Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Did someone say comfort food? Yes, please! This twist on traditional Salisbury Steak will quickly become a family favorite at your house.

Everyone loves rich Salisbury Steaks floating in a thick gravy, but if you are hoping to find ways to keep portions under control a little better, or if you are serving to kids, Salisbury Steak Meatballs are a great option.

This recipe looks very similar to traditional Salisbury Steak recipes, but the twist is that instead of making full-sized steak patties, you will form your beef into meatball-sized portions instead. Kids really love this smaller-sized serving, and it also works better if you plan to serve the meatballs over another dish. This main course works well when served over mashed potatoes, rice or other cooked grains.

One of the things we love about this recipe is that it is the perfect fit for cooks who are just now starting out but need some stellar dishes to build their confidence with. Becoming a great cook is all about confidence, and you just can’t build that confidence unless you have some recipes that are both simple and incredible. Beginner cooks will enjoy gathering the ingredients for this meal, prepping, and serving. When your guests are begging for seconds you will feel your confidence literally growing.

To ensure stellar meatballs for this recipe, be sure you are using high-quality beef. Ground chuck can also work well for this recipe and will help ensure that the meat doesn’t shrink too much.

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Why I love Salisbury Steak Meatballs?

• All the flavors of a classic Salisbury steak but in a meatball form.
• Easy prep.
• Tender and juicy meatballs made from scratch.
• Great for serving a crowd or just your family.
• Stick to your bones type of dish.

What is the difference between hamburger and Salisbury Steak?

Hamburger is just the type of meat that you can use for making a hamburger, or use in other recipes. Salisbury steaks are a seasoned ground beef mixture made with breadcrumbs, eggs, and more.

Why do you put egg in meatballs?

Eggs act as the binder when you make meatballs. It helps ingredients stick together but also helps create a delicious texture and richens the flavor of the meatballs.

Should meatballs be cooked before putting in sauce?

I do saute my meatballs in a skillet on the stovetop. This is going to help form the balls and prevent them from breaking apart as they cook. You will find that searing your meatballs also helps to create more dimensions of flavor.

Now some recipes do not cook the meatballs first, so just follow the recipe directions.

Is it better to fry or bake meatballs?

You will find pan frying or baking meatballs are going to provide a similar flavor and texture. Now sometimes baking in the oven can render a more tender meatball if it is cooked low and slow.

Where pan frying creates more of a crisper texture to the outside of the meatballs.

Why do my meatballs come out tough?

Pressing the meatballs too much and creating too firm of balls can create a dense and tough meatball. Or you will find that if you overcook the meatballs it as well can create a tougher texture.

How to serve Salisbury Steak Meatballs?

Serve these Salisbury steak meatballs over a bed of rice, egg noodles or even mashed potatoes. Or eat them with your favorite side dishes.

They are very delicious and will pair well with most side dishes. Even a potato salad would be a tasty pairing. Also, consider making dinner rolls to soak up any extra gravy on your plate.

Salisbury Steak Meatballs Cooking Tips:

• Don’t press the meatballs together too much or it can make the meatballs a bit dense or heavy.
• Make sure to use a cookie scoop to create even-sized meatballs so they all cook up at the same time.
• Stir the gravy often or it can become lumpy.
• Sear all sides of the meatball. I find tongs work great at gently rotating the meatballs around in the pan.

Variations:

• Do half ground beef and half ground sausage to change up the flavor a bit.
• Instead of breadcrumbs, you can use saltine crackers to act as the binder in the recipe.
• If you want you can bake the meatballs instead of pan frying. Just place an even layer in a casserole pan with space between each meatball. Or even consider air frying them.
• If you are not a fan of onions you can leave them out of the gravy recipe.

Ingredients:

• Lean Beef
• Oil
• Onions
• Large Egg
• Tomato Paste Divided
• Breadcrumbs
• Flour
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Mushrooms
• Mustard
• Beef Broth Divided
• Parsley For Garnish

How to make Salisbury Steak Meatballs:

Step 1. Add 1 tsp of the olive oil to a skillet over medium heat, and saute the onions until softened.

Step 2. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ½ the onions, 1 oz. of the chopped mushrooms, breadcrumbs, egg, 1 Tbsp of the tomato paste, ¼ cup of the broth and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3. Knead with your hands until well combined, and then form into 20 meatballs.

Step 4. In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the broth, the flour, worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, ground mustard, 1 Tbsp. tomato paste and the other half of the onions until well combined.

Step 5. Saute the meatballs over medium high heat in the remaining oil, searing both sides well.

Step 6. Reduce the heat to medium low and add in the mushrooms.

Step 7. Pour the sauce over the mixture in the skillet, cover and simmer for 5-6 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through, and the mushrooms are tender.

Serve warm!

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How to store Salisbury Steak Meatballs?

If you happen to have leftovers refrigerate or freeze any leftovers you may have. The meatballs will last 3-4 days in the fridge or 2-3 months in the freezer. Freeze with the gravy and then thaw in the fridge the night before you plan to reheat.

How to reheat Salisbury Steak Meatballs?

If you want to reheat quickly opt to warm them meatballs up in the microwave. Or you can warm them up in a skillet on the stovetop or even in the oven. If you opt for the oven cover with a lid or foil so the meatballs don’t dry out.

Can I make ahead Salisbury Steak Meatballs?

You are more than welcome to form the meatballs and keep them raw in the fridge up to 24 hours in advance. Then cook and serve the same.

Or you can fully make the steak meatballs and enjoy them by reheating as you wish. You can make them a day or two in advance. For the best texture and flavor it is best served warm.

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