Go Back
–+ servings
Japanese hamburger steak (hambāgu ハンバーグ) on a white plate next to broccoli and carrots.
Print Recipe
5 from 224 votes

Japanese Hamburger Steak (Hambāgu ハンバーグ)

Japanese hamburger steak or hambāgu ハンバーグ is a juicy hamburger steak patty made with ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, and sauteed onions. It's served with a tangy sauce made of ketchup and worcestershire sauce! 
Prep Time8 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time23 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Japanese, Korean
Servings: 4
Calories: 491kcal

Ingredients

Hamburger Steak

  • 1 ⅓ lb ground beef See Note 1
  • ⅓ medium onion finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs See Note 2
  • 2 ½ Tablespoons milk
  • 2 teaspoons ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic (optional) minced
  • ¼ cup red wine to steam patty

Sauce

  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 Tablespoons water or stock
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons sugar

Optional for serving

  • steamed broccoli and carrots
  • steamed rice

Instructions

  • Saute onions: Heat a pan over medium high heat and add the vegetable oil and diced onions. Saute until softened. Remove and set aside.
    Diced white onions being sauteed in a pan.
  • Mix: In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, sauteed onions, egg, panko bread crumbs, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire, sea salt, pepper, and garlic. Mix well until it becomes a smooth texture.
    Hamburger steak ingredients in a glass bowl being mixed together with a gloved hand.
  • Form hamburger steaks: Divide the patties into four sections and form into tight oval patties. Lightly oil hands for easier shaping. See Note 3.
    Hambagu patty of ground meat formed into a round oval shape and held in hands.
  • Cook: Lightly oil a large pan and heat over medium high heat. Add the hamburger steak and cook each side for 3 to 4 minutes. Then add the red wine and cover to steam until the steak patties are fully cooked (internal temperature of 160° F). Remove and set aside.
    Red wine being added to Japanese hamburger steaks cooking in a pan.
  • Make sauce: Using the same pan, reduce heat to low and add the ingredients for the sauce. Stir until it it starts to bubble. Turn off heat and serve with hamburger steaks. See Note 4.
    Juicy Japanese hamburger steak (hambāgu ハンバーグ) covered in sauce on a white plate next to carrots and broccoli.

Video

Notes

  1. Ground meat - You can opt to use a combination of ground beef and pork. Keep the ground beef to at least 60% for best flavor. Otherwise, if you prefer a beefier flavor, use 100% ground beef. I used 85% lean. 
  2. Panko bread crumbs - Substitute with regular unseasoned bread crumbs. If you opt to use seasoned bread crumbs, leave out salt as it may be too salty.
  3. Forming hambagu steaks - Remove air pockets from the patty by tossing back and forth between your hands. This helps keep its shape during cooking.
  4. Sauce - If preferred, wipe off excess grease from the pan first. For a thinner sauce, increase the amount of water a Tablespoon at a time and add more salt and sugar to your liking.
Leftovers - Store leftover hamburger steaks in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 491kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 935mg | Potassium: 660mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 188IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 4mg