French Onion Salisbury Steak

These French onion Salisbury steaks are flavorful ground chuck steaks covered in a sweet onion, garlic, and red wine sauce, with crunchy cheesy toasts for dipping.

Nothing is better on a cold winter night than a warm, hearty, comforting meal for dinner that can feed the hungriest of crowds.

This french onion Salisbury steak takes traditional Salisbury steaks and combines them with all of the delicious flavors of french onion soup–red wine, sweet caramelized onions, thyme–and serves them up with a side of crunchy, garlic butter cheese toasts for dunking into that delicious, savory broth.

It’s also easily scalable, so this protein-packed recipe can be easily adjusted whether you’re feeding 2 people or 10. 

Trust me, if you’re a fan of classic Salisbury steak, you will love this french onion twist! 

Craving even more French onion? Try my French Onion Soup, French Onion Chicken Meatballs, or my French Onion Dip.

Ingredients for french onion Salisbury steak

Salisbury steak ingredients:

• Ground chuck – Ground chuck is full of beefy flavor and has a good amount of fat, perfect for Salisbury steaks.
• Herbs – Parsley and scallion give the Salisbury steaks a burst of freshness and flavor, 
• Kosher salt and black pepper – Salt and pepper are essential seasonings to help bring out all of the flavors.
• All-purpose flour – All-purpose flour helps thicken the sauce for our steaks.

French onion sauce ingredients:

• Olive oil – Olive oil is our fat of choice for this dish, to help cook down the onions.
• Sweet onions – Sweet onions will get soft, cook down, and caramelize beautifully for our sauce. 
• Sugar – Sugar will add a slight sweetness to our sauce.
• Garlic – A classic addition that will add earthiness to our dish.
• Tomato paste – Tomato paste will help thicken the sauce and also give a rich tomato flavor.
• Beef stock – Feel free to use homemade or your favorite store-bought variety.
• Dry red wine – Be sure to use a favorite wine that you would drink, because the flavors will concentrate in the sauce. 
• Dried thyme leaves – Thyme is herbaceous and slightly lemony.
• Parmesan cheese – Parmesan cheese adds a rich, salty bite to our sauce.

Cheese toast ingredients:

• Sliced french bread – Most major grocery store bakeries carry delicious freshly baked french bread.
• Butter – This will help our flavors stick to the bread and add moisture.
• Garlic – Garlic will add an earthy flavor to the cheese toasts.
• Cheeses – I’ve used a combination of swiss and parmesan cheese for these toasts.

What is a Salisbury steak?

Salisbury steak is an American midwestern creation that came from the late 19th century.

It’s a meat patty made from ground beef and seasonings, that is formed into the shape of a steak, or a small individual loaf shape, often served up with some kind of gravy or sauce.

Alcohol-free

If you or your guests can’t have wine, no worries! Simply omit the red wine and add more beef stock.

Side dishes

I’ve decided to serve up these french onion Salisbury steaks with cheese toasts, to mimic the tops of french onion soups, but here are some other sides that you could serve up as well:

• Mashed potatoes
• Mashed cauliflower
• Baked beans
• Simple green side salad
• Biscuits or rolls

Storage and leftovers

Any leftover french onion Salisbury steak can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, simply place in a microwave-safe dish and cover loosely with a damp paper towel, and heat for 2-3 minutes or until heated thoroughly.

More comforting meals

• Love lentils? Try my Healthy French Lentil Soup
• Craving something hearty but not heavy? Try my Turkey Pumpkin Chili
• Need something smooth and satisfying? Try my Instant Pot Zucchini Soup
• Want some pasta? Try my Butternut Squash Sausage Pasta