This old-fashioned homemade Salisbury Steak Recipe with delicious onion gravy is easy to make with simple step-by-step photo instructions. With tender beef patties and rich brown gravy like grandma's, make it from scratch in only 40 minutes.
🐄Ingredients
Ground beef
Pantry ingredients—garlic powder, onion powder, Panko breadcrumbs, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce
For the gravy—flour, beef broth, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, plus onion or mushrooms if using
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Featured Comment from Andrina:
"5 stars. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I made both the patties and gravy just as listed, and everything turned out PERFECT!"
Old-fashioned Salisbury steak is a classic American comfort food with tender seasoned ground beef steaks served with rich brown mushroom or onion gravy over mashed potatoes or noodles.
Unlike the TV dinners, this is a Salisbury steak recipe like grandma would make in the 50s. It is a supreme comfort food that will bring back memories and become a family favorite.
This recipe is another request by my wife—we both had the same vision. We used a Pioneer Woman recipe as a model and filled it in with our memories. Please enjoy the best Salisbury steak recipe with these easy and quick instructions.
👨🍳How to Make Salisbury Steak with Gravy—Step by Step
1. Use ground beef (80/20 or leaner), but ground turkey or chicken will work. The other ingredients are common pantry ingredients.
2. If you want caramelized onions or mushrooms in your gravy, start by thin-slicing a small onion or about 5 oz of mushrooms. Cook with 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat until nicely brown onions or cooked mushrooms. It takes about 7-8 minutes for the onion, or saute the mushrooms until cooked. Set aside in a bowl.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 pound of ground beef with ⅓ cup Panko breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons ketchup, 1 teaspoon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder. If not doing the onions, add ½ teaspoon onion powder.
4. 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.
5. 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 160°. It takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness, the pan, and the burners.
6. Whisk 4 tablespoons flour with 1 cup beef broth. Remove the Salisbury steak to a plate and lightly tent with foil. Pour out most of the liquid, leaving about 3-4 tablespoons. 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, a few minutes. If using the caramelized onions or mushrooms, add them to the gravy and mix well.
9. Add the steak back into the mixture and simmer for a few minutes until everything is hot.
10. Serve mashed potatoes or as you wish.
For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.
✔️Tips to get it right every time
- Ground beef is most commonly used. The standard 80/20 ground meat is fine, but you can also use leaner ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken. If you use poultry, it should be cooked to 165°.
- Do not use high heat to cook the steak patties. The outside will be done before the center is safe to eat.
- Do not make your patties over ⅓ pound. They will be too thick to cook well on the stovetop.
- When browning the onions and mushrooms, cook them to a darker brown for a more caramelized flavor.
- Do not add raw onion or mushrooms to the gravy—they should be cooked first.
Comfort food recipes
You may also like these comfort food recipes with gravy, like Pot Roast with Gravy, Oven Fried Chicken with Gravy, Beef Tips with Gravy, and Fried Pork Chops with Gravy. Or ground beef recipes like Old Fashioned Meatloaf or Meatloaf Burgers.
⬇️How to make Salisbury Steak for two
This is an easy recipe to cut in half. The full recipe makes about 4 servings, so a half recipe is two servings.
- Use the recipe card and adjust the number of servings from 4 to 2
- Use the amount of ingredients in the ingredient list, not the instructions—those do not adjust.
- Cook for the same amount of time.
🍴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, like oven-baked rice, is a third option.
I like to combine this with a vegetable that compliments this old-fashioned dish—Asparagus, broccoli, green beans, or corn are my choices.
❄️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.
To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Reheat in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in an air fryer.
❓FAQs
Yes, but please don't. It is easy to use, but gravy made with cornstarch can turn jello-like when refrigerated.
The recipe uses a straightforward slurry method 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.
No. Swiss steak is made with real steak, but usually a tougher cut like round or sirloin, then braised in liquid to tenderize.
Salisbury steak is made with ground meat, similar to meatloaf, but is fried and served with gravy. Some Salisbury steaks contain eggs, 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 a basic seasoning of salt and pepper.
Salisbury steak is made with ground beef, not cube steak. If you want a similar recipe with cube steak, try Chicken Fried Steak.
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.
📖 Recipe
Salisbury Steak Recipe with Onion Gravy
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Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ⅓ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 teaspoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon mustard - regular yellow or dijon
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder - optional, use if not doing onion in gravy
Gravy
- 1 onion - optional if not using mushrooms
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms - optional if not using onion
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 2 cups beef broth
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon ketchup
- ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- If you want caramelized onions or mushrooms in your gravy, start by thin-slicing a small onion or about 5 oz of mushrooms. Cook with 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat until nicely brown onions or cooked mushrooms. It takes about 7-8 minutes for the onion, or saute the mushrooms until cooked. Set aside in a bowl.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 pound of ground beef with ⅓ cup Panko breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons ketchup, 1 teaspoon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder. If not doing the onions, add ½ teaspoon onion powder.
- 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.
- 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 160°. It takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness, the pan, and the burners.
- Whisk 4 tablespoons flour with 1 cup beef broth. Remove the Salisbury steak to a plate and lightly tent with foil. Pour out most of the liquid, leaving about 3-4 tablespoons. Add 1 cup beef broth and bring to a light boil over medium heat.
- 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.
- Whisk until nicely thickened, a few minutes. If using the caramelized onions or mushrooms, add them to the gravy and mix well.
- Add the steak back into the mixture and simmer for a few minutes until everything is hot.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Use the ground meat you like. Make the patties ¼ to ⅓ pound. ½ pound will not cook well on the stovetop. If you use ground poultry, cook to 165° for safety.
- Don't chop the onion. Cut into rings and maybe cut the larger ones in half.
- You can easily use mushrooms in place of or in addition to the onions in the gravy. They will cook faster than the onion. Do not add either to the gravy raw.
- 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.
Your Own Private Notes
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
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Editor's Note: Originally published September 25, 2016. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Matt says
Everyone in my family thought this was the best Salisbury Steak we have made. We served it with mashed potatoes. My 4 year old daughter ate her whole piece.
Jody Siebel says
Dr.Dan, this sounds fantastic!! Question, I have some minute steaks, could this be used here?? If not, because of the seasonings to be added, that's okay, I have burger and everything else as well, so here's another nights meal already!! Love your site!!
DrDan says
Hi Jody,
It reminds me I wanted to do some sirloin recipes. I assume your "minute steaks" are a mechanically tenderized top sirloin.
I think you can combine this recipe with my pan pork chops https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/30-minute-fried-pork-chops-with-gravy/ Use the gravy/onions from here, I would probably leave the ketchup out of the gravy. I think the seasoning of the pork chops which is just seasoning salt and pepper would work for you. I think we may have a new recipe post developing here. I will try it.
Thanks for the idea.
Dan
Randi Hofmann says
My recipe turned out exactly as pictured. I added mushrooms and onions also and plenty of salt, more Worcestershire and onion powder and garlic to the gravy. The recipe is good but it is a bit on the bland side. I think next time using a beef bone broth as it is richer will be better. I appreciate your recipe but feel something is missing. Adding what I did made it POP.
DrDan says
Hi Randi,
I love to say that a recipe is just guidelines and you should make it yours. It is a bit bland but sometimes, that is what I want.
Thanks for the note and the suggestions.
Dan
RossC says
As with all of your recipes I have tried, this is simple and delicious..
A keeper for us when we crave old fashioned comfort food..
Thank you... :O)
Delilah says
This is a great Salisbury steak recipe. Love there is no egg and the few simple ingredients marry beautifully. First let me say the carmelized onions in this are a MUST! Do not be intimidated by them. Carmelizing onions is super simple and even the over browned ones are great. I did tweek the recipe a bit, not that it was needed. Just been cooking for 30+ years and have become set in my ways! We love mushrooms so sautéed some mushrooms after carmelizing the onions. Added 2 cloves of crushed garlic to the meat mixture rather than the powder and added a tsp. of seasoned salt and some black pepper. I also made a roux for the gravy, then added the beef broth rather than adding flour to the broth. We enjoyed a great comfort food meal & I look forward to exploring some of your other recipes.
Sally says
Hi,
I have made this recipe before with ground beef, but I have some ground turkey I need to use. Do you think ground turkey would work? Thanks!
DrDan says
Yes it should be fine. The Worcestershire sauce in the patties should help some with taste and the beef broth in the gravy give it great taste. You probably won't notice much difference.
Dan
Gina says
Delicious! Best salisbury steak recipe ever. I used super lean meat so I made a dripping less onion gravy but the meat is fantastic. Thanks. :)
Kari says
Just discovered your blog and love your recipes. My husband can't do onions so I add sauteed mushrooms - delicious!
DrDan says
Hi Kari,
Welcome to the site. I always say a recipe is just guidelines so always feel free to change things for your needs.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Natalie says
I made this today for dinner! It taste really good.
I also used onions and onion powder. I also used a bit of garlic powder for taste. Thanks for sharing!
DrDan says
Hi Natalie,
I do love comfort foods.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Vicki says
I love comfort food. My husband is now the cook in the family, as I am limited as to what I can do since my diagnoses. He made the Salisbury steak recipe last night. The spices were on point: Not "too" anything except just right. The texture was great; not fried to death nor left with any redness in the meat. He made the same dinner as the picture showed. It was very good. I gave it 5 stars. He will be fixing this again. I just found your website and am looking forward to browsing the recipes for that next "comfortable" meal. I like the fact that you targeted the "cooking for two" audience. No more wasted food. My pocketbook thanks you, too.
DrDan says
Hi Vicki,
Welcome to the site. You might want to check the comfort food category https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/category/comfortfood/ . My personal favorites are the Oven Fried Chicken and 30 Minute Pork Chops. Both have gravy. Also, the Broccoli Cheese soup is great. All are easy cooks since I'm lazy anymore.
Thanks for the note
Dan
Cam says
This was delicious! We both agreed with your rating and I am sure we will be making this all winter.
My Grandma's trick... Corn Starch yields a darker color so I used 2 Tablespoons Corn Starch for the gravy.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Dawn says
My mom always used Flour but after I got married and began coming up with my own recipes I started using cornstarch, also. It was just sometimes, if it was a light tasting gravy I could almost taste the flour. I also remember having a few lumps in my first Thanksgiving gravy. Corn starch has never failed me yet.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Dawn,
Welcome to the blog.
Cornstarch works fine, as long as you don't need to reheat, then it will be very jelly-like. Since the site usually has recipes that a lot of people reheat, I tend to use flour. As long as you cook your roux or simmer the gravy long enough, the raw flour taste disappears. I have a complete discussion on gravy at https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/how-to-make-gravy-101/
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Sue says
Great dish. Simple,fast and delicious.
DrDan says
Hi Sue,
It is quite tasty.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Leslie says
Made this today, as usual a great and not to difficult recipe. I know I ask you this every year, please post your thanksgiving menu, I copy your menu and give you credit, my family loves the great food! Thanks leslie ( give it 5 stars, but can't figure out how to leave rating)
DrDan says
Hi Leslie
Thanks for the note. To rate a recipe, hover over the stars in the recipe card and click on the star you want.
Thanksgivings has not been set yet. I’m sure it will be similar to last year. Ask me in a week.
Dan
Debbie says
Made this last night after trying the pork loin carnitas. As predicted this meal was also delicious. was hesitant to use the ketchup in the gravy but did and it was great. We will continue to try another recepie soon. Thanks again!
Debbie and Emily
DrDan says
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for the note.
The ketchup is really needed for flavor along with the Worcestershire sauce. Otherwise, it is "hamburger" gravy... not much taste. The two togeather make it pop and say beef.
Check my personal recipe choices at https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/category/101s-top-posts/
Dan
Cary says
trying this tonight. looks delicious.
dan, mustard missing in ingredients list on "recipe card." just fyi. just discovered this blog and love exploring it! keep up the good work.
DrDan says
Hi Cary,
Thanks for the proofread. Fixed.
Welcome to the blog and have fun looking around. Let me know if you any questions.
Dan
Joan says
This sounds and in my mind taste much better than what I have had before. I would use both onions and onion powder because I like onions. I like the additions of mustard, ketchup and Worchestershire which would give it more flavor than what I have eaten before. I will have to use oatmeal to keep recipe gluten free for my husband, but other than that it works for me.
DrDan says
Hi Joan,
This is not the spiciest, so putting the onion powder back in would be fine. I have done recipes where I was over on the onion so I cut it back to prevent that issue. Also, my wife is a garlic fiend so I will up that for personal taste.
The oatmeal would be fine and as you know cornstarch or arrowroot for the gravy.
Thanks for the note
Dan