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    🏠Home » Recipes » Comfort Food Recipes

    Homemade Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy

    Oct 29, 2022 · Modified: Dec 15, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 70 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.30 from 362 votes

    Old Fashioned Salisbury Steak with onion or mushroom gravy is delicious classic comfort food. Homemade from scratch like grandma would cook, this is a quick and easy dinner the whole family will love.

    closeup image of Salisbury Steak on a blue plate with potatoes and gravy

    Jump To:
    • 👨‍🍳How to make this recipe
    • 🥣Ingredients
    • ✔️Pro Tips
    • ❓FAQs
    • How to serve Salisbury steak?
    • 📖Comfort Food Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Introduction

    Salisbury steak is a classic American dish with tender and favorable seasoned patties and served with brown gravy over mashed potatoes or noodles. Comfort food from out of the past.

    This is another request by my wife, but this time, she even remembered the recipe for Salisbury steak and gravy she made, but details like exact measurements were missing. We both had the same vision.

    After searching for an old-fashioned Salisbury steak recipe, she found one at Cincyshopper based on Pioneer Womans Salisbury Steak Meatballs. Most of the right ingredients but not quite—now I had a plan. I made some changes to the ingredients and technique. We both felt it was just right—the recipe we both remembered—5-star comfort food for us.

    👨‍🍳How to make this recipe

    1. If using, prepare the onions by thinly slicing a onion and clean and trim the mushrooms. Cook in a large skillet wit oil over medium-high heat until nicely brown—about 7-8 minutes. Move to a bowl.
    2. Combine ground beef with breadcrumbs, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder.
    3. Divide the hamburger mixture into equal portions of ¼ to ⅓ pound each. Form into burgers and compress a quarter-size indent in the middle of one side to prevent puffing up of the patties and make cooking evener.
    4. Fry the patties in a frying pan with oil over medium-high heat. Flip about every 5-6 minutes until an internal temperature of 165°-about 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness, the pan, and your burners.
    5. Whisk 4 tablespoons flour with 1 cup beef broth—set asided.
    6. Remove the Salisbury steak patties to a plate and lightly tent. Pour out most of the liquid in the fry pan, leaving about 3-4 tablespoons of liquid. Allow the pan to cool some. Add 1 cup beef broth and bring to a light boil over medium heat.
    7. Slowly add the flour-broth mixture while continuing to whisk. Add 1 teaspoon ketchup and ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.
    8. Whisk until nicely thickened, 3-4 minutes. If using the caramelized onions, add them to the gravy and mix well.
    9. Add steak back into the mixture, simmer for a few minutes until everything is hot.

    🥣Ingredients

    Meat

    Ground beef is most commonly used. The standard 80/20 fat mixture works well for this recipe. But lean ground beef also works well due to the bread crumbs helping keep the patties moist and tender. You can use substitute other ground meat like ground turkey or chicken.

    Onions and Mushrooms

    Use one, both, or neither in the gravy.

    Onions: Caramelized onions are one of the primary flavors in this recipe. The onion should be cooked entirely in the first phase of the recipe. Do not add raw onion to the gravy and think you can cook it well.

    I like to use vegetable oil to caramelize the onion since I use higher heat and butter can smoke.

    Mushrooms: Precook the mushrooms similar to the onions since they will not have time to cook later in the recipe.

    Other pantry ingredients

    • garlic powder
    • onion powder if no onion in the gravy
    • breadcrumbs
    • ketchup
    • mustard
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • flour and beef broth for the gravy

    ✔️Pro Tips

    • Do not use high heat to cook the meat patties. The outside will be done before the center is safe to eat.
    • Do not make you meat patties over ⅓ pound. They will be too thick to cook well on the desktop.
    • When browning the onions and mushrooms, cook to a darker brown for more caramelization flavor.

    ❓FAQs

    Can I use cornstarch to make the gravy?

    Yes but please don't. It is easy use, but gravy made with cornstarch can turn jello-like when refrigerated.

    The recipe uses a slurry method which is an easy way to make gravy at home. Flour is whisked into a liquid and dissolved completely, which is then slowly added to a boiling fluid, usually a broth with meat drippings, while mixing continuously. After a few minutes, it will thicken into gravy.

    Please see How to Easily Make Gravy from Scratch for more details on doing the gravy with the slurry method.

    Is Salisbury steak the same as Swiss steak or Hamburger steak?

    No. Swiss steak is made with real steak but usually a tougher cut like round or sirloin and then braised in liquid to tenderize.

    Salisbury steak is made with ground meat and is similar to meatloaf but is fried and is served with gravy. Some Salisbury steak contains egg but not all.

    The term hamburger steak is sometimes used for Salisbury steak but incorrectly. It will not have starch as bread crumbs added. Hamburger steak is usually just a big hamburger with basic seasoning with salt and pepper.

    How to store leftover Salisbury steak?

    Salisbury steak with gravy is best stored in the refrigerator sealed in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

    To freeze, seal the leftovers airtight in your freezer for 3-4 months.

    How to serve Salisbury steak?

    Salisbury steak with gravy is usually served over or next to a starch. Mashed potatoes are the most common, but pasta, like egg noodles, is also an excellent combination. Rice is a third option.

    I like to combine with a standard simple vegetable that compliments this old-fashioned dish—peas, carrots, green beans, or corn are my everyday choices. A plain old-fashioned dish demands a basic side dish.

    📖Comfort Food Recipes

    Easy Pot Roast with Gravy

    Oven Fried Chicken with Gravy

    One Pan Beef Tips with Gravy

    Fried Pork Chops with Gravy

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    101's Best Recipes, Beef Recipes, Comfort Food Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    raw burger with Salisbury Steak ingredients

    Note while the pictures are for five servings, the discussion, and the recipe is set for four servings.

    browning onion in the skillet

    If you want caramelized onions in your gravy, start by thin slicing a small onion. Cook with 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat until nicely brown. About 7-8 minutes. Set aside in a bowl.

    Mixing ground beef with other ingredients in a glass bowl

    In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 pound of ground beef with ⅓ cup breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons ketchup, 1 teaspoon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder. If not doing the onions, then add ½ teaspoon onion powder.

    forming ground beef mixture into patties with a dimple on a white board

    Divide the hamburger mixture into 3-4 equal portions. A quarter-size indent in the middle of one side prevents puffing up of the patties and makes cooking evener.

    cooked meat patties in a skillet

    Place steak patties in a large frying pan with a teaspoon of oil over medium-high heat. Flip about every 5-6 minutes until an internal temperature of 165°. About 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness, the pan, and your burners.

    tenting the cooked patties on blue plate

    Whisk 4 tablespoons flour with 1 cup beef broth. Remove the Salisbury steak to a plate and lightly tent. Pour out most of the liquid, leaving about 3-4 tablespoons of liquid. Allow the pan to cool some. Add 1 cup beef broth and bring to a light boil over medium heat.

    adding flour to boiling liquid to make gravy

    Slowly add the flour-broth mixture while continuing to whisk. Add 1 teaspoon ketchup and ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.

    mixing onion into the gravy

    Whisk until nicely thickened, a few minutes. If using the caramelized onions or mushrooms, add them to the gravy and mix well.

    placing cooked Salisbury Steak patties into gravy

    Add the steak back into the mixture and simmer for a few minutes until everything is hot.

    Salisbury Steak on spatula

    Serve mashed potatoes or as you wish.

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    📝Recipe

    Salisbury Steak on a gray plate with potatoes and gravy

    Homemade Salisbury Steak

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    Old Fashioned Homemade Salisbury Steak with onion or mushroom gravy is delicious classic comfort food. Homemade from scratch like grandma would cook, this is a quick and easy dinner the whole family will love.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.30 from 362 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 4

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • ⅓ cup bread crumbs
    • 2 teaspoons ketchup
    • 1 teaspoon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder - optional, use if not doing onion in gravy

    Gravy

    • 1 onion - small
    • 1 teaspoon oil
    • 2 cups beef broth
    • 4 tablespoons flour
    • 1 teaspoon ketchup
    • ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ cup sliced mushrooms - optional
    • salt and pepper to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • If you want caramelized onions in your gravy, start by thin slicing a small onion. Cook with 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat until nicely brown. About 7-8 minutes. You can cook the optional mushrooms instead or in addition with the onions. Set aside in a bowl.
      browning onion in the skillet
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 pound of ground beef with ⅓ cup breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons ketchup, 1 teaspoon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder. If not doing the onions, then add ½ teaspoon onion powder.
      Mixing ground beef with other ingredients in a glass bowl
    • Divide the hamburger mixture into 3-4 equal portions. A quarter-size indent in the middle of one side to prevent puffing up of the patties and make cooking evener.
      forming ground beef mixture into patties with a dimple on a white board
    • Place steak patties in a large frying pan with a teaspoon of oil over medium-high heat. Flip about every 5-6 minutes until an internal temperature of 165°. About 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness, the pan, and your burners.
      cooked meat patties in a skillet
    • Whisk 4 tablespoons flour with 1 cup beef broth. Remove the Salisbury steak to a plate and lightly tent. Pour out most of the liquid, leaving about 3-4 tablespoons of liquid. Allow the pan to cool some. Add 1 cup beef broth and bring to a light boil over medium heat.
      tenting the cooked patties on blue plate
    • Slowly add the flour-broth mixture while continuing to whisk. Add 1 teaspoon ketchup and ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.
      adding flour to boiling liquid to make gravy
    • Whisk until nicely thickened, a few minutes. If using the caramelized onions or mushrooms, add them to the gravy and mix well.
      mixing onion into the gravy
    • Add steak back into the mixture, simmer for a few minutes until everything is hot.
      placing cooked Salisbury Steak patties into gravy
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    Your Own Private Notes

    Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
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    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. Use the ground meat you like. Make the patties ¼ to ⅓ pound. ½ pound will not cook well
    2. Don't chop the onion. Cut into rings and maybe cut the larger ones in half.
    3. You can easily use mushrooms in place of or in addition to the onions in the gravy.
    4. Use the depression in the center of the patties. It will help prevent them from puffing up during cooking, and they will cook more evenly.
    5. Be sure to cook the patties to 165° minimum.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Homemade Salisbury Steak
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 362.2 Calories from Fat 158
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 17.5g27%
    Saturated Fat 6.3g32%
    Trans Fat 1.1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 7.6g
    Cholesterol 97.5mg33%
    Sodium 447.4mg19%
    Potassium 740mg21%
    Carbohydrates 16.7g6%
    Fiber 1.2g5%
    Sugar 2.8g3%
    Protein 32.4g65%
    Vitamin A 22.5IU0%
    Vitamin C 2.6mg3%
    Calcium 51.6mg5%
    Iron 4.1mg23%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Main Course
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor's Note: Originally published September 25, 2016. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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    More Comfort Food Recipes

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    • Small Crock Pot Beef Stew
    • Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup—Stovetop or Crock Pot

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    1. Britt

      November 01, 2022 at 9:40 pm

      1 star
      I have enjoyed your recipes for several years, rate most of them A or A+, and have recommended your site to many friends. I must have “goofed” on this one as it was rather disappointing.

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        November 01, 2022 at 9:49 pm

        Hi Britt,
        Welcome to the blog.
        Do you mind elaborating on what was wrong? Taste, texture, instructions? Did you change or substitute anything.
        dan

      • Britt

        November 02, 2022 at 12:11 am

        Did everything as written. Used ground chuck. Did not add mushrooms. I plan to try it again as ALL of your items have been great.

      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        November 02, 2022 at 12:18 am

        Hi Britt,

        That is exactly how I usually make this recipe. My only thought is some ground chuck varies—it seems drier. If it was falling apart, add an egg to the mix.

        Keep me informed.

        Dan

    2. Ralph

      October 30, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      Looks and sounds delicious. However as with a lot of your recipes we will not be able to partake of it as per your directions as my wife is celiac.
      We are going to give it a try using King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour.

      Reply
    3. Celesti

      October 30, 2022 at 6:54 pm

      5 stars
      Made your Homemade Salisbury Steak for supper tonight. Your recipe was delicious and it's a winner with my family. The photos and detailed explanations were easy to follow and the end result was spot on. I followed the advice from one of your reviewers regarding adding the extra Worcestershire sauce in the raw meat mixture and on using 3 tbsp of flour in the gravy. Also, I added the onions into my gravy mixture. Thanks for sharing your recipes..

      Reply
    4. Tonya Eaton

      April 11, 2022 at 7:48 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner my family loved it. I used more beef broth than the recipe called for and added mushrooms and onions. I will be making this again.

      Reply
    5. Anne

      February 22, 2022 at 4:45 pm

      4 stars
      This was an easily prepared and economical dish. The meat patties were certainly moist and fluffy in texture. I did saute some onions and mushrooms for use in the gravy. Unfortunately, the gravy was a little pasty tasting and lacked significant flavor or essence. I did double the Worcestershire and ketchup, plus adding onion and garlic powder with a little Emeril's Essence (in hopes of adding some zip). When I make this again, I probably will use beef Bouillion, consomme, or French onion soup for the liquid and triple the Worcestershire and ketchup. Thank you for another great recipe to add to my collection.

      My husband and I do enjoy the pictures of your "furry family".

      Reply
    « Older Comments

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