Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Meatballs don’t require pasta sauce or barbecue sauce to taste good. Our Salisbury steak meatball recipe serves them with gravy and sauteed onions resting atop a bed of egg noodles for a hearty and delicious dish. The best part is that it’s a super simple and speedy recipe since it begins with already-made meatballs and gravy from a jar. The entire dish takes about 20 minutes to whip up. Ta da! Dinner is served.

Ingredients for Salisbury Steak Meatballs

ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

• Butter: The butter in this recipe teams up with brown sugar to caramelize the onion.
•  Sweet onion: The onion adds flavor to the gravy. Cut the onion in half and then into thin slices for this recipe.
• Brown sugar: The brown sugar helps caramelize the onion.
• Beef gravy: Save time by using a gravy from a jar. If you prefer homemade, the gravy from this Salisbury steak recipe is even more wonderful.
• Cooked meatballs: Use fully cooked frozen homestyle meatballs for this recipe; thaw them out first.
• Egg noodles: Cook the egg noodles as directed and have them warm when the sauce is ready.
• Parsley (optional): Fresh parsley makes a lovely garnish for the dish. If you’re not a fan, no worries, just omit it.

Directions 

Step 1: Prepare the Salisbury steak meatballs

ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and brown sugar; cook and stir until the onion is tender, or about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the gravy and meatballs and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally, or about 4 to 6 minutes. Serve the Salisbury steak meatballs with noodles and, if desired, parsley.

ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

Recipe Variations

• Make your own meatballs: Homemade meatballs are delightful in this recipe, too. If you have extra homemade meatballs leftover from pasta night, this dish is also a nice way to use them.
• Add mushrooms: Drain a can of mushroom stems and pieces and add the mushroom bits to the gravy as you cook the dish. The mushrooms provide a lovely textural variation and more flavor.
• Swap meats: Use thawed pork or turkey meatballs in place of the beef meatballs for a slightly different flavor. Keeping the beef gravy will retain the Salisbury steak-style flavor but a turkey gravy may also be used.
• Add Worcestershire sauce: Add Worcestershire sauce to taste to the gravy to give it more flavor depth.
• Add mustard: Add a little prepared mustard or even a brown mustard to the gravy to give it just a hint of a kick and a tangy flavor boost.

How to Store Salisbury Steak Meatballs

When the meatballs and gravy cool, transfer them to an airtight storage container and place it in the refrigerator. The meatballs and gravy will keep for about four days.

Can you freeze Salisbury steak meatballs? 

Sure! Transfer the cooled meatballs and their gravy into freezer storage bags and press the excess air out before sealing. Store them in the freezer and they’ll keep for up to three months.

Salisbury Steak Meatballs Tips

ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

Why is it called Salisbury Steak?

Though the original dish is more like a hamburger patty and not steak at all, Salisbury steak is named after a Dr. James Henry Salisbury who extensively studied the effects of various foods on the diet. He recommended minced beef to treat some health issues in Civil War soldiers because he considered it a health food,. He later wrote a book about food and its effects on health and it became a bit of a sensation. The Salisbury diet became the first fad diet.

How else can I serve Salisbury steak meatballs?

Serve the meatballs with a side of mashed potatoes and more gravy, or over bread with more gravy for an open-faced Salisbury meatball sandwich. They’re also wonderful with healthier sides such as steamed broccoli and a light salad.

Could I make a vegan version?

Sure! Use plant-based frozen (and thawed) meatballs in place of the meaty variety, and swap the beef gravy for a vegetable gravy. Since egg noodles contain egg, use a different type of noodle, such as bowtie or farfalle pasta that has no eggs in it. Always check the ingredients label on the package as some brands differ. Many pasta noodles are naturally vegan.