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These Salisbury Steak Meatballs are a comforting meal to enjoy on a weeknight. They’re gluten-free, paleo, whole30, and AIP friendly.

Salisbury Steak Meatballs with mashed potato

What is Salisbury Steak?

Salisbury steak is a homey classic that makes “steaks” from ground beef and combines it with a mushroom gravy made with mushroom, onion, broth, and ketchup! It has a distinct flavor that’s savory yet slightly sweet and tangy from the ketchup. It tastes amazing served with mashed potatoes (or sweet potatoes) and makes a hearty meal!

This version turns the classic in meatballs that are paleo, whole30, and AIP compliant. No flour is used, and the recipe features options for different compliant ingredients!

 

How to Make Salisbury Steak Meatballs

  • Make the meatballs: Using a large bowl, mix together all of the meatball ingredients until well combined. Form into meatballs that are a uniform size. Cook for about 5 minutes in a pan on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. Set the cooked meatballs aside.
  • Make the veggies & gravy: Saute the onion for 5-6 minutes or until soft, adding in the garlic at the end and sauteeing for another minute. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until fork-tender. Pour in the broth, coconut aminos, ketchup and stir to combine. Whisk in arrowroot starch and reduce the heat, allowing to thicken for 2-3 minutes. Once the sauce thickens, add the meatballs back to the pan. Spoon the sauce over the meatballs and simmer for a few minutes to allow to reheat.
  • Serve: topped with chopped parsley and over mashed sweet potato if desired.

salisbury steak meatballs in pan

The Ingredients

Ground Beef

You can use ground beef of your choice. I find a bit of a fattier beef can be great for meatballs!

Mushrooms

Mushrooms help add a boost of veggies as well as a lot of flavor for the sauce.

Onion & garlic

These add lots of flavor to the dish

Beef broth 

This is the base of the sauce for the meatballs.

Ketchup

Ketchup gives the Salisbury steak a very distinct flavor. I’ve listed compliant options below in the recipe.

salisbury steak meatballs

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Salisbury Steak Meatballs

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Michelle
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Description

These Salisbury Steak Meatballs are a comforting meal to enjoy on a weeknight. They’re gluten-free, paleo, whole30, and AIP friendly.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the meatballs

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper (omit for AIP)
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp coconut aminos
  • 2 tsp compliant ketchup (use this for whole30 and this for AIP, or see notes)
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil

For the gravy 

  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1 tbsp compliant ketchup
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper (omit for AIP)
  • 2 tsp arrowroot starch
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley, for topping

Instructions

  1. Using a large bowl, mix together all of the meatball ingredients until well combined. Form into meatballs that are a uniform size.
  2. Heat the avocado oil over medium heat in a large pan and add the meatballs. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until browned or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. Set the cooked meatballs aside.
  3. Using the same pan, add more avocado oil to the pan (if needed) and heat. Saute the onion for 5-6 minutes or until soft, adding in the garlic at the end and saute for another minute. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until fork-tender.
  4. Pour in the broth, coconut aminos, ketchup, and seasonings and stir to combine.
  5. Whisk in arrowroot starch and reduce the heat, allowing to thicken for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Once the sauce thickens, add the meatballs back to the pan. Spoon the sauce over the meatballs and simmer for a few minutes to allow to reheat.
  7. Serve topped with chopped parsley and over mashed sweet potato if desired.

Notes

For a premade compliant ketchup, try this for whole30 and this for AIP. I also have an AIP ketchup recipe in my cookbook, The Autoimmune Protocol Comfort Food Cookbook. Note that using an AIP ketchup would not make this dish whole30 as they have sweetener. If you choose to forgo the ketchup, you can try to use nomato sauce instead, and adjust seasonings to taste.

All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 25
  • Category: One pan meals
  • Method: stove top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 235
  • Fat: 10.6g
  • Carbohydrates: 6.9g
  • Fiber: 0.8g
  • Protein: 27.3g

Keywords: salisbury steak

Salisbury Steak Meatballs