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Salisbury Steak is the kind of nostalgic comfort food that hits the spot every time. Smothered in a rich mushroom and onion gravy, this classic dish comes together in just 30 minutes and tastes a million times better than anything you’d find in the freezer aisle.
If you’ve never made a Salisbury steak recipe from scratch, now’s the time. It’s budget-friendly, easy to whip up on a weeknight, and always a hit with both kids and grown-ups. This is your go-to for a hearty, no-fuss dinner that feels like a hug on a plate.
What Makes This Salisbury Steak Work
What makes this Salisbury Steak truly special is how simple ingredients come together to create such rich, savory flavor. Juicy ground beef patties are seasoned and seared until golden, then simmered in luscious mushroom and onion gravy that’s loaded with umami. It’s comfort food made easy.
Unlike the store-bought version, this easy Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy is made entirely from scratch, so you know exactly what’s going into it. No mystery meat, no bland sauce, just real, hearty flavor that warms you from the inside out.
What Goes Into This Salisbury Steak
This Salisbury Steak is made with simple pantry staples and fresh ingredients that pack in flavor. The beef patties arejuicy and well-seasoned, and the savory gravy is full of mushrooms and onions; the ultimate comfort combo.
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef (90%) forms the base of the patties, keeping them hearty and satisfying without being greasy.
- Breadcrumbs: Help bind the patties together while adding texture and soaking up flavor from the seasonings.
- Worcestershire Sauce: A key ingredient in both the patties and the gravy, it adds deep, savory notes that make this dish irresistible.
- Mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms soak up the rich beef broth and give the gravy its signature texture and earthy flavor.
Note: Please see recipe card for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make This Salisbury Steak
- Mix the Patties: Mix the beef, breadcrumbs, onion, seasoning, ketchup, Worcestershire, egg, salt, and pepper.
- Shape the Steaks: Form the beef mixture into 4 oval-shaped patties, roughly equal in size, about ¾ inch thick.
- Sear the Patties: Heat oil over medium-high heat. Place patties in pan and cook for 6 minutes per side until cooked through.
- Set Aside: Transfer the patties to a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm while you prepare the gravy.
- Cook the Vegetables: Melt butter in the same skillet. Add the onions and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3–5 minutes until softened.
- Add Broth and Seasoning: Pour in the beef broth, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Thicken the Gravy: In a bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Stir it into the pan and cook for 1–2 minutes, whisking until thickened.
- Combine and Serve: Return the patties to the skillet and spoon the mushroom gravy over the top. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve warm.
This Salisbury Steak with mushroom gravy pairs perfectly with potatoes of any kind! Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, Crispy Greek Lemon Smashed Potatoes, and even Cheesy Mashed Sweet Potato Cakes! Use them to soak up every last bit of that mushroom gravy.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes! You can freeze the uncooked patties to cook later, or freeze the fully cooked steaks in their gravy. Just defrost in the fridge overnight and simmer until heated through. Making a double batch is a great way to save time on busy nights.
Use 90% lean ground beef if possible — it keeps the patties juicy without being greasy, and holds up well in the gravy.
You can! Ground turkey or chicken also work well, though the flavor will be slightly lighter. Add a splash more Worcestershire sauce for depth if needed.
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Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
Ingredients
For the steaks:
- 1 1/4 pounds ground beef 90% lean
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons onion minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or equal parts dried basil, dried oregano and dried thyme – optional
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 pinch salt to taste
- 1 pinch cracked pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
For the gravy:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup sliced onion
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the beef, breadcrumbs, onion, Italian seasoning, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, egg and salt and pepper.
- Form the meat mixture into 4 equal sized oval shaped patties.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
- Place the patties in the pan in a single layer. Cook for 5-6 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove the meat from the pan. Place on a plate and cover with foil.
- Melt the butter in the pan. Add the onion and mushrooms and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes or until vegetables have softened. Whisk in the beef broth, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water.
- Add the cornstarch mixture to the pan and whisk until smooth. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until sauce has just thickened.
- Add the meat back to the pan and spoon the gravy over the top. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Okay, so I did variate from the recipe as published. On father’s day, I made some wagu beef burgers 🍔 that were very similar to the patties in the recipe. I added a 1/4 cup red wine to the gravy and used heavy cream as a thickener. Served over mashed potatoes. I used heavy cream and butter in the potatoes. Excellent recipe. Thanks for sharing this guidance.
Love this recipe! I remember Salisbury Steak from when I was a kid. This gives me a wonderful fix. And my husband is a fan too! I have added this recipe in my regular rotation. (And I don’t make much red meat but I include this.)
Absolutely fabulous Salisbury Steak! My husband raved about it. I served over egg noodles and it was wonderful – I can only imagine how good it will be with mashed potatoes.
AMAZING recipe! The whole family loves it. It’s so easy and requires so few ingredients to make that it’s a part of our regular weeknight rotation. I don’t eat red meat, so we make it with dark meat ground turkey and turkey stock. If I don’t have breadcrumbs on hand I use 1/4 cup white wheat flour instead, and sometimes thicken the sauce with it too (throw 2 tablespoons into the pan for a few minutes after the vegetables are soft, and then add the broth). Seriously, this dish is so good.