For those who love traditional ground beef recipes, these hamburger steaks with gravy are sure to leave a lasting impression. Hamburger steak is the definition of cozy, homestyle comfort food. If you’re searching high and low for dinner ideas that incorporate Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, you’ve come to the right place!
Juicy beef patties are seasoned and pan-seared and then simmered in a rich mushroom gravy that will keep your tastebuds engaged with every bite. It’s the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug while remaining simple, hearty, and satisfying. If you want to plan meals in advance or if you’re hosting a weekend dinner with family and friends, this is one of the best dinner recipes to save and hold onto. While it’s not fancy, it doesn’t need to be. This is old-school comfort when done right. Each bite delivers that “feeling of home” that never goes out of style.
Whether you’re planning a meal for your entire family or if you want to meal prep with healthy hamburger steak throughout the week, this recipe is a keeper. You can turn to this recipe whether you’re serving it solo or alongside deliciously roasted veggies or a crisp green salad.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy: This recipe is easy and simple to follow. Even if you’re a newbie in the kitchen, you can easily pull this recipe off by following the simple instructions.
Hearty and comforting: This meal is especially appealing to those who are seeking a homestyle, comforting dish. You can pair it with homemade mashed potatoes for an even more decadent touch.
Family-friendly: Your kids will love this recipe, too! You can omit particular ingredients as needed or serve the beef plain, depending on your household’s preferences.
Staple ingredients: Best of all, you can likely find plenty of the called-for ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator. This makes this recipe great for a weekly rotation menu.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Ground beef: We highly recommend using ground beef when creating a Salisbury steak dish. Salisbury is made with various seasonings and breadcrumbs, whereas traditional burger patties are not packed with crumbs.
Mushrooms: You can use any type of mushroom you prefer. However, for this dish specifically, I highly recommend using white button mushrooms. Canned mushrooms may also be used. Just keep in mind, canned mushrooms are a bit softer and soggier in texture and can add salt to the dish.
Worcestershire sauce: You can swap this sauce for a bit of soy sauce if you don’t have it available or if you’re not a fan of the taste it provides.
Onion: If you have picky eaters in the home or if you’re not a fan of the texture of onions, you can omit them or replace the onion with minced onion or onion powder. This will depend on your household’s preferences.
Tips for Success
Use ground beef (80/20 or 90/10) for the best results possible. If you’re thinking of swapping the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken, it’s important to recognize that this will change the flavor of the Salisbury.
Use fresh mushrooms to reduce the salt in this dish. Canned mushrooms are a fine alternative, but you may require less salt if you choose to use them.
Storage & Reheating
You can store this dish in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days in airtight containers or fridge-friendly Ziploc bags. If you’re planning to save this dish even longer, you’ll want to freeze your Salisbury patties in airtight containers for up to 2-3 months.
Once you’re ready to reheat the hamburger steaks, you can do so by removing them from your fridge or freezer and allowing them to come close to room temperature. You can reheat refrigerated Salisbury hamburger steaks in the microwave for 2-4 minutes each. You can also pan-sear them once they’ve reached close to room temperature for 2-5 minutes each, or until they’re warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
One of the best aspects of this hamburger steak is that it can be served on its own or by pairing it with delicious sides. We highly recommend serving this dish over homemade mashed potatoes! You can also try serving it alongside baked potatoes on the grill! If you’re thinking something more healthy to serve with the Salisbury hamburger steak, consider roasted veggies (such as roasted cherry tomatoes) or roasted green beans and potatoes. Yum!
Notes
The type of ground beef (or meat alternative) you choose will matter. We recommend a standard 80/20 or 90/10 ground beef to make patties stick together when forming them and cooking them.
Hamburger Steaks with Gravy
Ingredients
For the Steaks:
- 1.5 lbs Ground Beef 85/15 lean ratio works best
- ½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs replaces standard crumbs for a more tender bite
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme adds a floral herb note
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- Salt and Cracked Black Pepper to taste
For the Sherry-Mushroom Gravy:
- 8 oz. Baby Bella Cremini Mushrooms, sliced
- 1 Small Shallot minced (replaces yellow onion for a more refined flavor)
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 2 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ cups Beef Bone Broth
- 2 Tbsp Dry Sherry optional; adds a sophisticated nutty depth
- Fresh Parsley chopped for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, panko, egg, Worcestershire, thyme, and spices. Gently mix by hand—over-working the meat makes the steaks tough. Shape into 4 to 6 oval patties, about ¾-inch thick.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a touch of oil. Sear the patties for 3–4 minutes per side until a deep brown crust forms. Remove them from the pan (they will finish cooking in the gravy later).
- In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the sliced mushrooms and shallots. Cook until the mushrooms have released their moisture and turned a rich golden brown.
- Pour in the dry sherry first, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any flavorful bits. Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and stir for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the beef bone broth until the liquid is smooth.
- Return the beef patties to the skillet, nesting them into the mushroom mixture. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. This allows the meat to absorb the gravy while the sauce thickens into a velvety consistency.
- Serve each steak over a generous mound of Creamy Mashed Potatoes, ladling the extra mushroom gravy over both. Top with fresh parsley.
