Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy is a comfort food favourite that’s easy to make. Juicy seasoned beef patties made with ground beef (mince) smothered in an outrageously delicious mushroom gravy, this Salisbury Steak recipe has been tried and loved by readers from all over the world. And now it’s your turn to experience it!
And next time – try Salisbury Steak Meatballs!
Salisbury steak
There’s a man who lives in his car at our local dog park. He’s a valuable member of our community – he knows all the locals, looks after the park like it’s his own backyard, has gun-barrel views over Sydney’s beautiful Pittwater waterways and he tells the worst jokes. 😂
Anyway, the story of this Salisbury Steak recipe is that I regularly take hot meals down to him, sometimes even fancy-sounding things like duck confit. As we approached Christmas one year, I asked him what, of all the meals I took to him that year, his favourite meals were.
And he said “Oh, those burgers with the mushroom gravy were spectacular!” So I made them again for him, then I published the recipe on my site the next day. 🙂
This was back in 2015, and that’s how this Salisbury Steak recipe came to be on my website!
How to make Salisbury Steak
Salisbury steak involves making seasoned beef patties using mince / ground beef, then making a mushroom gravy. In my recipe, there’s just two little things I do differently to the usual Salisbury Steak recipe that I think makes them even tastier:
Grate onion and soak the breadcrumbs in the juices – guaranteed to make the steaks softer and tastier, a tried, proven and much loved method that I use for my classic Italian Meatballs (plenty of reviews substantiating this!). Plus it’s much more efficient than cooking chopped onions (raw onion bits in steak is not nice), and you avoid the risk of the steaks falling apart if the onions aren’t chopped finely enough ; and
Sear beef patties briefly then finishing cooking IN the gravy: I like to sear them in a stinking hot skillet to brown the steaks so they are still raw on the inside, then finish cooking them in the gravy so the juices that seep while they are cooking flavours the gravy. Never waste free flavour! That’s my motto! Plus, the gravy infuses moisture in to the steaks. Double bonus!
What is the difference between a Salisbury Steak and Hamburger patties?
Great Hamburger patties are made with nothing more than good quality ground beef, salt and pepper. Whereas the ingredients in Salisbury Steak patties are more like meatballs – including breadcrumbs, onion and flavourings such as Worcestershire sauce.
Salisbury Steak is pretty much me on a plate. Wholesome, homely, down to earth good food that’s economical, packs a flavour punch but is not fiddly or time consuming to make. Hope you love it as much as I do! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Sometimes it helps to have a visual – so watch me make this Salisbury Steak!
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Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
Ingredients
Salisbury Steak
- 1/2 onion (white, brown or yellow)
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (or 1/3 cup ordinary breadcrumbs)
- 1 lb/500g ground beef (mince)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 beef bouillon cube , crumbled
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tsp dijon mustard OR 2 tsp dry mustard powder
Gravy
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 onion , finely chopped
- 5 oz/150g mushrooms , sliced
- 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp flour (all purpose / plain)
- 2 cups beef broth / stock , low sodium
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Salisbury Steaks
- Onion grating – Place breadcrumbs in a bowl. Use a box grater and grate the onion over the breadcrumbs. Mix with fingers, leave to soak for a few minutes.
- Mix – Add remaining Salisbury Steak ingredients into the large bowl. Use your hands to mix until just combined. Mix well for a couple of minutes until the mixture becomes a bit "pasty" which will ensure your patties hold together well.
- Form patties – Divide into 5 and pat very firmly into oval patties around 3/4" / 1 2/3 cm thick.
Cooking and Gravy
- Brown patties – Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the steaks and cook the first side for 1 minute or until browned, then gently flip and brown the other side (they will still be raw inside). Remove onto plate.
- Cook aromatics – If skillet is looking dry, add a touch more oil. Add chopped onion and garlic and cook for 2 minute until onions are a bit translucent.
- Cook mushrooms – Add the mushrooms into the skillet and cook for 2 – 3 minutes until golden.
- Make gravy roux – Turn heat down to medium. Add butter. Once melted, add flour and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Gravy – Gradually add in beef broth, stirring as you go. Once mostly lump free, whisk in remaining Gravy ingredients.
- Finish cooking steaks – Add steaks along with the juices on the plate. Cook for 5 – 7 minutes, or until gravy is thickened, stirring occasionally around the steaks. If the gravy thickens too quickly, add more water.
- Season gravy – Remove steaks onto a plate. Taste gravy and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve salisbury steaks topped with the mushroom gravy – over mashed potato is ideal! Sprinkle with a bit of parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Every morning over the summer break. PS He’s leaping to catch sand. No interest in the usual toys!
Margarita G says
Does this freeze well?
Nagi says
Sure does Margarita! N x
Melanie says
Gravy recipe says mustard but doesnt show in video?
Karen O says
Wow…. Made this tonight and it was so easy. A far stretch from those TV dinner versions I had as a kid (sorry 80’s kid here). I found the recipe to be a bit salty, so next time I will use less Worcestershire.
Vicky says
Oh dear, my first fail with one of your recipes. My box grater just couldn’t grate an onion – too blunt. I guess the breadcrumbs needed the juice from the onion because my patties fell to pieces so kind of ended up being a sort of savoury mince. Tasted nice and very filling but not a pretty sight on the plate….LOL
CoCo says
I used ground Turkey! Was delicious with everything the same. I just changed the meat! My kids love it!
Nagi says
YUM! Sounds like you nailed it Coco! N x
Mia Hyde says
What a wonderful tasty recipe!! So easy and with mashed potatoes it was a homey old fashioned meal. Thank you.
Rachel Fournier says
Hello! I’ve been wanting to cook a homemade Salisbury steak for a long time and yours seems the most delicious, however, I have an issue! I’m severely allergic to peppers, which Worcestershire sauce has chili peppers in it!! Is there anything you would recommend to substitute for it or if I could possible omit it without ruining the recipe? I would love to try this recipe and make this for my family, but I always try to stick to the recipe before I alter it.
Laurs says
You can put in a tablespoon or two of A1 sauce. I have a Sals stk recipe that had that in it and it’s phenomenal
STEPHEN M MATHIS says
Balsamic vinegar. Or soy sauce with a little sugar added. These would be adequate substitutes, although you could try omitting altogether and see how you like it.
Buzzle says
Yummy…will make again!
Helen says
Hi Nagi
Love your food – always easy always delicious…
question please..
You’ve shown how to tenderise beef for stir fry.. a fave of ours is Steak Diane .. can I buy a cheaper cut, rump or topside and ‘bi carb’ that for SD? Fillet is just too expensive forus. If so, how would I do it 🙏🏻
Nagi says
It doesn’t work quite as well for a piece of meat like steak Diane unfortunately – it’s better sured to sliced/cut meat. N x
Helen says
Hi Nagi
Love your food – always easy always delicious…
question please..
You’ve shown how to tenderise beef for stir fry.. a fave of ours is Steak Diane .. can I buy a cheaper cut, rump or topside and ‘bi carb’ that for SD? Fillet is just too expensive forus. If so, how would I do it 🙏🏻
Diane Poe says
I cooked this for the first time last night. My husband loves Salisbury steak and had been asking for it, so I broke down and made it. I have to say, this is the best I have ever eaten!!! My mom used to make this all the time, but i can tell you, this version beat hers hands down!!! She passed away 6 years ago, so naturally, this dish took me back a lot of years!! Hubby and daughters loved it, will be having this a lot more!!! Thank you!
Karin says
I always wonder when they say “half an onion” is that referring to a small cooking onion like my mum used to buy in a bag, or one of the bigger onions like I always buy individually?
Betty Martoglio says
I never read the blogs, always shoot straight to the recipe but I read yours.God bless,there is a crown waiting on you in heaven.
Nagi says
Oh bless you Betty, that’s made my day ❤️ N x
irene says
Made this for dinner using a premade organic burger patty and used canned button mushrooms, otherwise followed the recipe as directed. Hubby loved it.
Cathy says
I’ve been looking for recipes for my 91 year old father. He has difficulty chewing, so I thought this would be a good for him. The only experience I’ve had with Salisbury steak was the frozen dinner variety, and it was truly horrible, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was thrilled to find how tasty, juicy and delicious this recipe was! Definitely making again. I will update once he gets a taste and gives feedback.
Nagi says
This beats any store bought frozen meal Cathy, I’m so glad it was a hit! N x
Cathy says
My father LOVED it too!! The whole family did!! 🙂
Frontier Buddy says
Great recipe. Truly wonderful. The only disconcerting issue with the video is the 70’s porn flick music.
Nagi says
Thanks so much, I’m so glad you love the recipe & lucky you can mute the sound on my videos 😉 N x
Wayne says
Note: The ingredients list calls for 1/2 onion in the steaks portion. BUT, it does not indicate that it is to be GRATED! Only in the recipe.
Nagi says
Hi Wayne, yes that’s correct – you’ll see this notes in step 1 of the instructions and shown in the video 🙂 N x
Mrs. Karen says
Nagi, you are amazing!!!! A gaazillion thank you’s for sharing your recipe’s with us. I am in love with Dozer – I have a Golden Retriever and her name is Charlie. You are awesome Nagi!!!!
Sable Beale says
This is the third time making this and i added o ion and mushroom soup and another half a cup to a cup of water to gravey to extend out the gravy and it makes it a rich gravy and have lots of leftovers!
Tricia says
Wonderful winter meal. The gravy is so tasty and the patties are very tender. I forgot to put water in the gravy but found in end there was enough liquid from the mince and stock. Also used hot English mustard powder rather than Dijon. Delicious! Thank you.
judith says
This was soo good! I used ground sirloin that was on sale for the ground beef. I didnt have panko breadcrumbs so I used instant oatmeal instead. I almost made 4 patties instead of 5 thinking the serving size would be too small. The nummy rich gravy made the 5 patties the perfect size.Thank you for such a good recipe! I will try more of your recipes in the future!