Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy
My easy Salisbury steak is my family’s favorite. The tender juicy beef patties are simmered in a rich and flavorful homemade brown onion gravy. Make this recipe your no fuss anytime meal! Perfect a side of mashed potatoes!
WHAT IS SALISBURY STEAK?
Salisbury steak isn’t a steak, it’s basically fancy version of a bun-less hamburger that is simmered in gravy and traditionally served with mashed potatoes. I hated it as a kid, but now I can’t get enough of it.
Brown foods scared me back then. The tv dinner version scared me even more. However, I loved the teeny brownie that came with it. That sure was a good brownie. I make Salisbury steak at least a couple times a month. It’s one of our favorite classic meals. It’s the best comfort food ever!
WHAT ARE SALISBURY STEAKS MADE OF?
This recipe uses everyday staple ingredients which include, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic powder, onions, Worcestershire sauce a pinch of celery salt and chopped parsley.
You can’t have salisbury steak without a rich and flavorful gravy. You need a gravy that comes together quickly with big flavor. The rich gravy ingredients include my trusty, Better than Bouillon beef base, flour, heavy whipping cream and butter, salt and pepper is all you need to make it. Oh and A pinch or two of seasonings.
NEVER MISS A RECIPE
Join our newsletter and stay up to date on all the newest recipes guaranteed to add a burst of flavor to your inbox.
Quick Rundown of Salisbury Steak Recipe
This is just a quick overview of the steps to make this delicious Salisbury steak. Be sure to check out the full recipe card below for all the details, measurements, and tips!
- Prepare the Onions: Steps 1-2
Sauté diced onions and onion rings in butter until softened, then set aside. - The diced onions will go into the patties, and the onion rings will be added back to the gravy later.
- Make the Breadcrumbs:
Process a couple of slices of bread in a food processor to create fresh breadcrumbs. - Make the Beef Patties:
Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, seasonings, and half of the sautéed diced onions. Form into oval patties. - Sear the Patties:
Cook the patties in a hot skillet to create a flavorful crust, then remove and set aside. - Make the Gravy:
Whisk beef broth and flour to create a slurry. Add it to the skillet with Worcestershire sauce, butter, and seasonings. Cook for a few minutes to remove the raw flour taste. - Combine and Simmer:
Return the patties to the skillet along with the sautéed onion rings. Let everything simmer until the patties are cooked through and the gravy thickens. - Serve:
Spoon the rich gravy over the patties and serve with mashed potatoes or your favorite side.
Tips for Perfect Homemade Salisbury Steak
- Gravy Galore:
This recipe makes a generous amount of gravy. If you prefer less, feel free to halve the recipe, or make the full batch and store leftovers for later. - Ground Beef Matters:
For flavorful and juicy patties, use 80% lean ground beef (20% fat). The higher fat content adds richness and moisture to the steak. - Best Broth Substitute:
Better Than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base is a game-changer for this recipe. Made from real meat, it adds a homemade depth of flavor that elevates the dish. - Don’t Over-Mix:
Be gentle when combining the beef mixture. Over-mixing can make the patties tough. - Sear for Flavor:
Let the patties cook undisturbed until they develop a deep brown crust. Avoid moving them around while searing to lock in flavor.
Easy Salisbury Steak Recipe
Ingredients
To make the beef patties
- 1 1/2 lb ground beef
- 2-4 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 3 red onions 1 onion diced the other two sliced into rings
- 2 eggs
- 1 Pinch of celery salt
- 1 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/4 tsp onion powder
- salt for taste I used 1 1/4 tsp
- pepper for taste I used 1 tsp
Beef Gravy
- 4 cups beef broth I use Better Than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base
- 6 tbsp flour
- 2 tsp heavy whipping cream optional
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt for taste
- Pepper for taste
- pinch onion powder 1-2 small pinches
- pinch garlic powder 1-2 small pinches
- pinch crushed red pepper 1 small pinch of crushed red peppers
Instructions
Sauté the onions
- Heat 1-2 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté diced onions on one side and sliced onion rings on the other for about 3 minutes. Set both aside separately.
Make the breadcrumbs
- In a food processor, process two slices of bread into fine crumbs
Prepare the patties
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, half the sautéed diced onions, eggs, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and celery salt. Shape into oval patties.
Cook the patties
- Heat another 1-2 tbsp of butter in the skillet. Sear patties for 1-2 minutes per side until browned. Remove from the skillet and drain excess fat.
Make the gravy
- In a bowl, whisk together the beef broth and flour until smooth. Pour the mixture into the skillet and add the heavy cream (if using), Worcestershire sauce, and remaining butter. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes to remove the raw flour taste. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and let the gravy thicken, stirring occasionally
Combine everything
- Return patties and onion rings to the skillet. Add remaining seasonings (onion powder, garlic powder, crushed red pepper) and simmer for 5-15 minutes until patties are cooked through. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Serve
- Spoon gravy over the patties and serve with mashed potatoes or a side of your choice.
Notes
Tips for Perfect Salisbury Steak
Ground Beef Matters:
- Use 80% lean ground beef (20% fat) for flavorful, juicy Salisbury steak. The fat content helps keep the patties moist and adds flavor.
- Best Broth Substitute:
Better Than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base is a standout ingredient in this recipe. It’s rich, full of flavor, and tastes homemade. It’s an excellent substitute for regular broth.
-
Don’t Over-Mix:
- Mix the beef mixture just until combined. Overworking the meat will make the patties tough instead of tender.
Get the Perfect Sear:
- To develop a flavorful brown crust, let the patties cook undisturbed during searing. Avoid moving or flipping them until the bottom is browned. A great sear adds depth to the flavor.
Gravy Galore:
- This recipe makes a generous amount of gravy. If you prefer less, you can halve the gravy recipe or store leftovers for later.
You may also like:
- Meatloaf
- Southern Sweet Cornbread
- Lemon Parmesan and Herb Crispy Tuna Patties
- Juicy Dry rub roast chicken
- Southern Pan Fried whiting
- Sour cream mashed potatoes
- Stove-top mac and cheese
- Southern Candied yams
Make sure to save this PIN to your Pinterest board for later and don’t forget to follow me!😊
Wow – I’ve never had Salisbury steak before and now I am seriously craving it! This recipe sounds so good! Definitely making this soon. Thank you for sharing! Yum!
I am drooling over this. It sounds incredible. I also love using the Better than Bouillon – it has a great flavor! This is truly ultimate comfort food over some mashed potatoes 🙂
I am so impressed that you got brown, saucy food to look this good! It looks so comforting and delicious, and also way too easy to make to buy those TV dinners! Great job on this. 🙂
These are indeed some “fancy hamburgers.” Lol. I grew up on mystery meat frozen salisbury steak, so seeing it prepared from scratch is a breath of fresh air! YUM! Thanks for the inspiration!
You are making my mouth water!! Whether it is a fancied up hamburger doesn’t matter — the taste of the meat plus the delicious onion gravy is what counts. I haven’t tried Better Than Bouillon– I’ll have to pick some up.
My husband loved this! He cleaned his plate, and then had more. I doubled the gravy recipe though, as it seemed like it needed more. There was a bit of a sweet taste to the gravy, which really went over well at my house. A definite keeper for my recipe box.
If it involves gravy I am in. Especially with some mashed potatoes. This sounds fantastic, and I know mashed potatoes would be the perfect side to this meal. My family would love this for sure.
Salisbury steak totally takes me back to my childhood. It’s the ultimate comfort food. I’m super excited to revisit this classic. Thanks for sharing!
This looks like the Salisbury steak my mom used to make growing up! It would be so fun to try this recipe and see if it’s just like what I remember as a kid!
Gravy … that’s what makes Salisbury steak so good.If you fail on the gravy, the entire dish becomes … blah.
I remember those frozen dinners too. The brownie was the best part.
I can’t wait to try this! I love salisbury steak and my kiddos love it was well. The gravy sounds fantastic!
Your onion gravy sounds rich and delicious! My family is going to love every bite of this salisbury steak recipe.
Trying your mt loaf tonight for change up… when I make Salisbury stks I use cubed steaks … I will try thm your way… any pork chop recipes?
Sorry, I don’t eat pork. I hope you enjoy the meatloaf! Thank you Jessie.
April, I like your recipes and your writing style and your photography. I’m going to try the Salisbury steak next week. I’m eating your Meat Loaf later tonight,. It’s in the oven right now. Two things: 1.There’s a typo in the line about preferring the Better than Bouillon. I believe a word or two must have dropped out when you pasted it. And 2, In the photo, it looks like you’re using red onions. Is it important to use red ones, or will yellow or white work as well? Greg P..S. Your cooking must be good for you. You look stunning.
Thanks for the heads up but which recipe are you referring to please? Is the typo in the ingredient or the body of the post? I truly hope you enjoy both of my recipes! Thank you Greg!
This looks like a great classic recipe! Such a flavorful onion gravy.
I am a huge steak person and this looks like comfort food. Love the color and flavor of that gravy!! Can’t believe how simple and easy it is to make. Saving this for later. Yum!