Beef · Medium

Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Juicy beef meatballs finished in a savory mushroom-and-onion Salisbury-style gravy, ideal with mashed potatoes or noodles.

Published

⏱ 50 min🍽 5 servings🔥 520 cal
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Salisbury Steak Meatballs

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 1/2 cups beef broth

Instructions

Follow each step in order. The directions below are written so a beginner can understand what to do, what to look for, and when to move on to the next step.

  1. Step 1.Place the beef, panko, egg, Worcestershire, Dijon, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and fold together gently until the seasonings are distributed without compacting the meat.
  2. Step 2.Shape the mixture into roughly 20 evenly sized meatballs, rolling them lightly between your palms so they hold together while remaining as loose and tender as possible.
  3. Step 3.Heat the oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat and brown the meatballs in batches, turning carefully until several sides are well colored, then transfer them to a plate.
  4. Step 4.Lower the heat to medium, add the sliced onion and mushrooms to the same skillet, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until their moisture cooks away and the edges begin to brown.
  5. Step 5.Melt the butter among the vegetables, sprinkle the flour evenly over the pan, and stir continuously for about 1 minute to create the base for a smooth brown gravy.
  6. Step 6.Slowly add the beef broth while stirring and scraping the skillet bottom, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook until the gravy begins to coat the back of a spoon.
  7. Step 7.Return all browned meatballs and their juices to the skillet, turn them gently in the gravy, and reduce the heat to maintain a quiet simmer without breaking the meatballs apart.
  8. Step 8.Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring carefully once or twice, until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F and are cooked through.
  9. Step 9.Uncover and adjust the gravy consistency with a short simmer or a splash of broth, then taste and correct the salt, pepper, Worcestershire, or mustard as needed.
  10. Step 10.Spoon the Salisbury steak meatballs and mushroom gravy over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice and serve immediately while the gravy is glossy and hot.

HELPFUL NOTES

Tips, Substitutions & Storage

Extra guidance to help you get a reliable result, avoid common problems, and know what to do with leftovers.

✓ Recipe Tips

  • Keep meatballs uniform so they finish cooking together.
  • Brown in batches to avoid steaming.
  • Turn the meatballs gently once they are in the gravy.

! Common Mistakes

  • Packing the meat too tightly makes meatballs firm.
  • Adding all meatballs to a small skillet prevents browning.
  • Boiling the gravy hard can break delicate meatballs.

↔ Substitutions

  • Use button mushrooms for cremini mushrooms.
  • Use seasoned breadcrumbs instead of panko and reduce added salt.
  • Serve with rice instead of mashed potatoes or noodles.

⌂ Storage & Reheating

  • Refrigerate meatballs in their gravy for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat covered over low heat until hot throughout.
  • Thin the gravy with broth during reheating if necessary.