Main dish

Salisbury Steak Recipe

This Salisbury steak recipe has been around forever; is a must-try! Juicy beef patties covered in rich gravy and served with mashed potatoes

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easy Salisbury steak recipe on a plate with mashed potatoes

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The classics are always the best, and this delicious and easy recipe has been around forever! Juicy beef patties covered in rich gravy and served with mashed potatoes. What could be better?

easy Salisbury steak recipe on a plate with mashed potatoes

I often wondered about how Salisbury Steak ever came to be. After all, it's not really a steak, more like a fancy hamburger. It turns out Doctor James Salisbury is responsible for the creation in the 1800s. He observed soldiers taking a long time to recover from war wounds as they had a protein deficiency in their diets. He added chunks of chopped beef and this provided more nutrition and healthier soldiers.

Today it's still with us and on many menus. Best Salisbury steak would fit well in the same classic comfort food category as meatloaf and chicken pot pie. It's definitely not the prettiest food around but makes up for it in flavor. Thick juicy beef patties spiced with garlic, dried thyme, and onion are cooked in a pan and then covered in rich brown gravy. Any Salisbury steak should definitely be served with buttery whipped potatoes and even more gravy poured over. You can also top it with gravy of your choice like mushroom gravy.

This is an absolutely delicious good recipe a classic comfort food that caters to picky eaters. The great recipe prepares comfort food that the whole family would enjoy.

What you'll need for this best  homemade recipe

  • Saltine crackers- Breadcrumbs can be substituted but the saltines have a unique flavor.
  • Ground beef- I don't like to go too lean on the beef or it lacks flavor. A 70/30 ratio is what I like to use.
  • Garlic (powder is best)
  • Dried thyme
  • Beef stock
  • Onion
  • Flour- All-purpose works perfectly
  • Ketchup
  • Worcester sauce
  • Soy sauce
Salisbury steak recipe with brown gravy and mashed potatoes on a. plate

How to make Salisbury steak

1. Place a non stick pan over a medium heat and warm the oil. Place the formed beef patties into the oil and let them cook for about 4 minutes depending on the thickness of the patties.

2. Flip the beef patties over and repeat on the other side until well seared. A thermometer should read 160 degrees F on the inside.

3. Make the gravy by sautéing the diced onion and adding the butter. Once the butter has melted, add the flour and stir well. Add the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and stock gradually whisking all the time to prevent lumps. Bring to a simmer and cook for 4-5 minutes and the gravy has thickened.

Recipe FAQ's

Can I just use hamburger patties? No, the seasoning is different and store bough patties are usually much thinner than a Salisbury steak patty.

What's the difference between a Salisbury steak and a hamburger? A Salisbury steak ingredients has more fillers. A hamburger usually only has fewer ingredients.

So Salisbury steak is just like meatloaf? They are similar although meatloaf is served in slices and has ketchup on top whereas it is always covered in brown gravy. The onion and mushroom gravy could also be an option.

Why is it okay to eat pink steak but not pink ground beef? If a solid piece of steak carries any bacteria, it will be on the outside and destroyed when cooked. When meat is ground up, that same bacteria can enter the inside of the hamburger and hide where it won't be fully cooked if you like your burgers rare.

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Recipe

The classics are always the best and this simple recipe has been around forever! Juicy beef patties covered in rich gravy and served with whipped potatoes.

Course:
Main dish
COOKing TIME:
70 minutes
Total TIME:
85 minutes
CUISINE:
American
PREP TIME:
15 minutes
SERVINGS:
4

Ingredients

TO MAKE THE SALISBURY STEAKS

  • 1 1/4 pounds ground beef
  • 1 cup crushed saltine crackers
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dry thyme
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tbsp Worcester sauce

FOR THE GRAVY

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp. Worcester sauce
  • 1 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 1/4 cups beef stock
  • salt and pepper

Ingredient Swaps

Instructions

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well forming into 4 evenly sized patties.
  2. In a medium sized pan, melt the butter and then add the diced onion.
  3. Cook for 2-3 minutes then add the flour and the Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce mixing well.
  4. Gradually add the beef stock and bring to a simmer cooking over a low heat for about 5 minutes and the gravy becomes thicker.
  5. Season with salt and pepper and keep over the lowest heat while you cook the beef patties.
  6. In another non stick pan add a splash of olive oil over a medium heat.
  7. Place each beef patty into the hot oil and cook for about 3-4 minutes before flipping them over and repeating on the other side until fully cooked.
  8. Place the desired amount of patties on a plate with mashed potatoes and spoon over some of the brown gravy on top.

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