This old fashioned Salisbury steak recipe consists of delicious seasoned beef patties smothered in onions and a homemade gravy. This classic comfort food dinner recipe is made in 30 minutes making it great for a quick weeknight dinner!
Salisbury Steak is one of my go-to easy comfort meal dinners. You will find this recipe on rotation regularly in my home almost bi-weekly. It’s always a hit with my kids and husband, and makes for a delicious lunch the next day with any leftovers we might have. This recipe is especially delicious as it contains caramelized onions and a homemade gravy which give the beef patties even more flavor. Of course, I’ll share below a cheat that I sometimes do when I don’t feel like taking the extra few minutes to make homemade gravy.
When I’m looking for a quick weeknight dinner my Old Fashioned Salisbury Steak Recipe is my go to. However, sometimes I will switch it up and make my slow cooker Salisbury steak. You don’t get the crispy edges, but the flavors come out similiar. That recipe also uses mushrooms in addition to onions.
Pair my Old Fashioned Salisbury Steak Recipe with buttered noodles or mashed potatoes, and sweet baby carrots.
Jump to:
Why this Recipe Works
Easy Weeknight Dinner – I love how quickly this meal comes together.
Comfort Food – This salisbury steak recipe is the ultimate comfort food and will instantly remind you of your childhood days.
Every day ingredients – This recipe consist of everyday ingredients you would find in your refrigerator and pantry.
Ingredients
There are thirteen ingredients. This might seem like a lot, however, chances are you already have the ingredients nestled in your pantry or fridge.
Unsalted butter – A little butter will help caramelize the onion and bring an additional depth of flavor to the dish.
Onion – I love to caramelize one thinly sliced onion that will be included in the gravy.
Beef broth – Will be used as the base to the homemade gravy.
Ground beef – I like to use lean ground beef but an 80/20 will do as well. Just make sure to drain off any excess oil before making the gravy.
Worcestershire sauce – This flavors both the beef patties and gravy.
Seasonings – You will need a combination of dried onion flakes, dried parsley, black pepper, and my secret ingredient Montreal Steak Seasoning.
Breadcrumbs – You can use plain or Italian seasoned. Whatever you have on hand. Although I’ve never tried using panko for this recipe.
Egg – One egg is all you need to help bind the ground beef with the breadcrumbs and seasoning together. Cornstarch – You will need this to thicken the broth that will be turned into gravy. Flour works too if you don’t have cornstarch on hand. Just remember flour needs to have a little additional salt added to cut the flour taste.
Directions
In a large skillet on medium heat, melt the butter. Melt butter and add in thinly sliced onions. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir well and add in ¼ cup of the beef broth. Place the lid on the skillet and let the onions cook for 5-10 minutes.
Mixing occasionally–making sure that the onions do not burn. Add additional liquid if needed. Once the onions are translucent push them off to the sides of the skillet so they aren’t in direct heat.
While the onions cook prepare the ground beef mixture. Combine the ground beef, steak seasoning, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, dried onion flakes, parsley, bread crumbs and egg together. Mix well, then divide the mixture into 4-6 patties.
Pour the grapeseed oil into the pan. Form each patty into an oval shape, pressing thin, then place in the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes on medium heat with the lid on. Then flip the patties with a spatula and press the beef down thinning them out. Cook for an additional 3 minutes and move the patties to the sides of the skillet.
While patties are finishing up cooking whisk together the 3 cups of beef broth, 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, and black pepper.
Increase the heat to medium-high and pour and mix the seasoned broth into the center of the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes stirring constantly until broth turns into a thick gravy. Flip the beef patties around ensuring the gravy is coated on both sides of the beef and cook for an additional 5 minutes on low heat with lid on. Serve immediately and enjoy.
FAQs
Mix ground beef with seasoning, breadcrumbs, and an egg. Form patties from the ground beef mixture. Fry on medium heat in a frying pan for 10-15 minutes, flipping once until beef patties are cooked well done.
Mix together broth with cornstarch. Add to a skillet or pot and cook for 3-4 minutes stirring constantly until broth thickens and turns into gravy. Continue to simmer on low until you are ready to serve.
Salisbury steak contains much more fillers. For example, breadcrumbs, sauces, onions, and even eggs. On the other hand, hamburger steak typically only contains seasonings such as salt and pepper. While the two dishes are very similar, there are several differences.
Salisbury steak is essentially ground beef patties. The dish taste like a mix of meatloaf and a hamburger. It is also commonly known as “hamburger steak”.
The dish Salisbury steak was named after Dr. James Henry Salisbury. Salisbury was a nutritional doctor around the 19th century and was a big advocate of minced beef as a health food. He proclaimed salisbury steak as the “muscle pulp of beef”.
Expert Tips & Tricks
Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for making salisbury steaks.
- Gravy – If you don’t feel like making your own homemade gravy I recommend a large jar of Heinz beef gravy as it works best for the flavors of this dish.
- Overcrowding – It is key to not overcrowd the pan with ingredients when cooking salisbury steak. I recommend a very large saute or skillet pan.
- Size – Make sure to make the hamburger patties equal size so the cooking time is the same throughout.
- Gluten Free – Make gluten free Salisbury steak by using gluten free bread crumbs and omitting the Worchestire sauce.
Salisbury Steak Sides
Not sure what to serve with your hamburger steaks? Check out a few of my favorite Salisbury Steak Sides.
If you make this Salisbury Steak recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a ⭐ star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!
Don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and subscribe to my email list!
Old Fashioned Salisbury Steak Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Stove Top
- 1 Large Skillet with Lid
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 3-¼ cups beef broth divided
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon steak seasoning
- 3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce divided
- 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet on medium heat, melt the butter. Melt butter and add in thinly sliced onions. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir well and add in ¼ cup of the beef broth. Place the lid on the skillet and let the onions cook for 5-10 minutes. Mixing occasionally–making sure that the onions do not burn. Add additional liquid if needed. Once the onions are translucent push them off to the sides of the skillet so they aren't in direct heat.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 onion, 3-¼ cups beef broth
- While the onions cook prepare the ground beef mixture. Combine the ground beef, steak seasoning, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, dried onion flakes, parsley, bread crumbs and egg together. Mix well, then divide the mixture into 4-6 patties.1 pound lean ground beef, 1 tablespoon steak seasoning, 3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, ½ cup plain breadcrumbs, 1 egg
- Pour the grapeseed oil into the pan. Form each patty into an oval shape, pressing thin, then place in the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes on medium heat with the lid on. Then flip the patties with a spatula and press the beef down thinning them out. Cook for an additional 3 minutes and move the patties to the sides of the skillet.1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
- While patties are finishing up cooking whisk together the 3 cups of beef broth, 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, and black pepper.3-¼ cups beef broth, 3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoon cornstarch, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- Increase the heat to medium-high and pour and mix the seasoned broth into the center of the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes stirring constantly until broth turns into a thick gravy. Flip the beef patties around ensuring the gravy is coated on both sides of the beef and cook for an additional 5 minutes on low heat with lid on. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Gravy – If you don’t feel like making your own homemade gravy I recommend a large jar of Heinz beef gravy as it works best for the flavors of this dish.
- Overcrowding – It is key to not overcrowd the pan with ingredients when cooking salisbury steak. I recommend a very large saute or skillet pan.
- Quantity of Steaks – I typically can get 5-6 hamburger steaks out of a pound of meat. You can make the patties smaller and stretch the pound of meat further if you’d like. I typically always make 5 allowing for one leftover meal for lunch the next day.
- Size – Make sure to make the hamburger patties equal size so the cooking time is the same throughout.
- Gluten Free – Make gluten free Salisbury steak by using gluten free bread crumbs and omitting the Worchestire sauce.
- Bread crumbs – If you don’t have plain breadcrumbs on hand the Italian seasoned bread crumbs work as well. I have used both for this recipe and haven’t seen much of a difference in the flavor.
Darcy Cleaver
This was a simple and delicious recipe. My family loved it; it’s a must try!
Katie
Darcy, I’m so glad your family loved it! It is one of our favorites, too.
Tom Vaught
I’m going to make this tonight, because been long time since had Salisbury steak, but have a question: In ingredients say 2-1/4 cups of beef broth, but in directions says 3 cups for the gravy, Which is it?
Thanks,
Katie
Hi Tom, sorry about that typo! It should have read 3-1/2 cups, divided. Hope you enjoyed this recipe. It’s a family favorite and actually on my menu for the end of this week!
Bobbie Dirks
Made this tonight and it was wonderful. I had leftover fresh sliced mushrooms, so I sauteed them with the onion. This was such an easy recipe. I really like the addition of steak seasoning to the meat. I think this recipe will replace my usual recipe. My husband loved it. Thanks !!
Katie
Bobbie–so glad to read that your family loved this recipe! This is one of my go-to recipes I’m constantly making at our house–always a crowd pleaser!
Rachel
As someone that has never tried Salisbury steak, that looks absolutely delicious! 😀
Katie
I just made this again last night for dinner. It’s always a hit in our house! My toddler eats an entire beef patty!
danielle
Its been years since I have had salisbury steak – I would love to try a homemade version.
Katie
Me too until recently. Now I’m finding I’m making it every other week! So easy and so good!