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Alright, let's get those hands dirty! In a big bowl, gently mix your ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced onion, garlic powder, and Worcestershire. Don't overmix, or your patties get tough – remember that time I made hockey pucks? We want tender Salisbury steak! Form them into about 8 oval patties, not too thick, not too thin. They'll shrink a bit, honestly. This is the first step to your amazing Crock Pot Salisbury Steak.
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Now, for a little extra oomph! Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Brown those patties for about 2-3 minutes per side. We're not cooking them through, just getting that gorgeous color and locking in flavor. This step is a game-changer for the final Crock Pot Salisbury Steak taste, don't skip it if you have time! You'll smell that delicious beefy aroma filling your kitchen.
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Carefully transfer your browned patties to your slow cooker. Next, in the same skillet (don't clean it, those bits are flavor!), add your sliced mushrooms and cook until they soften slightly, maybe 5 minutes. Now, sprinkle them over the patties in the Crock Pot. See? Easy peasy, almost there! This sets the stage for a rich and flavorful Crock Pot Salisbury Steak.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, and dry onion soup mix until it's smooth. This is where the magic happens for our Crock Pot Salisbury Steak gravy. Pour this savory mixture all over the patties and mushrooms in the slow cooker. It should mostly cover them, creating a lovely bath for slow cooking. The smells are starting to get really good now!
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Pop that lid on your slow cooker! Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Honestly, I prefer low and slow for that melt-in-your-mouth texture. The house will start smelling incredible, I promise! Resist the urge to peek too much, let the Crock Pot Salisbury Steak do its thing. It's truly worth the wait.
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Once the patties are cooked through and tender, it's time to thicken that luscious gravy! In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and a little cold water to make a slurry. Stir this into the gravy in the slow cooker. Cook on high for another 15-20 minutes, or until the gravy thickens to your liking. Stir in a pat of butter at the end for extra richness, then garnish your Crock Pot Salisbury Steak with fresh parsley. Dig in!