This slow cooker salisbury steak recipe is made with tender beef patties topped with mushroom gravy. Classic crock pot comfort food that’s super simple to make!

Comfort food has never been easier with salisbury steak in the slow cooker. This hearty dinner is full of rich flavors that the whole family will love. Serve it over cream cheese mashed potatoes with a side of sauteed asparagus and watch the rave reviews come in.

Slow cooker salisbury steak with mushroom, gravy and onions.

I am all about my slow cooker in the cold weather months, especially on busy weeknights when many days we don’t get home from school and activities until dinner time. I often make dishes like slow cooker beef bourguignon and slow cooker sloppy joes. Who wants to start preparing a big meal after a long day? Not me! This slow cooker salisbury steak is the perfect crowd pleasing meal that’s waiting for you at dinner time. This is a classic recipe with a few simple ingredients that never goes out of style!

crock pot salisbury steak ingredients

To make this recipe, you’ll need olive oil, ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, mushrooms, onions, gravy, beef broth, cornstarch, water and parsley.

How do you make slow cooker salisbury steak?

The first step to making salisbury steak is to form the patties. The patties are seasoned with spices and mixed with breadcrumbs. The salisbury steaks do need to be browned before they hit the slow cooker. I typically just brown them in the morning while I’m making breakfast for the family and then I’m good to go. Or, if you have a multi-cooker, you can use the “sauté” function.

The salisbury steaks are placed in the slow cooker along with mushrooms, onions and prepared beef gravy. Let everything cook together, then remove the beef patties and add some cornstarch to the sauce. The sauce will cook for a few more minutes to thicken. Pour the sauce over the patties, then add parsley and serve.

Hamburger patties browned in a skillet.

Tips for the perfect dish

  • When you add the gravy and a little beef broth to the slow cooker, it might seem like there’s not enough liquid in the pot. Don’t worry, the meat and vegetables will also release liquids as they cook.
  • I use 90% lean ground beef for this recipe, I wouldn’t recommend going any leaner than that as your patties might come out dry.
  • To save time in the morning, you can prepare the meat mixture and brown the patties the night before.

I use pre-packaged beef gravy because it saves a ton of time and adds a lot of flavor. I typically choose the carton of beef gravy in the spice aisle made by McCormick.

A crock pot with hamburger patties, cooked mushrooms and gravy.

recipe faqs

Can you put raw ground beef in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can put raw ground beef in the slow cooker. That being said, I don’t recommend it for this recipe. If you put the patties in the crock pot without searing them first, they will all stick together as they cook. In addition, searing adds a lot of extra flavor as well as a golden brown crust.

What cut of meat is salisbury steak?

Salisbury steak is not actually steak, in fact, it’s a term for ground beef patties. The patties are typically mixed with breadcrumbs, milk, eggs and seasonings before they are cooked.

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Slow cooker salisbury steak with mushroom gravy over mashed potatoes.

Slow cooker salisbury steak flavor variations

This recipe is great as-is, but you can also customize the flavors to suit your tastes.

  • Protein: While not traditional, you can make this recipe using ground turkey, and substitute turkey gravy for the beef gravy.
  • Seasonings: Amp up the flavor of your patties with additions such as finely minced onion, Italian seasoning, worcestershire sauce or paprika. For a creamier sauce, try using a can of low sodium cream of mushroom soup in addition to the gravy.
  • Vegetables: Feel free to add more veggies to the pot such as carrots and potatoes.
A crock pot full of slow cooker salisbury steak.

My favorite way to serve this slow cooker salisbury steak is over mashed potatoes, but rice or egg noodles would also be great side dishes. However you serve it, this dish is sure to get rave reviews from your family, my children request it weekly!

Other recipes you’ll love

5 from 28 votes

Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak

AuthorSara Welch
Slow cooker salisbury steak with mushroom gravy and onions.
This slow cooker salisbury steak recipe is made with tender beef patties topped with mushroom gravy. Classic comfort food that’s super simple to make!
Time
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 10 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine American
Serves 6

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
  • 1 small onion sliced
  • 12 ounce container beef gravy
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, garlic powder, onion powder salt  and pepper. Mix thoroughly then shape into 6 patties.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the patties in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
  • Place the mushrooms and onion in the bottom of a slow cooker. Add the patties on top.
  • Pour the gravy and beef broth into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.
  • Remove the patties from the slow cooker and place on a plate. Cover to keep warm. 
  • Combine the cornstarch with the water and pour into the slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 3-5 minutes until sauce is thickened. Spoon the sauce over the patties. Top with parsley and serve.

Notes

  1. I use 90% lean ground beef for this recipe, I wouldn’t recommend going any leaner than that as your patties might come out dry.
  2. To save time in the morning, you can prepare the meat mixture and brown the patties the night before.

Nutrition

Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 540mg | Potassium: 535mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 3.8mg

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Comments

  1. Looks like a delicious and comforting recipe for a cozy night in! I can’t wait to try it out and savor those juicy and flavorful patties. Can we use homemade breadcrumbs instead of panko breadcrumbs?

  2. I cant wait to try this dish. Thanks for this amazing and flavorful recipe. I am drooling with the looks of this yummy Bowl presentation.

  3. 5 stars
    Love how easy this recipe is. Can’t wait to try it this weekend.thank you for the recipe!