Salisbury Steak Recipe

A retro Salisbury steak recipe that has really stood the test of time, and has been a classic family dish since back in the 1950s. 

Combining flavorful meat patties and a savory gravy, it’s comfort food at its easiest, needing only minimal prep time and only basic cooking skills. 

Quick, cheap and popular with both kids and adults alike, this homemade Salisbury Steak recipe makes for a fantastic midweek meal that’s absolutely full of flavor. 

Beef

Though its name may sound like a cut of beef, Salisbury Steak is actually made of ground beef mixed with a few other ingredients and formed into a patty. 

The use of ground beef makes it a really affordable family meal while still giving you that same succulent, meaty flavor you’d get from a regular steak. 

Buying a high-quality ground beef will make a big difference in this recipe. 

Choosing a lean beef will also ensure that the end result is not too greasy, though feel free to go for whichever kind of ground beef is your favorite. 

If you want a lighter twist on the Salisbury Steak, you could even use turkey mince instead for the patties and chicken stock in the gravy.

Salisbury Steak With Onion Gravy

We love Salisbury steak with onion gravy. A simple onion gravy is the perfect accompaniment to your Salisbury Steaks, helping to tie the whole dish together. 

The gravy is made using the same pan you seared the patties in, using butter and flour to create a simple roux that will thicken your sauce. 

Make sure to cook this in the pan for a few minutes before adding your water or stock, as it will help to get rid of that raw flour flavor. 

You’ll also want to make sure you whisk away any lumps before adding the liquid so you get a nice, silky consistency.

Water or beef stock and Worcestershire sauce are then added to create a delicious sauce. 

Adding the patties to finish cooking in the gravy also helps to give some extra taste by allowing the juices to blend into the gravy for a savory, meaty dish. 

You may also include mushrooms to add a nice bit of texture and a complex, earthy taste, but if you don’t like mushrooms feel free to leave them out.

Patty & Gravy Ingredients

In this Salisbury Steak recipe, the ground beef is kept “clean”. Meaning, no other ingredients are used to prepare the meat. This allows the true flavors from the meat to fully flourish in the gravy. 

If you would like to add more ingredients to the meat, that’s perfectly fine. Consider mixing the beef with minced onion, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, Dijon mustard and seasonings. 

The minced onion and condiments help to bring out that delicious savory flavor of the beef, while the eggs and breadcrumbs work as a binder that keeps the beef patties together as they cook. 

All you need to do is mix the ingredients together and use your hands to form the mixture into patty-shapes, ready for searing in the pan.

The full recipe is in listed below in the recipe card. Here’s a quick list of what’s needed to make this recipe perfectly each and every single time. 

• Ground Beef, lean.
• Salt and pepper
• Water or beef stock. If using beef stock, consider low sodium. 
• All-purpose flour
• Parsley
• Cumin
• Cayenne pepper for some heat, but totally optional. 
• Garlic cloves
• Butter. Best to use unsalted butter. 
• Worcestershire Sauce to help create extra depth of flavor.
• Onions

How To Make Salisbury Steak?

In large bowl, use a potato masher to mash the meat. 

Shape the meat into 6-7 even size patties.

In a large nonstick skillet, add the butter then sliced onions. Cook for 5 minutes on medium-high heat. Spread the onions on the sides, leaving the middle open. Add the meat.  

Continue cooking the, until the meat is lightly brown on both sides over medium-high heat.

Best to move the onions around or place them on top of the meat as it as it cooks. 

Reduce the heat if they’re browning too quickly or too much. Transfer the meat to a plate.

Lower the heat to medium-low, using the same skillet with the drippings, add the garlic; stir.

Add the flour, stir to combine with the onions, and slowly add the water while whisking so that no lumps linger.   

Add the salt, pepper, parsley flakes, cumin, cayenne pepper (if using), and Worcestershire sauce. Stir. Then add the meat. 

Spoon the gravy over the meat with the onions. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until cooked through. Check with an (internal) thermometer for 160 degrees. 

Remove from heat. Enjoy mashed potatoes, sweet peas, or potato salad, roasted carrots. 

What To Serve With Salisbury Steak?

For a satisfying midweek meal, your Salisbury Steak is ideally served alongside a pile of mashed potato with some peas, asparagus or broccoli on the side. 

For something a little lighter, you can simply fill your plate with a selection of your favorite green vegetables, with plenty of the meaty gravy ladled generously on top.

Cooked pasta – This dish is great with fettuccine noodles or even a rotini would hold up good with this. You may also consider one of the following listed below:

Cauliflower mash or carrots make a great side dish.

What is the difference between Salisbury steak and hamburger steak? 

There’s no difference between Salisbury steak and hamburger steak. 

Recipe Notes

• If you are not a fan of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or chicken. Usually this will use beef, but it can be modified to your preference. 

• The onions are cooked with the meat firsthand to first, caramelize the onions, and to also season the meat while it cooks. The onions will also intensify the flavor in the gravy.

Freezing Method

Absolutely! The steaks and the finished recipe freeze well. When freezing the finished dish, transfer to an airtight container once cooled, or consider one of the two methods listed below. 

To Freeze Uncooked Steaks – Prepare the steaks to desired size. the one teak to parchment paper. This will avoid sticking. Then place another parchment paper on top of the steak. Layer with another piece of steak and parchment paper.

Repeat the steps as necessary. Or place the steaks on a lined cookie sheet in a single layer, then flash freeze until the steaks are solid, or for about 3 hours. Transfer them to freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and proceed with the recipe as written.

To Freeze Cooked Steaks – Let the steaks cool down completely. Transfer the steaks to a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

More Steak Recipes You’ll Enjoy

Air Fryer Salmon Steak

Pepper Steak

Air Fryer Steak Bites

Chicken Fried Steak With Gravy

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Homemade Salisbury Steak Recipe

Savory Thoughts

Quick, cheap and popular with both kids and adults alike, this homemade Salisbury Steak recipe makes for a fantastic midweek meal that’s absolutely full of flavor. 

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Course Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 People

Calories 396 kcal

Equipment

• Nonstick Skillet

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For The Steak

• 2 Lbs. Ground lean beef

For The Gravy

• 4 Tbsp. Butter unsalted
• 1 Medium onion sliced
• 3 Garlic cloves minced
• ¼ Cup All-purpose flour
• 2 Cups Water
• 2 Tsp. Salt we used Kosher salt
• 1 Tsp. Ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. Parley flakes
• 1 Tsp. Cumin
• ½ Tsp. Cayenne pepper optional
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

 

• In large bowl, use a potato masher to mash the meat. Shape the meat into 6 even patties.
  
• In a large nonstick skillet, add the butter then sliced onions. Cook for 5 minutes on medium-high heat.

  Spread the onions on the sides, leaving the middle open. Add the meat.

  Continue cooking the, until the meat is lightly brown on both sides over medium-high heat.

  Best to move the onions around or place them on top of the meat as it as it cooks. Reduce the heat if they're browning too quickly or too much. Transfer the meat to a plate.
  
• Lower the heat to medium-low, using the same skillet with the drippings, add the garlic; stir.

  Add the flour, stir to combine with the onions, and slowly add the water while whisking so that no lumps linger.

  Add the salt, pepper, parsley flakes, cumin, cayenne pepper (if using), and Worcestershire sauce. Stir. Then add the meat.
  
• Spoon the gravy over the meat with the onions. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until cooked through or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Remove the skillet from the heat.

  Enjoy mashed potatoes, sweet peas, or potato salad, roasted carrots.
  

Notes

*** Calories are estimated Per Serving

**** When printing the recipe, please unselect the camera so that the pictures are NOT printed with the recipe (if preferred).

Nutrition

Serving: 6PeopleCalories: 396kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 4gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 529mgPotassium: 191mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 11IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 52mg

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