The recipe is quick, easy, and economical as it can be all made from scratch or you can adapt it by using store-bought ingredients just check out my tips and suggestions.
We love the homemade version, the meat mixture is basic pantry ingredients and the vintage easiest beef gravy recipe is super easy to make using beef broth and not complicated at all.
Of course for those who prefer not to use a wine you can just omit that and add a little more beef broth to thin the gravy no worries.
As a child, I thought the meatballs were a fun way to serve these and they were super delicious over roasted garlic mashed potatoes but Salisbury steak is usually in pattie form so you can choose what shape you like.
If you love ground beef recipes you can also try Mom's Goulash Recipe and Italian Meatball Stew, they are both delicious recipes and vintage from the 1940s like this recipe below.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for this easy recipe for Salisbury steak and the easiest beef gravy you will ever make it's so delicious!
Quick and Easy Or Made from Scratch
This meal can be made super simple by using all store-bought.
It's an inexpensive meal, easy to make, and with just a few pantry ingredients you have a hearty meal on the table.
Mom always made this in the colder months and we all enjoyed her homemade gravy recipe below with Grandma's homemade pasta noodles.
Sometimes she would make garlic mashed potatoes which were another favorite.
Ingredients You Will Need(scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements)
- mushrooms sliced ( I use fresh)ground beef, sirloin, or chuck, ground turkey or ground chicken
- beef gravy homemade recipe below or store-bought
- Marsala Wine
- butter
- salt pepper to taste
- freshly chopped fresh garlic
- parsley
- granulated garlic powder
- Worcestershire sauce
- eggs
- Italian bread soaked in water or milk and squeezed out
- Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- Pecorino Romano cheese
- olive oil
- Optional: chopped fine onion ( my family doesn't like onions so I don't use them)
Tips and Suggestions
- for a quick meal use frozen meatballs, jarred gravy, jarred garlic, and beef broth, and the rest of the ingredients in the recipe that are fresh can be jarred
- serve over store-bought premade garlic mashed potatoes, frozen vegetables
- if using the air fryer saves any drippings for the skillet or oven casserole for extra flavor leftovers can be used in sandwiches over garlic bread
Other Cooking Methods
- stovetop: using a skillet saute' the meat in a large deep pan, add garlic, gravy simmer
- oven: use a greased casserole to bake the meatballs or patties in, drain some of the fat add the rest of the ingredients, and bake for around 25 minutes
- instant pot: sear the meat on both sides add 1 cup of beef broth, 1/4 cup marsala wine with gravy, and the rest of the ingredients place on pressure cooker mode for 35 minutes
- slow cooker: brown the meat on the stovetop or air fryer first then add to the slow cooker all the ingredients, set on high for 3 to 4 hours
- air fryer: just for meat add to an oil-sprayed pan and cook the meatballs or patties for 17 minutes
Serving Suggestions
- pasta
- rice
- mashed potatoes with gravy
- corn on the cob
- over Italian hard-crusted bread
- over polenta
Mom's Salisbury Steak Marsala Pin for later
One Pan Recipe
Just remember this can be done several ways for cooking methods all in one pan in the oven or stovetop, the air fryer can be used to cook the meat for using less fat.
If you're in a hurry feel free to substitute any of the ingredients in the recipe, the meal can be on your tables in less than 20 minutes.
Did I mention leftovers were great in toasted garlic bread? Don't miss trying that idea either.
Mom's Salisbury Steak Marsala
Yield: 6
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 35 MinTotal time: 50 Min
Here is a recipe for Mom's Salisbury Steak Marsala or Meatballs using a homemade gravy with Marsala wine and terrific over pasta or mash potatoes. This is an old-fashioned 1940s version.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced ( I use fresh)
- 1 pound of ground beef, sirloin, or chuck (note this recipe can also be done with ground turkey or ground chicken
- Beef Gravy homemade recipe below or 1 -16 ounce jar store-bought beef gravy
- 1/2 cup Marsala Wine or more if you like
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Salt pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 - 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce or more to taste
- 4 cloves finely minced garlic
- 2 eggs
- 2 pieces of Italian bread soaked in water or milk and squeezed out
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs mixed with 3 tablespoons Pecorino Romano cheese
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Optional: 2 tablespoons chopped fine onion ( my family doesn't like onions so I don't use them)
- Note: if you like spicy add around 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the meat
Instructions
- In a medium bowl mix the ground beef, squeezed-out bread, egg, salt, pepper, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce then the cheese and bread crumbs, mix until well incorporated.
- Shape into burgers or meatballs.
- In a large skillet (or if using another cooking method add to that pan), saute' the meat in olive oil until browned on both sides around 12 minutes.
- Note: we like our meat crispy on the outside.
- These can also be air-fried for 16 minutes on an oil-sprayed baking dish or baked at 400 degrees for around 35 minutes in a casserole baking pan.
- Using the pan you cooked the meat in, melt the butter add the mushrooms, and granulated garlic, and cook until mushrooms smell fragrant with around 4 minutes of stirring.
- Add the gravy, and marsala wine, and simmer on low until the meat is completely cooked around 8 to 10 more minutes.
- Serve with rice, Italian bread, any kind of pasta, or over garlic mashed potatoes.
- The Easiest and Best Ever Homemade Beef Gravy 1940s Style:
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth (or if you have made a Beef Roast use the drippings plus the broth to make the measurement)
- 1/2 cup Marsala Wine or just use all beef broth
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add flour and whisk until smooth.
- Slowly whisk in the broth, salt, and pepper; continue stirring until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens.
- Add the marsala wine and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes.
- Other Cooking Methods:
- stovetop: using a skillet saute' the meat in a large deep pan, add garlic, gravy simmer
- oven: use a greased casserole to bake the meatballs or patties in, drain some of the fat add the rest of the ingredients, and bake for around 25 minutes
- instant pot: sear the meat on both sides add 1 cup of beef broth, 1/4 cup marsala wine with gravy, and the rest of the ingredients place on pressure cooker mode for 35 minutes
- slow cooker: brown the meat on the stovetop or air fryer first then add to the slow cooker all the ingredients, set on high for 3 to 4 hours
- air fryer: for cooking the meat only: add to an oil-sprayed pan and cook the meatballs or patties for 17 minutes, then proceed with stovetop or oven methods
Calories
883.86Fat (grams)
66.33Sat. Fat (grams)
29.81Carbs (grams)
23.62Fiber (grams)
1.44Net carbs
22.19Sugar (grams)
2.58Protein (grams)
45.35Sodium (milligrams)
1508.39Cholesterol (grams)
296.46Mom's Salisbury Steak Marsala Pin for later
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Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2017. It was edited and re-published in 2021.
