Easy Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy

This easy Salisbury steak recipe pairs tender seasoned beef patties with sweet sautéed onions and a rich, savory gravy—all ready in about 35 minutes!

For the longest time, the words “Salisbury steak” made me think of those old-school TV dinners in foil trays—you know, the ones with little compartments for the mashed potatoes, peas and carrots and that mysterious oval-shaped steak?

But homemade Salisbury steak is an entirely different—and absolutely delicious—story. These tender, savory beef patties are topped with sweet golden onions and plenty of rich gravy, giving you all the cozy nostalgia of the classic dinner with none of the TV-tray mystery. It’s easy enough for a weeknight and special enough for company!

Jump to:

• 🔎 A quick look at this recipe
• ⭐️ Why this recipe works
• 🥩 Ingredients you need
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
• 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make this recipe
• Easy Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy

🔎 A quick look at this recipe

⭐️ Why this recipe works

• 🥩 Tender and flavorful: Breadcrumbs, egg and tomato paste keep the seasoned beef patties moist and delicious.
• 🧅 Sweet and savory: Golden sautéed onions add a gentle sweetness that is perfect with the rich beef gravy.
• 🥣 Easy homemade gravy: Beef broth, pan drippings and a little cornstarch create a silky sauce right in the skillet.
• ⏰ Weeknight friendly: This cozy comfort-food dinner is ready in just 35 minutes.
• 🍳 Simple cleanup: The onions, steaks and gravy are all cooked in the same skillet.

🤔 What is Salisbury steak?

Salisbury steak is a classic American comfort-food dish made with seasoned ground beef patties that are shaped like steaks, browned in a skillet and served with rich brown gravy.

Unlike a regular hamburger, the beef is mixed with ingredients such as breadcrumbs and egg to keep it tender. Think of it as a delicious cross between meatloaf and a hamburger—especially when it’s topped with sweet onions and plenty of gravy!

🥩 Ingredients you need

📝 Ingredient notes

• Ground beef chuck: Ground chuck has enough fat to keep the Salisbury steaks tender and flavorful. An 80/20 blend works best.
• Fresh breadcrumbs: Soft fresh breadcrumbs help hold the patties together while keeping them moist. You can make them by pulsing a slice or two of bread in your food processor.
• Sweet onion: Yellow onion will also work, but a sweet onion becomes especially mild and delicious as it cooks.
• Tomato paste: This adds rich, concentrated flavor to the beef mixture. Tomato paste in a tube is handy when you need only a tablespoon.
• Beef broth: Low-sodium broth lets you control the seasoning in the finished gravy.
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch thickens the gravy quickly. Stir it into the broth until completely smooth before adding it to the hot skillet.

💡 Ingredient substitution ideas

Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make this recipe

Mix up some ground beef with some fresh breadcrumbs, an egg, some tomato paste and a little salt and pepper and form it into those oval shapes you remember.  (Why the oval shapes?  I have no idea.)

Before you cook the burgers, saute up some onions until they are soft and golden.  Then cook the steaks and set them aside.

The last very vital step is to make that gravy up there, which you cook up in that same skillet out of some beef broth, a little cornstarch and the pan drippings.  Very easy and essential to the whole Salisbury Steak Experience.

Now dish it up with a steak covered in the soft onions and liberally topped with the gravy, and if you want the full experience, go for the mashed potatoes and peas and carrots on the side.  I now feel completely rehabilitated, Salisbury Steak-wise!