Salisbury Steak
Biweekly

Salisbury Steak

45 min
Serves 9
beefgravycomfort food

Breadcrumb-bound beef patties dredged and seared, finished in a pan sauce of beef broth, ketchup, Worcestershire, and soy sauce thickened with a cornstarch slurry. Served TV dinner style with mashed potatoes, corn, and brownies.

The Story

Salisbury steak is TV dinner food elevated into something worth making from scratch. The concept is simple — seasoned beef patties, pan-seared, finished in a savory sauce — but the execution is what separates a good one from a forgettable one. The double breadcrumb move is the key: breadcrumbs go into the meat mixture to bind it and keep it tender, and then the shaped patties get dredged in a second coat of breadcrumbs before they hit the pan. That outer crust gives you color and texture and something for the sauce to cling to. The sauce itself is built in the same pan after the patties come off — deglaze with beef broth to lift the fond, add the remaining broth, ketchup, Worcestershire, and soy sauce, and thicken with a cornstarch slurry. Serve it the only right way: mashed potatoes, corn, and brownies on the side. TV dinner style.

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Oven @ 375°F (if finishing patties)

Ingredients

  • 3 lbsground beef
  • 1/2 cupItalian-style breadcrumbs (for meat mixture)
  • 1egg
  • 1/2 cupItalian-style breadcrumbs (for dredging)
  • 3 tbspbutter
  • 1 pkgsliced mushrooms
  • 1 tbspvegetable oil
  • 3 cupsbeef broth
  • 1 tbspketchup
  • 1 tbspWorcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbspsoy sauce
  • 1 tbspcornstarch
  • 1 tbspcold water

Pudgy's Notes

Two rounds of breadcrumbs: one in the mix for tenderness, one on the outside for crust. Don't skip the dredge — it's what gives the patties color and something for the sauce to hold onto. The cornstarch slurry must be mixed with cold water before it goes into the hot sauce; adding dry cornstarch directly causes lumps. Add the slurry gradually and let it simmer for a minute before deciding if you need more.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Combine ground beef, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, and egg in a large mixing bowl. Mix until just combined, about 5 minutes.

  2. 2

    Shape the mixture into oval patties, about 10 minutes.

  3. 3

    Spread the remaining 1/2 cup breadcrumbs in a casserole dish. Dredge the top and bottom of each patty in the breadcrumbs.

  4. 4

    Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.

  5. 5

    Add vegetable oil to the same skillet and preheat over medium-high to high heat, about 2 minutes. Place the dredged patties directly in the pan.

  6. 6

    Cook each side 2–3 minutes until the desired color is achieved, about 6 minutes total. If the patties need more time to reach an internal temperature of 140°F, finish them in a 375°F oven for up to 5 minutes.

  7. 7

    Pull the patties off the heat and let them rest, about 5 minutes.

  8. 8

    Deglaze the pan with a splash of beef broth, scraping up the fond. Add the remaining beef broth and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Season to taste. Simmer about 20 minutes total to develop the sauce.

  9. 9

    Stir the cornstarch and cold water together until a smooth slurry forms. Stir into the simmering sauce to thicken. Repeat if needed to reach the desired consistency.

  10. 10

    Return the mushrooms to the sauce. Serve the patties with sauce spooned over, alongside mashed potatoes, corn, and brownies — TV dinner style.

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