Maybe it’s the simplicity of Salisbury steak (basically a meat patty topped with brown gravy) that made the recipe a staple of frozen dinners and lunch ladies, but either way, it’s a comfort food that many of us treasure from our childhood.
But what’s the best frozen Salisbury steak to buy when you need to scratch that nostalgic itch?
We sampled a bunch of frozen Salisbury steak brands to find the best Salisbury steak for you. What were we looking for? Nothing too processed. Well-seasoned meat. We’re talking salt and pepper, and maybe a bit of seasoning salt? And umami-rich gravy. Above all else, we wanted that nostalgic, uber-savory quality that we devoured as kids. Here’s our ranking of the best frozen Salisbury steak you can find at your local store (or Amazon).
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- Lean Cuisine Protein Kick Salisbury Steak With Macaroni & Cheese
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I think we can all admit that Salisbury steak typically isn’t the healthiest food option, especially since the main ingredients are usually “salt,” “red meat” and “more salt.” But if you’re trying to eat a little healthier, there’s always this Lean Cuisine meal, which gives you a satisfying Salisbury steak experience for only 250 calories. It also gives you a good-sized patty (made from a mixture of beef and pork), which is covered in a tasty mushroom and onion gravy. There’s also a side of mac and cheese, which never rises above average, but the steak and gravy more than make up for it. Overall, this low-cal Salisbury steak frozen dinner is a pretty satisfying little meal, as long as you set your expectations.
Credit: Merc / Target
- Great Value Salisbury Steak
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While the packaging on this frozen Salisbury steak tells you it includes six beef Salisbury steak patties in gravy, it fails to mention that they all come in one big tub, forcing you to cook them all at once, in one giant Salisbury-steak-a-palooza. That said, the quality is surprisingly good, with some nice texture to the meat and a beefy sauce with hints of Worcestershire and soy sauce. You don’t get any side dishes, but if you’re still hungry after six steaks, you have both my respect and my sympathy.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Banquet Mega Meal Salisbury Steak Meal
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Technically, the “Great Value Six Steak Bonanza” we just talked about had more protein, but at 32 grams, this Salisbury steak frozen dinner has the most for a meal designed to feed one single person. But this is still a pretty huge meal with three steak patties, each made from chicken, pork and beef. And while the gravy is pretty average, the mashed potatoes were surprisingly buttery and creamy. I can definitely think of worse ways to get some extra protein in your diet.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Hungry-Man Salisbury Steak
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This Salisbury steak frozen dinner is a classic “TV dinner” style meal—the kind that’s been a staple of the supermarket’s frozen foods section for decades. It’s definitely a full meal, with two frozen salisbury steak patties made from a mixture of beef and pork, smothered in a delicious beef and onion gravy, along with mashed potatoes, green beans, and a brownie. The patties are a little small (which might be why you get two), but they have some of the best seasoning of any of the steaks we tried. And while it’s a little off-topic, the brownie was particularly good, baking in the dish like a “mug brownie” and coming out moist and tasty. It is a little messy, as you have to scoop it out of the tray mid-way through cooking. But overall, it is a big, tasty meal that shows why Hungry-Man has stayed around all these years.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Boston Market Salisbury Steak
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With the best flavor of all the frozen Salisbury steak patties we tried, this meal gives you two beef/pork patties covered with gravy and a side of “three-cheese rotelle pasta.” The patties have a real meatloaf-like texture and shape that makes them feel a bit more homemade than your typically “compressed meat patty.” And the gravy is especially tasty, with a mix of veal, beef, and chicken stock that gives a lot of hearty meat flavor, along with some onions and mushrooms to round out the flavor. Even the side dish of pasta is good, with plenty of cheddar cheese taste. This is the best Salisbury steak frozen dinner you can get without traveling back to the 1950s.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best “Healthy” Option
Best Steak Only
Best Protein
Best Nostalgia Factor
Best of the Best
Other Salisbury steaks we tried: Banquet Salisbury Steak Meal, Marie Callender’s Salisbury Steak, Michelina’s Salisbury Steak, Stouffer’s Salisbury Steak.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!