Simple Salisbury Steak Recipe (2024)

Why This Recipe Works

We think our simple Salisbury steak recipe is successful for these reasons.

• Flavorful Patties: We use 85% lean ground beef seasoned with onion powder, thyme, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, salt and pepper.
• Tender Beef Patties: We use the right ratio of meat to egg to liquid, and allow the mixture to rest for 30 minutes to help build flavors and to help the protein relax. The patties are seared, then cooked in an onion gravy to soak up all the flavor and moisture.
• Thick, Delicious Gravy: This recipe makes four cups of homemade onion gravy, which means there is more gravy per steak than most other recipes. The onions are caramelized to provide another layer of flavor, and then are cooked in a brown gravy.

Ingredients

This simple Salisbury steak recipe takes basic pantry staples that are economical and easy to find at your grocery store. Let's talk about some of the key ingredients.

• Meat: We used ground beef with 85% meat and 15% fat for the best flavor.
• Binder: We used breadcrumbs and an egg to hold the Salisbury steak patties together in this recipe.
• Spices: We used thyme, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
• Liquids: We used Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and beef broth.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

• Want a different gravy? Try mushroom gravy with your Salisbury steak.
• Want to sneak in more vegetables? Add grated onion and finely diced green pepper to the patties.
• Want a different meat? Try ground turkey or a combination of ground pork and ground beef.

How to Make Salisbury Steak

Gather all the ingredients for our simple Salisbury steak recipe.

1. Put the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and spices in a bowl, then mix gently with your hands.Avoid overmixing, or patties will get tough. Rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. (Image 1)
2. With the help of a kitchen scale, divide the meat mixture into 12 balls of equal size.They should weigh roughly 3.25 ounces each. (Image 2)

3. Place the large meatballs on a baking tray. Shape into round patties that are similar in thickness, then make a dimple in the center with your thumb to reduce shrinkage later. (Image 3)
4. Melt the butter a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.Add 6 patties, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 4 minutes.Flip the patties over and cook for 4 minutes, then place in a 9x9-inch baking pan. (Image 4)

5. Drain the beef fat, then melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are lightly caramelized (about 15 minutes). Add the white wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze. (Image 5)
6. Make a well in the center and melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium high heat. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the onions, then add ½ cup of flour.Cook for two minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. (Image 6)

7. Gradually add the stock to the onion mixture, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce for flavor and color. (Image 7)
8. Lower the heat and simmer until thickened.Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired. Remove the onion gravy from the heat and pour over the patties. (Image 8)

9. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F. During this step, the patties will finish cooking. The foil and the gravy will help the patties stay moist. (Image 9)
10. Serve Salisbury steak warm with gravy over each patty.Garnish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley and serve with our sour cream mashed potatoes and a side of buttered peas. Yummy! (Image 10)

Recipe FAQs

Serve

This hearty, simple Salisbury steak recipe works well with many easy side dishes, but some of our favorites include are sour cream mashed potatoes, copycat Panda Express super greens, easy garlic toast, copycat Chick-fil-A side salad, and green peas.

If you want to try some other recipes with ground hamburger (minced beef), try these recipes for Scottish mince and tatties, skillet chili cornbread, and Forfar bridies.

Expert Tips

• Only flip the steaks once to get the best sear.
• Make uniform patties: same size, weight, and thickness.
• Rest patties for 30 minutes at room temperature to meld flavors and help the protein relax.
• Want to make this recipe ahead? Cover with foil and refrigerate before baking. When ready to eat, just bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Want to serve with traditional sides? Serve this main course dish with mashed potatoes and peas.

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