Depression Era Hamburgers

Step back in time with these hearty and budget-friendly Depression Era Hamburgers—an ingenious recipe born from creativity and thrift. Made with a simple yet satisfying blend of ground beef, finely chopped onion, rolled oats, and a splash of milk, these patties are stretched to feed a crowd without skimping on flavor. Lightly dredged in flour before pan-frying in butter or oil, the burgers develop a golden, crispy exterior while staying juicy and tender inside. Perfectly seasoned with salt and black pepper, these nostalgic hamburgers are served on soft buns and can be topped with classic condiments like mustard, ketchup, or pickles for an authentic vintage vibe. With just 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cook time, this recipe is a deliciously efficient way to bring a piece of history to your table!

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
• 0.5 cup onion, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup rolled oats
• 0.25 cup milk
• 0.75 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour (for dredging)
• 2 tablespoons butter or oil (for frying)
• 4 hamburger buns

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, finely chopped onion, rolled oats, milk, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

Step 2

Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape them into patties approximately 1/2-inch thick.

Step 3

Place the flour on a plate and lightly dredge each patty in the flour, shaking off any excess.

Step 4

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter or oil.

Step 5

Once the butter is melted and sizzling or the oil is shimmering, place the patties in the skillet. Cook for approximately 4-5 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through.

Step 6

Remove the patties from the skillet and allow them to rest for a minute or two.

Step 7

Serve the patties on hamburger buns with your choice of condiments, such as mustard, ketchup, or pickles, for a true Depression-era experience.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(947.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2065.7

Total Fat 136.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 60.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 389.5mg	0%
Sodium 2822.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 119.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 63.1g	0%
Total Sugars 7.3g
Protein 145.8g	0%

Vitamin D 73.2IU	0%
Calcium 288.4mg	0%
Iron 16.7mg	0%
Potassium 1568.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 53.6%

Protein: 25.5%

Carbs: 20.9%