Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
145 CommentsUpdated Feb 10, 2026
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Cooking Salisbury steak in the crock pot creates a tender dish that has plenty of onion and mushroom gravy. It goes great with mashed potatoes and is sure to become a family favorite.
We love classic recipes like this one in the slow cooker. We also make slow cooker tater tot casserole and hot roast beef sandwiches often.
Why this slow cooker salisbury steak recipe works
When you’re looking to switch things up from the traditional casserole dish, this classic recipe is one to try. It takes the guesswork out of what to put on the dinner table and thanks to the slow cooker, it’s a comfort food that doesn’t take much effort. If you don’t feel like making the hamburger patties, try my slow cooker cube steak recipe which has similar flavors.
Rich gravy is easily created from just a few ingredients while tender beef patties are first browned before being added into the crock pot. I love how this meal turns out and the flavors are delicious every time. The next time you’re looking for a new way to cook beef patties, try this version of crock pot hamburger steaks.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef – I suggest using lean ground beef with no more than 7% fat. Although they are precooked a bit, this will still prevent from lots of fat getting into the overall casserole dish.
- Crackers – Ritz or Saltines are fine to use in this salisbury steak recipe. This is the same crackers I use in my slow cooker meatloaf.
- Egg – This is used to help bind the beef mixture together.
- Milk – Just a bit of liquid to help keep the beef patties moist.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano are the perfect combination of seasonings for the Salisbury steaks.
- Vegetables – Every delicious recipe for hamburger steak has mushrooms and onions.
- Gravy – For a thick gravy I use cream of mushroom soup, gravy mix packets, and water (less than what the packages call for). I also add thyme for added flavor. Do not use beef broth for it will make the gravy too salty.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – In a large bowl add the hamburger patty ingredients, which are ground beef, crushed crackers, egg, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano.
Step Two – Mix together with clean hands and form the meat mixture into 4 patties.
Step Three – In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil and pan are hot add the patties, cook until golden brown on both sides. No need to let the patties cook through.
Step Four – In another large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, gravy packets, water and thyme until smooth to make brown gravy. Set aside.
Step Five – Add half of the sliced mushrooms and sliced onions to the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the patties on top.
Step Six – Add remaining onions and mushrooms on top of the ground beef patties.
Step Seven – Pour over the brown gravy mix.
Step Eight – Cover and cook on LOW for 4.5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. Serve and enjoy!
What goes well with this Crockpot Salisbury Steak recipe?
- For a comfort food like this, you can’t go wrong with hearty sides like mashed potatoes, steamed white rice or buttered egg noodles (all these options are great for serving that onion gravy over). Another option is slow cooker macaroni and cheese.
- For a lighter option, consider steamed broccoli, green beans, sauteed carrots, or a fresh side salad.
- Buttered dinner rolls, cornbread, or regular sandwich bread make great gravy dippers.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef and also change the gravy packets to chicken or turkey.
Yes. I recommend buying them fresh either whole and you slice them or you can purchase fresh mushrooms pre-sliced or use canned mushrooms if that’s what you prefer.
The gravy ingredients will be enough to create a nice and rich gravy. Though, if for some reason your gravy isn’t not thick enough to your liking you can make a cornstarch slurry, add it to the gravy and cook for 20-30 minutes longer.
Place any remaining Salisbury steak patties, mushrooms and onions in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can use panko breadcrumbs instead or store-bought premade bread crumbs.
Featured Comment
“This is so delicious- my husband was so impressed ! I love your recipes!”
– deborah
Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
How to Video
Ingredients
For the patties
- 1 lb. ground beef, 7% fat
- ½ cup crushed crackers, I use Ritz, but saltines work great too
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp. milk
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. dried oregano
- 2 Tbsp. cooking oil, (for browning the patties)
For the gravy mixture
- 10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup, I use roasted garlic variety
- 1.74 oz. brown gravy mix, (two .87-oz. packets)
- 1¼ cup water
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
Veggies:
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 white onion, sliced
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the ground beef, crushed crackers, egg, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder and oregano. Mix together with clean hands, don’t over mix. Form the meat into 4 patties. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, gravy packets, water and thyme until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil and pan are hot add the patties, brown on both sides. No need to cook through.
- Add half of the mushrooms and onions to the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the patties on top. Add remaining onions and mushrooms on top of the patties. Pour over gravy mixture.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4.5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- You can use ground chicken or ground turkey. If you choose to change the meat, change the gravy packet flavor as well
- If you do not have Ritz crackers you can use crushed saltines, panko bread crumbs or classic dry bread crumbs.
- My favorite sides for Salisbury steak are mashed potatoes, steamed rice or buttered egg noodles. Other sides in addition that great great are green salad and cornbread
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Crockpot Beef Recipes
Easy and comforting Salisbury Steak Meatballs and Crockpot Cube Steak offer classic comfort with tender meat simmered in rich brown gravy—perfect over mashed potatoes or noodles.
For hearty one-pot meals, Slow Cooker Steak, Potatoes, and Corn and Hamburger Hash combine meat, potatoes, and vegetables for satisfying dinners.
Slow Cooker Beef Tips provide tender beef in savory gravy, ideal over rice or pasta. Or try my Beef Manhattan Recipe which is homemade pot roast over garlic bread.
Just made this last week and everyone loved! No one likes mushrooms, so left those out and it was still amazing. Will double next time, however, as everyone wanted leftovers!
I have made this and it is great. I have elderly neighbors and we share the entire meal with them and they want it again, and again. Super easy
Would love to try this I don’t have a slow cooker can it be done in the oven sounds great
I would like to know if this could be cooked in the oven too, and at what temperature and how long of a cooking time??
Hi Kristin, I can’t say without trying it. You could try googling similar recipes that are for the oven.
I decided to make this tomorrow in the crockpot. Could I use 20% fat ground beef instead of 7%?
I put onions and peppers instead of more mushrooms. It turned out very well. Hubby loved it.
I’m sorry to say this was disappointing. I followed the recipe with only a couple of modifications. I used one packet of McCormick’s “Brown Gravy mix” and one packet McCormick’s “Mushroom Gravy mix”… and in addition to 2 Cups Sliced Button Mushrooms, I included a half dozen re-hydrated “Morel Mushrooms”. It smelled good… looked good… but the gravy just did not develop the rich desired flavor I wanted. Beef was from Costco… and has never let me down. But now I’m going to figure out how to doctor the leftover gravy.
To many mushrooms can dilute the sauce. Sorry that happened.
I made a double recipe of this came out great. I used extra mushrooms and cut back the gravy to 2 packets insted of 4 used the low sodium gravy for my diet. This one is a keeper. Thanks for putting this out their i appreciate your channel. Making chicken paremasan pasta next. Keep up the good work.
I made that! So good!
So if I double the recipe I can still use 2 Packets of gravy?
Hi Paige. Yes, if I was to do that I would add an extra can of cream of mushroom (an no extra water).
Hello,
Can I cook on high the last hour, I got a late start on making dinner. I put it on at 2:45 pm.
I think it will work fine!
Sounds great. Will be making this tomorrow. However, the ground beef that I have on hand is 80-20. Will this make a difference? I would prefer not to go to the grocery if I can help it (stay at home order due to Covid – 19)! Thanks again for the recipe and thanks in advance to whoever helps with my question.
It will work fine. You may need to degrease the gravy at the end of the cooking time. Put paper towels over it and pull up.
Thanks!
Sounds great, but I like leftovers. Can this recipe be doubled?
Yes, this can be doubled with no problems.
When doubling, is the cook time increased or does it remain the same?
I would do an extra half hour on low.
I use french onion soup instead of beef stock or mushroom soup great taste
I disagree about the cube steaks.. I make this rs ipe and have always always used cube steaks. probably depends on quality of meat and need to brown them SLOWLY before putting in slow cooker