What Is Salisbury Steak? (2024)

What Is Salisbury Steak? (1)

Salisbury steak isn’t technically a steak, but more like a patty. In fact, it’s similar to meatloaf but usually without as many ingredients, shaped into a patty rather than a loaf, and served with a mushroom and onion gravy. If you like meatloaf, you’ll probably love Salisbury steak. This guide includes everything you need to know to make it in your own kitchen.

Table of Contents

Why Is It Called a Salisbury Steak?

Salisbury steak is named after Dr. James Henry Salisbury, who touted the nutrition factor of minced beef patties in the 1800s. Dr. Salisbury researched the health effects of eating ground beef on soldiers during the Civil War, noting that this type of beef was easily digestible and, therefore, led to overall health. Although these claims may be disputed today, Salisbury’s research was well-received, and Salisbury steak eventually became a staple on many dinner tables.

Key Elements for Salisbury steak

Salisbury steak needs a few ingredients to make it a true Salisbury steak: ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, and spices, especially salt and pepper. The eggs and breadcrumbs work together to bind the meat together, preventing it from falling apart while cooking. Mushroom and onion gravy tops the finished meat. It’s common to make a quick, easy gravy from scratch using the browned bits left over from browning the patties.

Make Ahead Tips

Salisbury steak is a good dish to make ahead if you have some time to prepare the patties but aren’t ready to cook them yet. To prepare them ahead of time, make the patties as you normally would. Then, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put the tray in the freezer for 2-3 hours until the patties are fully frozen. Then, transfer the patties to an airtight container or freezer bags with a piece of parchment paper between each patty to store in the freezer for up to 3-4 months. Thaw the patties overnight in the refrigerator to cook them the next day.

You can also make the patties ahead to cook on the same day. Instead of putting them in the freezer, cover the tray with plastic wrap and place it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Allow patties to rest at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before cooking.

Salisbury Steak Recipe

If you know how to make meatloaf, you can successfully make Salisbury steak. Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients

Salisbury steaks:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Gravy:

  • 4 tbsp butter, split in half
  • 1 cup sliced white mushrooms
  • ½ cup onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • ½ cup french onion soup
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat a nonstick skillet with olive oil.
  2. Mix all remaining steak ingredients together in a large bowl. Form them into four oval-shaped patties.
  3. Cook patties for 3-4 minutes on each side until the outside is crisp, flipping just once. Move to a plate tented loosely with foil.
  4. Using the same pan, reduce the heat to medium. Add 2 tbsp of butter; allow to melt. Add mushrooms and onions, cooking until softened. Transfer to a plate.
  5. Add the remaining butter to the skillet and allow it to melt. Whisk in flour until well combined.
  6. Slowly pour beef stock and french onion soup into the pan, stirring frequently. Allow the mixture to come to a soft boil; then, turn the heat to low to simmer until it thickens into a gravy. Add black pepper; stir.
  7. Stir the mushrooms and onions back into the gravy. Then, place the steaks back into the gravy, spooning gravy over each patty. Continue cooking on low for another 10-15 minutes until the steaks reach 160 degrees.

Recipe Variations

There are a few ways you can make Salisbury steak all your own by experimenting with other ingredients and additions for different flavors. For instance, adding Worcestershire sauce to the meat mixture before cooking gives the meat a brighter, bolder flavor, similar to meatloaf. You can also swap ground beef for ground turkey, ground pork, or a blend of meats, each of which adds their own unique flavor to Salisbury steak.

Switch up how you serve Salisbury steak, too, for something different. For example, serve the meat over a layer of pasta rather than mashed potatoes. Or, make a creamy garlic butter sauce to serve over the top of your steaks rather than mushroom and onion gravy.

What goes well with Salisbury steak?

Here are a few potential side dishes to consider serving with Salisbury steak:

  • Mashed potatoes: Mashed potatoes is one of the most popular dishes for most meals made with beef, and Salisbury steak is no exception. In fact, some people prefer to place their Salisbury steak patty over a scoop of mashed potatoes to combine the two flavors in every bite.
  • Italian parmesan roasted potatoes: If you’re looking for a healthier potato option, try Italian parmesan roasted potatoes tossed with herbs like parsley or basil. Drizzle oil on the potatoes, along with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, before roasting. Swap regular potatoes for sweet potatoes, if desired.
  • Easy tossed salad: A fresh, light salad also pairs well with the bolder flavor of Salisbury steak. Toss it with a tangy balsamic or red wine dressing.
  • Brandy glazed carrots: Boil baby carrots until crisp-tender before sauteeing them in a mixture of butter and honey. Add brandy once carrots are tender, cooking until the liquid reduces and forms a glaze. This sweet-and-savory dish rounds out a Salisbury steak meal well.

Conclusion: Your Guide to Salisbury Steak

Salisbury steak can be an affordable meal if you’re craving the flavor of beef but don’t want to splurge on pricier steak. It can also be a great way to use up ground beef you might have sitting in the refrigerator or freezer, leftover from another meal. This versatile steak is fully customizable, so have fun experimenting with different additions, gravy flavors, and spices to please your palate.

Visit Steak University for more recipes, cooking tips, and suggestions of other meats to add to your cooking routine.

What Is Salisbury Steak? (2)

Salisbury Steak

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Ingredients

For the Salisbury Steaks:

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

For the Gravy:

  • 4 tbsp butter, split in half
  • 1 cup sliced white mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 1/2 cup french onion soup
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat a nonstick skillet with olive oil

  • Mix all remaining steak ingredients together in a large bowl. Form them into four oval-shaped patties

  • Cook patties for 3-4 minutes on each side until the outside is crisp, flipping just once. Move to a plate tented loosely with foil

  • Using the same pan, reduce the heat to medium. Add 2 tbsp of butter; allow to melt. Add mushrooms and onions, cooking until softened. Transfer to a plate

  • Add the remaining butter to the skillet and allow it to melt. Whisk in flour until well combined

  • Slowly pour beef stock and french onion soup into the pan, stirring frequently. Allow the mixture to come to a soft boil; then, turn the heat to low to simmer until it thickens into a gravy. Add black pepper; stir

  • Stir the mushrooms and onions back into the gravy. Then, place the steaks back into the gravy, spooning gravy over each patty. Continue cooking on low for another 10-15 minutes until the steaks reach 160 degrees

Notes

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Salisbury Steak FAQs

Is Salisbury steak healthy?

In its traditional form, Salisbury steak can be high in fat, calories, and sodium. However, there are ways to make Salisbury steak lean more on the healthier side, such as sauteing mushrooms and onions in olive oil rather than butter, making homemade low-sodium gravy, and substituting lean meat for full-fat meat. Also, make sure you’re sticking to a regular serving size of about three ounces of meat to avoid eating too many calories.

What cut of meat Is best used for Salisbury steak?

Lean ground beef is best to use with Salisbury steak. Ground beef lends to the flavor you’d expect for the meal while going as fat-free as possible can help you avoid messy pools of fat that drip from the meat when cooking. Ideally, look for beef that’s 80%-90% lean.

What’s the difference between Salisbury steak and meatloaf?

Salisbury steak and meatloaf are similar in that they’re made with seasoned ground beef. However, meatloaf typically has more additions in it, like a blend of spices and ketchup or barbecue sauce, for a different flavor. Salisbury steaks are also formed into steak-like patties, while meatloaf is traditionally formed into a loaf.

What is the difference between hamburger steak and Salisbury steak?

A hamburger steak and Salisbury steak are also quite similar, both using ground beef as their main component. Also, hamburger steaks are often thicker, more reminiscent of a hamburger patty, while Salisbury steaks are on the thinner side.

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What Is Salisbury Steak? (2024)

FAQs

What is Salisbury steak made of? ›

Salisbury steak needs a few ingredients to make it a true Salisbury steak: ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, and spices, especially salt and pepper. The eggs and breadcrumbs work together to bind the meat together, preventing it from falling apart while cooking. Mushroom and onion gravy tops the finished meat.

Is Salisbury steak just a hamburger patty? ›

Salisbury steak features a blend of ground beef, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, cooked with a rich brown gravy. Hamburger steak, on the other hand, is a simpler patty made from ground beef, seasoned with salt, pepper, and spices, often served with various toppings.

Why do they call it Salisbury steak? ›

Origin of the name

James H. Salisbury (1823–1905) was an American physician and chemist known for his advocacy of a meat-centered diet to promote health, and the term Salisbury steak for a ground beef patty served as the main course has been used in the United States since 1897.

What is banquet Salisbury steak made of? ›

Banquet: "Mechanically separated chicken, pork, beef, water, rehydrated onions, textured soy flour (soy flour, caramel color) bread crumbs (bleached wheat flour enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid ..."

What's the difference between country style steak and Salisbury steak? ›

What's more, country-fried steak is breaded and fried, whereas Salisbury steak is just pan-fried in a little oil. Breading and frying a cube steak locks in the flavor. It's the best comfort food and a popular Southern-style breakfast, usually served with eggs and biscuits.

What's the difference between Salisbury steak and chop steak? ›

Salisbury steak is essentially a chopped steak with a few extra ingredients mixed in with the ground meat and then is served with pan gravy. Since its birth during the civil war era by Dr. James Henry Salisbury, it has evolved by adding different ingredients to the chopped beef and the sauce.

Is Salisbury steak horse meat? ›

Salisbury steaks are usually made from a blend of ground beef and other ingredients, then topped with a thick brown gravy. The dish is named after James H. Salisbury, a doctor who promoted a meat-centered diet.

Is cube steak and Salisbury steak the same? ›

Both are smothered in thick brown gravy, but Salisbury steak is made with ground beef formed into what resembles miniature or personal-sized meat loaves. Unlike the swift cooking times required by cube steak, Salisbury steak can simmer for a longer period of time without toughening the end product.

What goes with Salisbury steak? ›

25 Savory Sides For Salisbury Steak
  • 01 of 25. Homemade Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • 02 of 25. Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 25. Crispy Potatoes. ...
  • 04 of 25. Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 25. Glazed Carrots. ...
  • 06 of 25. Southern-Style Collard Greens. ...
  • 07 of 25. Buttery Yeast Rolls. ...
  • 08 of 25. Slow-Cooker Green Beans.
Aug 21, 2023

Why does my Salisbury steak fall apart? ›

Salisbury Steaks require egg and breadcrumbs to bind the ingredients together. If you don' have enough of either ingredient compared to the ratio of meat and liquid, the patties can fall apart.

Why are they called Omaha Steaks? ›

The company is named after the city it was founded in, and headquarters location, Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha Steaks manufactures, markets, and distributes steaks, meat, seafood, and some prepared foods.

What is the Salisbury steak diet? ›

He suggested that Salisbury steak should be eaten three times a day, with much hot water to cleanse the digestive system. He was an early American proponent of a low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss, and he promoted his diet for that purpose. His diet became known as the "Salisbury diet".

Is Stouffer's Salisbury steak real meat? ›

100% fresh ground beef cooked in-house.

What is in the IHOP Salisbury steak? ›

Sirloin Salisbury Steak: Chopped sirloin steak with freshly sautéed mushrooms and onions and beef gravy.

Is Salisbury steak fully cooked? ›

Because Salisbury steak is made of ground beef and eggs, it is important to cook the dish thoroughly, and because it is cooked on the grill there are additional considerations to make. To eliminate the danger of E. coli bacteria, ground beef needs to reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).

What is school Salisbury steak made of? ›

Salisbury Steak is lean ground turkey and beef combined with fresh vegetables and crushed tomatoes and spices, and then baked. 1 steak provides 1.75 oz equivalent meat.

What is TV dinner Salisbury steak made of? ›

directions. In a large bowl, mix together 3-5 Tbsp of the soup with the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, and garlic and onion powders. Shape into patties. In a large frying pan, brown patties on both sides.

What do you eat with Salisbury steak? ›

25 Savory Sides For Salisbury Steak
  1. 01 of 25. Homemade Mashed Potatoes. ...
  2. 02 of 25. Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts. ...
  3. 03 of 25. Crispy Potatoes. ...
  4. 04 of 25. Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese. ...
  5. 05 of 25. Glazed Carrots. ...
  6. 06 of 25. Southern-Style Collard Greens. ...
  7. 07 of 25. Buttery Yeast Rolls. ...
  8. 08 of 25. Slow-Cooker Green Beans.
Aug 21, 2023

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