How to Make Salisbury Steak

Salisbury steak is one of those classic comfort food dinners that is easy to make and always feels like a real meal. Tender seasoned ground meat patties are browned in a skillet, then simmered in a simple savory gravy until everything is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

And the best part is that you don’t have to make it with beef. This Salisbury steak recipe can be made with ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey, so you can use whichever you have on hand.

The patties come together with panko breadcrumbs, eggs, oregano, onion, and garlic. Then they are browned in a skillet before being finished in a flavorful broth based gravy. The gravy cooks right in the same pan, which means plenty of flavor and less cleanup.

Serve Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or your favorite vegetables. Spoon plenty of that gravy over the top because that’s really the best part!

Why You’ll Love This Salisbury Steak Recipe

• Easy to make: Everything cooks in one skillet.
• Flexible: Use ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
• Comfort food: Tender meat patties and savory gravy make this a satisfying dinner.
• Great for a family meal: It’s simple enough for a weeknight but cozy enough for Sunday dinner.
• Homemade gravy: The gravy thickens right in the skillet while the patties finish cooking.

If you love Salisbury Steak, keep scrolling, because this one is for you! If you love hamburgers, comfort food, and a delicious homemade meal that can be on the table in about 30 minutes and devoured in just minutes, you definitely need to try this!

I have to confess, I had not had Salisbury Steak since I think… I was in grade school.

And this is not that Salisbury steak! This is the idea of Salisbury Steak but in a much more delicious way.

I wanted a nice way to serve a hamburger, but with a gravy along with roasted potatoes and carrots and I wanted it to be done in 30 minutes.

We typically eat a LOT OF CHICKEN in our house, but lately one of us…. wants more beef and less chicken or no chicken at all I’m told… that would be challenging.

But I’m here to say, I LOVE hamburgers so making them without a bun, since that “someone” doesn’t really care if there are hamburger buns or not this was THE way to go.

So with just a few ingredients, you can enjoy a whole plate of comfort food.

Tips for Making Salisbury Steak

• Don’t overmix the meat. Mix the ingredients just until combined so the patties stay tender.
• Brown before simmering. Browning the patties adds extra flavor to both the meat and the gravy.
• Whisk the cornstarch into cold or room temperature broth. This helps it blend smoothly before it goes into the hot skillet.
• Use the right broth for your meat. Beef broth gives beef Salisbury steak a traditional flavor. Chicken broth works well with ground chicken or turkey.
• Use a thermometer. Ground meat should reach 160°F for safe cooking.
• Don’t skip the gravy. The gravy is what turns these simple ground meat patties into a comforting Salisbury steak dinner.

On a sheet pan I placed 4 potatoes I had cut up then microwaved until they were tender, along with 4 cut up carrots at 400° until they were cooked and roasted nicely (about 15 minutes) while the Salisbury steak was cooking.

 

What Makes This Salisbury Steak So Good?

This is a simple recipe, but the combination of browned ground meat, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and savory gravy makes it taste like you’ve put much more work into dinner than you actually have.

Plus, using ground meat makes this version easier than traditional steak recipes. You don’t need an expensive cut of meat. You can use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey and turn it into a hearty skillet dinner.

Best of all, everything comes together in one pan. Brown the patties, add the gravy, cover, and let dinner finish cooking while the sauce thickens.

It’s the kind of uncomplicated comfort food that works just as well for a busy weeknight as it does for a cozy family dinner

I’ve made this quite a bit lately, it’s far better than fast food and it may just be the way to get your teens to sit down for two minutes before they are off running here and there… busy, busy, busy… everyone is so busy but this meal is worth slowing down for.

And they freeze and reheat well.

This recipe is also so delicious with ground turkey. Be sure to give it a try as well as ground chicken it’s another great option.

Salisbury Steak Options:

To cook 4 lbs, I put a heavy roasting pan over 2 burners. This works great for large portions that you want, even cooking that a round pan may not offer.

Ground Beef, Chicken, or Turkey?

One of the things I like about this recipe is that it is easy to change depending on what you have in the refrigerator.

Ground beef: This gives you the classic Salisbury steak flavor and a rich, savory gravy.

Ground turkey: A lighter option that still makes a hearty dinner.

Ground chicken: Mild and tender, and especially good with chicken broth in the gravy.

If you’re using chicken or turkey, be sure to cook the patties to 160°F as measured with a meat thermometer.

Make these with ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken. All great options!

 THE SAUCE:

I often cook in a cast iron skillet, which retains heat, so the sauce thickens easily. If you find the sauce is not thickening enough, mix a couple of tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/2 cup water, add it to the pan, and simmer it until the desired thickness is achieved.

And if you need more info on sauces check out how to make a sauce.