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Lunch Dinner One Pot Beef Meatballs
4.6 from 401 votes

Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •12/19/22 302 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for salisbury steak meatballs.

Coated in a rich brown gravy with little bits of onion and then topped with fresh chopped parsley, these delicious Salisbury Steak Meatballs are the ultimate classic comfort food. It’s a super easy 2-step recipe that your whole family will love!

salisbury steak meatballs with gravy in a skillet garnished with parsley.
Table of Contents Open
  • Easy Salisbury Steak Meatballs Recipe
  • Why We Love These Salisbury Steak Meatballs
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
    • Meatballs
    • Gravy
  • How To Make Salisbury Steak Meatballs
    • Form The Meatballs
    • Fry The Meatballs
    • Or Air Fry Them
    • Make The Gravy
    • Finish And Serve
  • What Is Salisbury Steak
  • Other Cooking Options
    • Oven
    • Slow cooker
    • Pressure cooker
  • Expert Tips
  • Storing leftovers
    • Meatballs
    • Gravy
  • Other Delicious Meatball Recipes To Try
  • Salisbury Steak Meatballs
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

Easy Salisbury Steak Meatballs Recipe

For this recipe, I took the classic American Salisbury Steak and turned it into super tasty meatballs! Truth be told, I love making meatballs. In fact, I sort of consider myself a meatball expert. Being from Romania, whether we are talking about my all-time favorite Romanian Meatballs, Italian Meatballs, or Indonesian Meatballs, I enjoy them all! 

So for these Salisbury Steak Meatballs, it was a no-brainer for me to turn hamburger steaks into little bite-size balls of deliciousness! Basically, it’s just a difference in how you form the ground meat. I did make a few changes to the meatball gravy like not adding mushrooms, but you can actually modify the gravy any way you like. That’s part of the beauty of cooking. 

This recipe makes a great main dish when paired with traditional mashed potatoes and green beans. But is also a fantastic party appetizer or filling for a simple meatball sub!

salisbury steak meatballs over a bed of mashed potatoes garnished with parsley.

Why We Love These Salisbury Steak Meatballs

  • Quick And Easy! These homemade meatballs are made using basic pantry ingredients, can be cooked in a variety of ways, and make a wholesome 40-minute meal.
  • Salisbury Steak Bites! Slathered in rich brown gravy these bite-size salisbury steak meatballs are absolutely delicious like little works of edible art.
  • Versatile Dish! Meatballs make a great main course when served with your favorite sides. But they can also be served as an appetizer or be taken to a potluck.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Meatballs

ingredients needed to make salisbury steak meatballs.
  • Beef – We want lean ground beef for this salisbury steak meatball recipe.
  • Breadcrumbs – I used Panko but you can substitute it for any breadcrumbs you have on hand.
  • Egg – The binder in our meatballs. If you’re egg free you can use ¼ cup of ricotta per egg.
  • Condiments – Ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and coarse grain mustard.
  • Seasoning – We’re using seasoning salt and pepper today, regular salt can be used.
  • Spices – Onion powder for a bit of onion taste.
  • Olive oil – To fry our meatballs. Neutral vegetable oil can also be used.

Gravy

ingredients needed to make gravy for salisbury steak meatballs.
  • Butter – Unsalted as we want to control the sodium in our dish.
  • Onion – An onion that cooks down well such as white or yellow should be used.
  • Condiments – Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Broth – I used beef broth today but feel free to substitute with chicken or vegetable broth. Look for no sodium or low sodium.
  • Cornstarch or Flour – This will thicken up our gravy for our salisbury steak meatballs.
  • Seasoning – Seasoning salt or regular salt.
  • Parsley – A little bit of fresh parsley for garnish.

How To Make Salisbury Steak Meatballs

This recipe is broken down into 2 simple steps. First, you need to cook up some salisbury meatballs and then make a gravy in the same skillet. The entire process takes just about 40 minutes and the results are absolutely delicious. 

Form The Meatballs

process shots showing how to make meat mixture for salisbury steak meatballs.

To begin, add the ground beef along with all the other meatball ingredients to a large bowl and mix them together well using your hands. Yes, your hands! They are the best tool you’ve got when it comes to making any type of meatballs. Then form the meat mixture into about 30 small meatballs that are each 1-inch in diameter. Yet, they don’t need to be perfect. However, to make them all the same size, I usually use a small cookie scoop to scoop up meat mixture.

Also, if you are having trouble shaping your meatballs. They may be too wet or too dry to hold together. It’s likely an issue with the amount of egg or breadcrumbs that were used to bind the meat together. But it’s easy to fix, so don’t worry. If the meatballs are too wet just add a little more of the breadcrumbs and if they are too dry add a little more egg. 

However, when adding more egg, I suggest that you whisk an egg in a small bowl and then add a little at a time to the meat mixture until the meatballs begin holding their shape. If you just toss in another whole egg you may find yourself with a mixture that is now too wet!

Fry The Meatballs

process shots showing how to fry salisbury steak meatballs.

With the meatballs formed it’s time to get them cooking! Heat the olive oil over medium to high heat in a large skillet. Now, add the meatballs to the pan in a single layer and cook them for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. And unless your pan is huge, you will likely need to do this in a couple of batches to brown them properly. Then once the meatballs are fully cooked, transfer them from the skillet to a plate, and set them aside for a later step.

Or Air Fry Them

process shots showing how to air fry salisbury steak meatballs.

To be honest, I prefer air frying my meatballs, they come out perfect every single time, plus you don’t have to worry about them crumbling up as they cook. To air fry them, all you have to do is place the meatballs in the air fryer basket and cook them for about 15 minutes at 380°F.

Make The Gravy

process shots showing how to saute onion in a skillet.

Now that the meatballs are made, you will make the gravy in the same skillet using all those yummy drippings. Start by melting the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Next, add the onions and cook them for about 2 minutes until they are both soft and translucent. 

process shots showing how to make gravy for salisbury steak meatballs.

Sprinkle the flour over the onion and stir. You’ll want to cook this for about a minute to remove the raw flour taste. Pour the beef broth in the skillet along with the remaining gravy ingredients and simmer for about 3 to 5 minutes while constantly stirring with the whisk until it thickens up. However, if it gets too thick just add a little more broth and if it seems too thin just let it cook a few more minutes to reduce more. Then taste the finished gravy and season with salt and pepper to your liking. 

Finish And Serve

process shots showing how to finish making salisbury steak meatballs.

You’ve got your cooked meatballs, you’ve got your gravy, and now it’s time to marry the two. Put the meatballs back into the skillet with the gravy and toss them around until they are fully coated. 

Finally, garnish the Salisbury steak meatballs with some fresh chopped parsley and serve them with your favorite side such as Mashed Potatoes, between bread, or as an appetizer!

What Is Salisbury Steak

Salisbury steak is a ‘steak’ made from ground beef and served with a gravy or brown sauce. It’s amazing what you get when you mix some ground beef with some delicious condiments! So essentially it’s shaped to resemble a steak and it’s usually served atop mashed potatoes or noodles. It’s not the most glamorous dish but I think I’ve turned this American dish into a work of edible art!

salisbury steak meatballs with gravy in a skillet garnished with parsley.

Other Cooking Options

Oven

Besides frying or air frying, you could also bake the meatballs. I bake meatballs all the time and they turn out great. To bake them, coat a baking sheet with cooking spray, or use a baking rack. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes until golden brown.

Slow cooker

Make your gravy first, then the meatballs. Hold onto some cut onions and use those to line the bottom of your slow cooker. Place the meatballs on top and pour the gravy over top. Cook on LOW for 3 – 4 hours before serving over mashed potatoes.

Pressure cooker

Brown the meatballs with butter on the sauté setting. Remove the meatballs once browned and deglaze your pressure cooker with the beef broth. Add the rest of your gravy ingredients (save the flour or cornstarch) and place the meatballs back in. Cook on manual HIGH for 4 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally, should take around 10 minutes before removing the lid. Add the cornstarch slurry or flour to thicken the sauce and serve over mashed potatoes.

salisbury steak meatballs over a bed of mashed potatoes garnished with parsley.

Expert Tips

  1. To prevent your meatballs from crumbling and falling apart, do not overcrowd your meatballs while frying them. Leave about ½ inch of space in between. It’s best to do it in a couple batches.
  2. If you still have crumbling issues, it could be an issue with the binders. So either not enough egg or too much breadcrumbs. If your eggs are too small, add another egg, that should help bind the meatballs better.

Storing leftovers

Meatballs

They can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 – 4 days or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Gravy

Gravy will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days and in the freezer for up 3 months. pull the gravy from the freezer the day before you’d like to use it to allow it to thaw fully before reheating on the stove.

salisbury steak meatballs with gravy in a skillet garnished with parsley.

Other Delicious Meatball Recipes To Try

  • Chimichurri Meatballs
  • Sweet and Spicy Korean Meatballs
  • Dutch Meatballs
  • Stout Meatballs with BBQ Sauce
  • Swedish Meatballs
  • Porcupine Meatballs

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

salisbury steak meatballs with gravy in a skillet garnished with parsley.
Print
4.59 from 401 votes

Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Prep 30 minutes
Cook 1 hour
Total 1 hour 30 minutes
Rate Recipe
Coated in a rich brown gravy with little bits of onion and then topped with fresh chopped parsley, these delicious Salisbury Steak Meatballs are the ultimate classic comfort food. It’s a super easy 2-step recipe that your whole family will love!
8

Ingredients

For Meatballs

  • 1½ pound ground beef (lean)
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup mustard (coarse grain )
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)

For Gravy

  • 2 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or cornstarch)
  • 1 cup beef broth (or chicken broth, low sodium or no sodium added)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon seasoning salt
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Add all the meatball ingredients (excluding the olive oil) to a large bowl and mix well, use your hands. Shape into 1 inch meatballs. You should get about 30 meatballs.
  • Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium to high heat. Add meatballs and cook. If you're using a large skillet all meatballs should fit in one batch otherwise, you might have to fry them in a couple batches. Cook the meatballs on all sides, add more oil if needed. Remove meatballs from skillet and set aside.
  • To the same skillet add butter and melt. Add onion and cook until onion is soft and translucent.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the onion and stir. Cook for about 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste. (If using cornstarch make a slurry with equal amounts water and cornstarch) Add broth and remaining gravy ingredients to skillet, and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, sauce should thicken. If the sauce is too thick add a bit more beef broth. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary.
  • When the gravy is done add the meatballs back to the skillet and toss them around so they're covered in the gravy. Garnish with parsley.

Equipment

  • 12″ AllClad Stainless Skillet

Video

Notes

  1. To prevent your meatballs from crumbling and falling apart, do not overcrowd your meatballs while cooking them. Leave about ½ inch of space in between. It’s best to do it in a couple batches. It can also be an issue with the binding, so either not enough egg or too much breadcrumbs, if your eggs are too small, add another egg, that should help bind the meatballs better.
  2. They can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 – 4 days or up to 3 months in the freezer.
  3. Gravy will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days and in the freezer for up 3 months. pull the gravy from the freezer the day before you’d like to use it to allow it to thaw fully before reheating on the stove.
  4. Recipe originally shared June, 2015.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 275kcal (14%)Carbohydrates: 12g (4%)Protein: 20g (40%)Fat: 16g (25%)Saturated Fat: 6g (38%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 83mg (28%)Sodium: 832mg (36%)Potassium: 463mg (13%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 4g (4%)Vitamin A: 217IU (4%)Vitamin C: 3mg (4%)Calcium: 44mg (4%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

salisbury steak meatballs with gravy in a skillet garnished with parsley.

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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302 Comments
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Amy Levasseur
Amy Levasseur
Posted: 3 days ago

5 stars
My family loves this dish.

0
Reply
Erika
Erika
Posted: 10 days ago

5 stars
I made this recipe twice! Its delicious!!! I added mushrooms for fun and used a little mccormick steak seasoning to season the gravy a little more! but yum yum yum!!!

0
Reply
Michelle
Michelle
Posted: 13 days ago

5 stars
Everyone really liked this recipe. The only thing I had a problem with is that my gravy seemed a little thick so I think the next time I make it I will add a little more beef broth.

0
Reply
Shadows
Shadows
Posted: 19 days ago

5 stars
This is a fantastic dish. I’ve developed a love of cooking over the last two years, I cook something new just about every night.

I have saved 25 recipes to an app, and this is the only one I’ve made 4 times.

Magic. Wouldn’t change a thing everyone I’ve made it for loves it.

0
Reply
Mandy Kerrigan
Mandy Kerrigan
Posted: 1 month ago

I have just added this to my recipe book. Looking forward to trying it as it sounds delicious.

0
Reply
Mrs Paul
Mrs Paul
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
This is permanently in my recipe box. It’s phenomenal as is and in my monthly rotation. Probably the most requested meal of all time in our house! So much that my now 18 year old daughter has asked for the recipe. Thank you for many years worth of great family meals.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Mrs Paul
Posted: 1 month ago

My pleasure, so happy to hear you’re enjoying my recipes. 🙂

0
Reply
Laurence Smith
Laurence Smith
Reply to  Mrs Paul
Posted: 1 month ago

Would like to make that

0
Reply
Christie
Christie
Posted: 1 month ago

Has anyone made this for tweens/teens??

0
Reply
Ava Feronti
Ava Feronti
Posted: 3 months ago

5 stars
Even better than I expected! These meatballs turned out tender and tasty! I’ve added the recipe to my own personal cookbook, and have shared it with friends.

1
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Ava Feronti
Posted: 3 months ago

So glad you liked it!

0
Reply
Tillie
Tillie
Posted: 4 months ago

5 stars
Excellent recipe! I added 1/2 c. of red wine to the broth and my hubby thoroughly enjoyed this dish. We had the leftovers tonight and it was still amazing!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Tillie
Posted: 4 months ago

So glad you guys liked the meatballs!

0
Reply
Tillie
Tillie
Posted: 4 months ago

5 stars
Excellent recipe! I added 1/4 c. of red wine with the broth-delicious! Meatballs were so moist and flavorful!

1
Reply
Mama K
Mama K
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
We loved this! Since we’d just had meatballs for spaghetti, I made these into traditional patties and baked them. I doubled the gravy so that we’d have plenty, but I’ll be making more to go with our leftovers tomorrow night. It was delicious!

My husband has requested that I add this to our regular meal rotation. I’m happy to oblige!

1
Reply
Amy
Amy
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
This was definitely tasty! My husband went back for seconds, and the kids ate it too…win! I’m going to try to prep it as a freezer meal next. Thanks!

0
Reply
Jon Senger
Jon Senger
Posted: 1 year ago

Great easy to follow recipe. You can always grow and add extras into it. Tonight I sauteed some thick sliced button mushrooms along with my onions while making the pan sauce. Little pointer that I learned from my German Grandmother many years ago is to save a bit of your boiled salted potatoe water and when my onions are nice and brown I use the starchy potatoe water to deglaze my pan and this evening my gravy was soo rich and robust I didnt even need to use the beef base. Thanks for the nuts and bolts!!!!

0
Reply
Crystal
Crystal
Reply to  Jon Senger
Posted: 2 months ago

I am so looking forward to making this tonight. Could you form the meatballs ahead of time and then cook them later?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Crystal
Posted: 1 month ago

Absolutely!

0
Reply
Kristen Butler
Kristen Butler
Posted: 1 year ago

This recipe is by far the best Salisbury steak recipe I’ve ever made!! Knocks any others I’ve tried out of the park.

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Kristen Butler
Posted: 1 year ago

Yay! We are so happy you like it 🙂

0
Reply
Susan Harmon Becker
Susan Harmon Becker
Posted: 2 years ago

Hi Jo, I made these meatballs and gravy over noodles last night for my son and 3 teenage grandkids. Everyone loved it! I especially enjoyed them, the sauce had such a natural sweetness to it-surprised me. I used 1/2 pound of pork in the meat mix. Really a good go to recipe for a quick meal. Added a salad and homemade cornbread to round things off. Thank you for all your work.

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Susan Harmon Becker
Posted: 2 years ago

So glad you liked it!

0
Reply

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Hey there!

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
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