This easy Salisbury Steak Recipe is ready in just 30 minutes! It has juicy and tender beef patties smothered in the most delicious homemade mushroom gravy. It’s so incredible over Creamy Mashed Potatoes that even picky eaters will approve of this one-pan dish.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
What is Salisbury Steak?
Salisbury steak originated in the United States and is a popular dish made with seasoned ground beef patties smothered in gravy with mushrooms (often accompanied by caramelized onions). It got its name from an American physician, Dr. J. H. Salisbury. He encouraged a meat-centered diet and so this dish was named in his honor.
We love ground beef recipes like our popular Meatloaf or this easy Stovetop Beef Chili. If you have some ground beef and don’t know what to do with it, this Salisbury Steak is a must-try, because homemade Salisbury Steak is perfect for busy weeknights. It comes together quickly, it’s inexpensive, uses pantry staples, and is flavor-packed!
How to Make Salisbury Steak
- Beef Patties: In a large bowl, combine beef patty ingredients and then shape into 4 oval or round patties flattening the center for even thickness. Saute in a skillet until golden brown on both sides, remove from the skillet and set aside. (NOTE: You will want to use lean beef, and 90% works best.)
- Mushrooms: Sauté ½ the onion in the same skillet just until tender, then stir in garlic and butter. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté until browned, mixing frequently. Lightly season with salt and pepper.
- Gravy: In a bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients for the gravy and add to the skillet with the mushrooms. Cook over medium heat until gravy thickens. Return the patties to the pan, cover with mushroom gravy, and cook just until patties are heated through.
Tips for the Best Salisbury Steak
This easy Salisbury Steak recipe is simple to make and a family favorite, so here are some tips to ensure you have the juiciest patties and savory gravy.
- Avoid Overmixing – Work the beef just until its well combined. Too much mixing can make the patties tough.
- Form Equal-sized Patties – keep them an even thickness for even cooking
- Create a Rich Gravy – make the sauce in the same skillet to utilize the tasty pan drippings from cooking the patties
- Searing the Patties – Allow the skillet to get hot before placing the patties inside to give them a great sear and seal in the juices.
Can I Substitute Ground Beef?
Salisbury Steak is classically made with ground beef, but this recipe is versatile. You can substitute ground meats that you have on hand. Try ground turkey for a Turkey Salisbury Steak or even a combination of meats such as ground beef and ground chicken.
What to Serve with Salisbury Steak
Though you can serve the beef patties in gravy over steamy rice or even egg noodles, the most classic side dish is mashed potatoes (our Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes make dinner faster). You can add a vegetable to the side and any of these will work great:
- Green Bean Almondine
- Baked Asparagus
- Easy Roasted Vegetables
- Roasted Carrots
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Caesar Salad
- Marinated Tomatoes
Make-Ahead
This Salisbury Steak recipe is a great mid-week meal because it cooks quickly. If you make the patties ahead of time, it’s even faster to serve to a crowd. Leftovers also keep really well; just cool them to room temperature and store them.
- Prep the Patties Ahead: You can form the patties and store them covered in the refrigerator up to a day ahead.
- Refrigerate Leftovers: Once cooled, store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag, remove excess air, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and then transfer to an oven-safe pan or dish, cover with foil, and bake in a preheated oven at 350° for 20-30 minutes (depending on thickness) or until heated through.
With this traditional Salisbury Steak recipe, you are in for a treat. If you have picky eaters who don’t like mushrooms, just serve their patties without them. To the children, it’s like enjoying a juicy hamburger in gravy, and they love it!
Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
Ingredients
For the Salisbury Steak:
- 1 lb ground beef, 90% lean
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 ½ tsp milk, (whole milk or any kind)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, to sautee
For the Mushroom Gravy:
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 8 oz brown mushrooms, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cup beef broth, + 1/2 cup water
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp ketchup
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl combine all of the ingredients for the beef patties (except the oil). Mix until well incorporated and shape into 4 oval or round patties flattening the center for even thickness throughout.
- Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a non-stick pan, once hot, add patties to the skillet and cook until patties are golden brown on both sides and fully cooked. Remove the patties from the skillet and cover to keep warm.
- Sauté ½ onion (you can also slice onion into thin slices, whatever your personal preference is) in the same skillet. Once the onion starts to become tender, add the garlic and butter and mix.
- Add the mushrooms and sauté until browned, mixing frequently. Lightly season with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl, whisk together all of the remaining gravy ingredients: 2 Tbsp flour, 1 1/2 cups broth, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tsp Worcestershire, 1/2 tsp dijon, 2 tsp ketchup, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper. Pour into the mushrooms and cook until the gravy thickens.
- Add the patties back to the pan and completely cover with the gravy and mushrooms and cook just until patties are heated through.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Once you try this Salisbury Steak recipe, try these other quick and easy dinner recipes your family will enjoy any night of the week.
- Beef and Broccoli
- Philly Cheesesteak
- Baked Salmon
- Monterey Chicken
- Shrimp Fried Rice
- Baked Chicken Fajita
- Lemon Garlic Chicken and Mushrooms
Hi! I’m Natasha Kravchuk, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, food photographer, and writer. Here you’ll find delicious, reliable recipes made with simple ingredients, plus easy step-by-step photos and videos to help you cook confidently at home. 
I’ve made this several times,it’s a family go to recipe, yummy.. thank you 😋
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Hi Natasha. This recipe sounds amazing, and I want to make it soon. However, my husband doesn’t like onion (which is difficult because I love it and so many recipes call for it). I’m afraid to lose moisture if I leave onions out of the steak mixture. Do you have any recommendations for a substitute? Thank you for your help. (We made your Dutch Baby pancake recipe this weekend and LOVED i!)
Hi Elizabeth, I hope this becomes your new favorite at home. I think you can just omit it from the recipe and add more seasoning to taste or onion powder if you have it. Others also use cheeks or chives as substitutes.
Hello Natasha 🤗 I love your recipes; the beef stroganoff is by far my favorite. I have recently adopted a low-carb diet and was wondering if you could suggest a keto-friendly replacement for the breadcrumbs? Thank you in advance – SD
Hi Sonja, I’m glad you’re enjoying my recipes! That is one of our favorites at home too. However, I have not tried any replacement for bread crumbs but maybe others can send their suggestions here!
Very good
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Sounds good but I add red wine to the gravy.
How did it go? I hope you liked it!
These are what we call rissoles in Australia and New Zealand. I grew up with these in the 1970’s. Always a hit!
Nice to know that. Thanks for sharing, Deb!
Natashaskitchen.com. I’m looking for a simple hot hamburger with mashed potatoes and onions and gravy on a piece of bread. Thank you. I follow you on face book.
Hi Chris, I don’t have a recipe on my website. I only have recipes for burgers and mashed potatoes.
I made this recipe several times for my family. we love it.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
This was an epic fail. The only ingredient I didn’t have was Panko breadcrumbs. Substituted regular dry bread crumbs. Patties were wet like a meatloaf. Stuck and burned in the pan. So disappointed this is the only recipe from Natasha that has been a total flop. Are the measurements correct? Upset that I had to throw out dinner!
Hi Lynda, I’m sorry to hear that and am always happy to help troubleshoot. This is a pretty typical meatball mixture – I wonder if maybe too much milk or too much bread crumbs were used? Panko is larger crumbs and not as compact so maybe it needed just 1/4 cup of regular bread crumbs? Also, when cooking meatballs, I always recommend using a non-stick skillet for sauteeing. You might enjoy our classic Meatball recipe more.
One of our family favorites!!!! Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Wonderful flavor. First time I’ve ever made this and I’m a cooker. This was so good. The instructions and the ingredients you have on hand. Will make this again, so delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
My husband doesn’t like meat but I made this recipe and he raved about it. The gravy is delicious.
That’s just awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Best Salisbury Steak I have made. Everyone loved it. Love all your receipes Natasha.
Hi Jeannine, thank you for the wonderful review. I’m so glad you enjoyed the Salisbury Steak dinner recipe.
Made this dish for dinner. We absolutely loved it. It compares to a huge Russian kotleti–on steroids with flavor. Super easy to make, and most of the ingredients are in the kitchen already.
So happy to hear that, Alina. Thank you for your wonderful review!
Fantastic recipe! My 5 yr old loved helping make the patties, and the whole family loved this dish. Will definitely make this one again. Thanks for another delicious recipe!
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Amanda! I’m so glad the entire family loved and helped with this!
This is a great recipe full of flavor. I enjoy all of your recipes Natasha. My beef mixture came out a little on the wet side. When I cooked my patties, outside was slightly burnt and inside a little mushy. I used correct amount of milk and panko. Should I add more panko next time? How can I avoid this?
Hi Michele, it sounds like maybe they were on too high of heat. Maybe turn the heat down a touch next time. Also, make sure they aren’t too thick or they will take longer to cook through. I hope that is helpful.
If I don’t have beef broth can I use chicken broth?
I would recommend beef broth but you can also try chicken if that’s what you have on hand
This looks so yummy, i cannot wait to try it… I was wondering though can I make this ahead of time or freeze it? my fiance and I love your recipes (even tho I am I the one making them haha)
Hi Kylee, it will work to make them ahead also – form the patties, cover, and refrigerate then cook when you’re ready to enjoy them.
This has become the most requested dinner at my house—my boys LOVE it! It’s very good, best Salisbury steak recipe I’ve used. The gravy is delicious & really makes the meal, especially with mashed potatoes.
But 30 minutes? It takes me more like 1.5 hours lol – although I do always double the recipe. Totally worth it though!
Thank you for sharing that feedback with us Katarina, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I made this last night and they were delicious. Next time I may add another egg as they were falling apart a little. Also, this took a lot longer for me than 30 mins. My family loved this dish and asked for it again.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Can I make the patties in advance or is it better to make right before you’re planning on cooking them?
Hi Becky, it will work to make them ahead also – form the patties, cover and refrigerate then cook when you’re ready to enjoy them.
Is cube steak done the same way as Salisbury? Wish you had a video on cube steak..
Hi Janet, I don’t have a video and recipe for that yet but thanks for your suggestion!