Salisbury steak is an easy recipe of tender ground beef patties simmered in a rich brown gravy for the perfect classic comfort dinner. Easy and delicious any night of the week!

Salisbury Steak on a black plate with onion gravy


 

This easy Salisbury steak recipe has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. It is classic comfort food at it’s finest!

Tender, juicy ground beef patties are lightly fried and then simmered in a rich onion gravy. Yum!

Much like my other favorite comfort foods, meatloaf, Swedish meatballs, beef stroganoff, and chicken fried steak it’s served over mashed potatoes (my favorite!), noodles, or rice so you can soak up all of that delicious gravy with every bit.

This simple but delicious dish can be on the table in 30 minutes so it’s a great dinner solution for busy weeknights!

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Salisbury Steak in a skillet

Ingredients You’ll Need 

Here’s what you’ll need for the steaks and for the onion gravy.

For the steaks:

  • Ground beef – We use the 80/20 blend for the best combination of flavor and fat.
  • Panko Bread Crumbs – I use panko bread crumbs because they are what I always have on hand. You can also use regular bread crumbs. Just make sure you use plain (unseasoned) crumbs.
  • Onion – We use a white or yellow onion. We use fresh onion since we have it on hand for the gravy but you could substitute onion powder in place of this if you prefer.
  • Worcestershire sauce – Really no great substitute for this.
  • Salt and pepper – We prefer kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
  • Olive oil – You could use another light tasting oil such as avocado, vegetable, or canola oil if you prefer.

For the onion gravy:

  • Onion – You can use white or yellow onions for this. We prefer a sweet yellow onion.
  • Olive oil – You could use another lighter tasting oil.
  • Beef broth – You could use water, but you will lose some of the richness in the gravy.
  • Worcestershire sauce – There are no great substitutes for this wonder sauce.
  • Ketchup – You can use your favorite brand or use a Keto friendly version.
  • Flour – You can use a Keto friendly flour or an all purpose flour for this.
green skillet with Salisbury Steak

How to Make Salisbury Steak

Step 1: Mix the meat. In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, bread crumbs, diced onions, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper until well combined.

Step 2: Form patties. Using your hands, form the meat mixture into about 6 ounce patties.

Step 3: Cook the patties. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and then add olive oil to the pan. Next, add the patties and cook both sides until the centers are no longer pink. If your skillet is not large enough, you may need to work in batches.Place the cooked patties aside.

Step 4: Make the onion gravy. Reduce the heat to medium and add olive oil to the skillet along with the sliced onions. Next, cook the onions for about 10 minutes, over medium-high heat, or until they are caramelized. Once cooked, place the onions to the side.

Step 5: Mix the liquids for the gravy.  In a large bowl, combine the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup and then whisk in the flour until no lumps remain.

Step 6: Cook the gravy. Pour the broth mixture into the skillet and cook until the sauce begins to thicken. 

Step 7: Bring it all together. Once the gravy has thickened, add the beef and onions back to the skillet, spooning the gravy over the beef. Allow the beef to simmer in the gravy for another 10 minutes.

Serve immediately with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles and a big helping of gravy on top. 

piece of Salisbury Steak on a fork

What is Salisbury Steak

Salisbury steak is named after a doctor in the 19th century who studied nutrition. He found that minced meats and meats are healthy foods (our kind of doctor!). Oddly enough, he also found that fruits and veggies were not healthy.

Salisbury steak is a classic American comfort food that uses ground beef to form a delicious patty that you then smother in a brown gravy. This brown gravy can be an onion gravy like we have here or a mushroom gravy.

The dish is often served with mashed potatoes, rice or noodles. It’s packed with flavor and can feed your entire family easily.

What is the Difference Between Salisbury Steak and Hamburger Steak

Hamburger steak and salisbury steak are very similar, and, depending on the recipe, almost interchangeable. 

Traditionally, the main difference comes in what is added to the meat. In hamburger steak recipes, you may only see salt and pepper added. In salisbury steak recipes, you’ll often see breadcrumbs, sauces, onions, and other items added to the patties.

Another potential difference is that you often serve hamburger steak on a bun or roll. Salisbury steak can be served with bread or can be served with other fixings to make a full meal. 

Otherwise, you can cook both steaks in gravy and add as much to the patties as you like. 

How to Store It

To make ahead for quick weeknight dinner that feeds the whole family, follow the recipe and allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or up to 2 months in the freezer.

How to Reheat

To reheat from the refrigerator, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Once the oven is ready, place the meat in an oven safe dish with the gravy and cover with foil. Heat in your oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through. 

To reheat from the freezer, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to reheat, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Next, place the meat and gravy in an oven safe dish and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.

Salisbury Steak on a plate with green beans

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Servings: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Salisbury Steak

Salisbury Steak is classic comfort food. Delicious beef patties are cooked in a flavorful onion gravy for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!
skillet with Salisbury Steak in gravy
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

Onion Gravy:

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, diced onions, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Thoroughly mix ingredients together.
  • Form beef mixture into oval patties weighing approximately 6 ounces each.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Add beef patties to the skillet and cook on both sides until the center is no longer pink. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your skillet. Place cooked patties aside.
  • Once all patties are cooked reduce the heat to medium and make the onion gravy by adding 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet along with the sliced onions. Cook the onions for approximately 10 minutes, medium-high, until they are caramelized. Set onions aside.
  • In a large bowl or measuring cup, combine beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup. Add flour and whisk until no lumps remain.
  • Pour the broth mixture into the skillet and cook until the sauce begins to thicken.
  • Add beef and onions back to the skillet, spooning the gravy over the beef, and let the beef cook in the gravy for another 10 minutes.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 519kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 40g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 107mg, Sodium: 1266mg, Potassium: 539mg, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 10IU, Vitamin C: 2.9mg, Calcium: 53mg, Iron: 3.7mg
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: comfort food recipe, ground beef recipe, salisbury steak

This post originally appeared on Real Housemoms where we are contributors.