earn money from purchases made through the links shared here (at no additional cost to you)

    Some form of this recipe has been in regular rotation at my house for years, but I was really skeptical about making a low carb gravy, and without the gravy - this dish is just hamburgers 🙂

    After a little experimenting, I was able to come up with a delicious keto-friendly gravy, that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

    The trick is some heavy cream and a little xanthan gum.

    In case you are as new to xanthan gum as I was when I starting contemplating this recipe, I'll fill you in. Xanthan gum is a by-product of sugar fermentation, although it contains no sugar or digestible carbohydrates. In cooking, it's used as a thickening agent, making it perfect for low carb recipes.

    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. Too much xanthan gum leads to an almost slimy, gel-like consistency, so be careful of that when using it.

    You will definitely want to serve this with my mashed cauliflower! Am I the only one who looks forward to that perfect bite with meat, mashed cauliflower, and gravy all in one?

    To make the hamburger "steaks" simply combine the ground beef with the eggs, seasonings, and mustard in a large bowl - mixing until well combined. Then form into eight equal patties. You will want to make them as thin as possible.

    Place the patties in a hot skillet and cook until done. Remove from the pan and set aside.

    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. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer.

    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. I used about ½ teaspoon for this recipe, but that amount may vary depending upon how much you reduce your sauce.

    Serve the cooked "steaks" topped with gravy and enjoy!

    Hamburger Steaks and Gravy | Keto

    Sabra - This Mom's Menu
    This has all the flavor of the classic southern dish with none of the added carbs!
    4.37 from 25 reviewers
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Servings 8 people
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 lb 80/20 ground beef
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 teaspoon yellow mustard
    • 1 tsp Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1 can beef broth
    • 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream
    • ¼-1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum

    Instructions
     

    • To make the hamburger "steaks" combine the ground beef with the eggs, salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder, and mustard in a large bowl - mixing until well combined. Then form into eight equal patties. You will want to make them as thin as possible.
    • Place the patties in a hot skillet and cook until done. Remove from the pan and set aside.
    • 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. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
      *I used 80/20 ground beef for this recipe, if you use a fattier beef you should remove some of the grease before adding the beef broth. Reserving around 2-3 tablespoon worth. 
    • 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. I used about ½ teaspoon for this recipe, but that amount may vary depending upon how much you reduce your sauce.
    • Serve the cooked "steaks" topped with gravy and enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutrition info for 1 serving: 282 calories, 19.8g fat, 1 carb, 0.3g fiber, 22.3 g protein. 0.7 net carbs!

    Be sure to read the entire post for tips, tricks, and help troubleshooting.

    The nutrition information listed here is only an estimate and is simply provided as a courtesy. It nor any other information within this post should constitute medical or nutritional advice. Be sure to read all packaging and ingredient labels for potential allergens. Optional ingredients are not included unless otherwise specified.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 276kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 23gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 354mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 115IUCalcium: 26mgIron: 2.6mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thismomsmenu or tag #thismomsmenu
    Delicious and frugal, family friendly low carb dinner!
#thismomsmenu #ketodinner #cheapketomeal
    « Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
    What the Heck is the Keto Diet? Part 3: Common Misconceptions »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Wanda Gorum says

      January 31, 2018 at 8:35 pm

      One could not use cream of tarter or corn starch to thicken! Or Almond or Coconut Flour?

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        January 31, 2018 at 9:04 pm

        I have never used cream of tartar as a thickener, and I didn't want to add the carbs with corn starch - but you could certainly do so if you would like 🙂 I've never had good luck with using almond or coconut flour as a thickener since it stays pretty grainy - but again, you could definitely give it a shot and see how you like it!

        Reply
      • Trisha M says

        April 14, 2018 at 9:40 pm

        I've never used cream of tartar as a thicker and corn starch is not part of a keto diet. I use cream cheese to thicken my creamy gravys.

        Reply
    2. Vicki says

      February 13, 2018 at 5:43 pm

      How much is 1 can of beef broth

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        February 13, 2018 at 8:39 pm

        14.5 ounces or about 2 cups 🙂

        Reply
    3. Valerie says

      March 01, 2018 at 11:25 am

      Could you use milk instead of heavy whipping cream? I have to stay low carb and low fat, so I was wondering if it was adaptable?

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        March 02, 2018 at 8:50 pm

        I haven’t tried it with milk, but I’m pretty sure it would work just fine 🙂

        Reply
    4. Becky Florsheim says

      May 08, 2018 at 6:59 pm

      I added some onions to the meat and didn't add the xanthan gum. Very delicious! My husband had seconds!

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        May 10, 2018 at 10:07 pm

        Thanks for the review! I think that adding in some onions is a great idea, thanks for sharing 🙂

        Reply
    5. Sarah says

      May 10, 2018 at 1:08 am

      So are those real mashed potatoes there? lol

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        May 10, 2018 at 8:21 am

        Nope 🙂 They are my Recipe for mashed cauliflower If you are missing real mashed potatoes (and who isn’t 😂) then you should definitely check it out!

        Reply
        • PJ says

          August 30, 2018 at 9:18 pm

          I admit, I have't tried subbing cauliflower for potatoes....I do Like cauliflower but I just cannot imagine it as a replacement for mashed potatoes.
          Can't wrap my head around it....I cannot fathom how you could get it as smooth as potatoes unless you put it in a blender....then it would get cold!

          Reply
          • Tamara Harden says

            September 15, 2018 at 11:21 pm

            cauli mash is delicious!! I made cauli mac and cheese the other night. YUM.

            Reply
          • robert lunsford says

            September 16, 2021 at 2:27 pm

            I did change the gum for cream cheese, added mushrooms. I am not a fan of mashed cauliflower. To me it taste like weird mashed tatters. I do like it just small chopped as a base, not riced.

            Reply
    6. pamela haass says

      June 20, 2018 at 10:38 am

      going to make this. sounds good.

      Reply
    7. Jena says

      June 21, 2018 at 10:34 am

      Can I replace or leave out the Xantham Gum? Maybe with Psyillum Husk or something else? I have IBS and I have heard that Xantham Gum can be hard on the disgestive tract.

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        June 21, 2018 at 11:30 am

        I would just omit it. You may have a thinner gravy, but I think other options would give it a funky texture.

        Reply
        • Shawn says

          February 25, 2020 at 6:23 pm

          This is something I've never understood. There are some many low carb recipes that call for heavy cream and some kind of thickening him. Heavy cream thickens up all on it's own. I learn this at an Italian restaurant I worked at. It's how they made their Alfredo sauce, essentially heavy cream, butter and parmesan cheese, then I think some nutmeg and pasrley. I make sausage gravy the same way.bjuat sausage and heavy cream. Just use a low/medium heat keep an eye on it, because heavy cream will go to grease if over cooked.

          Reply
          • Shawn says

            February 25, 2020 at 6:38 pm

            *thickening gum, not thickening him

            Reply
    8. sandra says

      June 21, 2018 at 11:47 am

      sounds good

      Reply
    9. Nicole says

      October 02, 2018 at 3:58 pm

      Can you use Bone Broth instead of beef broth?

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        October 02, 2018 at 8:23 pm

        Yes, bone broth would work just fine.

        Reply
    10. Jane says

      January 08, 2019 at 6:10 pm

      Can you freeze this gravy?

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        January 08, 2019 at 6:13 pm

        I haven't tried it, but I am afraid that it would separate and get a funky texture when reheating. If you've already made it, you could just test out a small portion and see how it works. If you try it, let me know!

        Reply
    11. Anthony W OConnor says

      January 14, 2019 at 9:24 pm

      My wife had I had this for dinner tonight. It was super delicious. We had it w/roasted broccoli and a green salad only because we had mashed cauliflower last night. Didn't have xanthun gun; she used a little arrowroot instead, worked fine.

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        January 15, 2019 at 6:00 pm

        Thanks, Anthony! Glad to hear it was enjoyed 🙂

        Reply
    12. Dennis Swatsenbarg says

      July 12, 2019 at 9:54 pm

      Why do you suggest the hamburger patties be as thin as possible? Is it just for faster cooking?

      Reply
      • Sabra says

        July 18, 2019 at 6:50 pm

        This is mostly a personal preference but it does prevent them from getting too thick as they cook. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    13. Roxann says

      April 26, 2020 at 1:55 am

      This turned out great!!! My new favorite recipe!!

      Reply
    14. Sherri says

      September 26, 2022 at 11:40 pm

      When in a pinch and you don’t have beef stock, you could sub brown gravy (no carb version) in a jar. This was delicious. I did still add the heavy cream. Skipped the xanthum gum on this one.

      Thanks for sharing this recipe Sabra.

      Reply

    Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this Recipe:




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Hi! I am Sabra and I'm the face behind This Mom's Menu. I live just outside of Louisville Kentucky with my husband and four kids. Here at This Mom's Menu, you can expect to find family-friendly, healthy recipes plus articles about what is helping me get through my daily to-do list with a little sanity to spare! My favorite things right now are fresh flowers, eggs, and re-runs of The Office ...

    More about me →

    Trending posts

    • Low Carb Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Soup | Crock Pot
    • Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Casserole
    • Chicken and Dumplings
    • Sticky Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Sugar Free Peppermint Mocha
    • Keto Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
    • Crockpot Wassail (Mulled Apple Cider)
    • Glazed Ham | Keto, No Added Sugar
    • Keto Candy Cane Pie
    • Cranberry Jalapeno Dip

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy

    Follow Me:

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 This Mom's Menu, LLC

    • 1.1K
    63.1K shares
    63.1K shares
    • 1.1K