1-Step 1: Prep Ingredients Finely chop your onion and slice the mushrooms to get everything ready. Mix the beef patty ingredients in a bowl for easy handling. If you’re going vegan, use plant-based ground and a flax egg instead.

2-Step 2: Form the Patties Shape the mixture into six patties using wet hands for better control. This helps them hold together during cooking. For gluten-free options, swap breadcrumbs with oats to keep things simple.

3-Step 3: Brown the Patties Brown the patties in a skillet for about 3 minutes per side to add extra flavor, as mentioned in the recipe tips. This step is optional but makes a big difference. If you’re short on time, you can skip it, but searing helps with texture.

4-Step 4: Layer in the Slow Cooker Place the sliced mushrooms and onions at the bottom, then add the browned patties on top. This setup ensures even cooking and infuses the meat with savory notes from the veggies.

5-Step 5: Add the Gravy Mixture Whisk together the beef broth, brown gravy mix, ketchup, Dijon mustard, and parsley, then pour it over the patties. This creates that rich gravy everyone loves.

6-Step 6: Cook on Low Set your slow cooker to low and let it cook for 5 hours. This slow process makes the patties tender and allows the flavors to develop fully. Check the internal temperature to ensure it’s safe.

7-Step 7: Thicken the Gravy After cooking, remove the patties and thicken the gravy with a cornstarch slurry. Stir it in and cook on high until it reaches the desired consistency. This step, as per the directions, ensures a perfect sauce.

8-Step 8: Serve Return the patties to the gravy and serve over mashed potatoes or rice. The total prep time is just 10 minutes, with 5 hours of cooking, making it ideal for busy days.