The Greatest Salisbury Steak & Caramelized Onion Gravy

Here’s how to make an old-school Salisbury steak, just like you remember it (unless you remember it from TV dinners or school cafeteria lunches — in which case this recipe with caramelized onion gravy is way better).

Homemade Salisbury steak from scratch is worlds away from what you’ll find in the freezer aisle. We’re reviving the traditional recipe for an easy weeknight dinner dish focused on freshness, with all the comforting flavor you’d expect if you ordered this at a down-home diner.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pound Ground Beef
• 1 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 Egg
• 1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
• 1 Tablespoon Yellow mustard
• 1/4 Cup Dry breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• Kosher Salt (to taste)

Gravy

• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 Onion, diced
• 2-3 Tablespoons Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme
• 1 ½ Cups Beef Broth
• 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
• 6 oz Mushrooms (Optional), sliced
• 3 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley (Optional), chopped

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, tomato paste, yellow mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, garlic powder, breadcrumbs, pepper, and salt. Mix well to combine all of the ingredients. Shape the meat mixture into four oval-shaped patties.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat for about a minute, then add the butter. Place the meat patties in the skillet and cook them for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until they’re well-browned. Remove the patties from the skillet and set them aside.
3. Prepare the gravy: add the chopped onions to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook the onions until they are translucent and caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of flour over the caramelized onions and stir to coat. (Use 2 tablespoons of flour if you like your gravy on the thinner side, or 3 tablespoons of flour for a thicker gravy). Cook the flour-coated onions for another minute, until the flour starts to smell toasty. Add the dried thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Gradually stir in the beef broth and soy sauce and raise the heat back to medium.
4. Add the seared patties back to the skillet. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook the patties for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until they’re cooked through. Taste the gravy for seasoning (it will thicken more as it cools). Remove the Salisbury steaks from the heat and serve them warm.