Beef Liver and Onions That Actually Tastes Good (No Lies)
Okie dokie – let me just say one thing. When I say ‘No Lies’ about beef liver and onions tasting good, that would be to EVERYONE ELSE but myself. I’m being completely honest and transparent – this is my Mom’s recipe who rations out her liver and onion meal preps that I make her because she loves it so much.
Me, not so much.
My family has always been huge lovers of fried beef liver and onions and so I can confidentally say that if you love this retro dish, you’ll love the way my mom has made it for years. She taught me, and now I’ll teach you.
I’ll also teach you how to portion it out for freezer meal prep into solo meals when you get that…………….. lovin’ some liver feelin’.
🌟Ingredients Notes
- ✅ Liver: Fresh beef liver works best here and has that classic, old-school flavor. Calf’s liver is milder and more tender, but it cooks even faster, so keep an eye on it. No soaking needed, good timing does all the work.
- ✅ Onions: Yes, 4–5 onions is a lot. That’s intentional. Long-cooked onions bring sweetness and balance to the richness of the liver and gravy. Yellow onions are ideal, but sweet onions work too.
- ✅ Flour: This isn’t just for browning. A light flour coating protects the liver from drying out and helps create a flavorful base for the pan gravy.
- ✅ Oil + butter: Oil prevents burning; butter adds flavor. Using both gives you control and richness without scorching.
- ✅ Beef broth: Use a good-quality broth since it becomes the backbone of the gravy. Warm broth blends more smoothly and keeps the gravy lump-free.
- ✅ Worcestershire sauce: Just a small splash adds depth and that unmistakable diner-style savoriness. Don’t overdo it.
- ✅ Black pepper: Liver loves pepper. Be generous, especially in the gravy.
- ✅ Optional garlic powder: Totally retro and very optional, it adds warmth without overpowering the dish.
- ✅ Optional bacon: For extra richness, cook bacon first and use the fat to caramelize the onions. Crumble the bacon over the finished dish if you’re feeling indulgent. No one said this meal was meant to be healthy.
How to Make Liver and Onions with Gravy
- Caramelize the onions (don’t rush this)
- Prep the liver
- Fry the liver (this is where potential problems happen)
- Make the pan gravy (liquid flavor gold!!)
- Finish & serve!
About That GRAVY: Let’s be honest the gravy is the reward.
Those browned bits stuck to the pan after frying the liver? That’s liquid flavor gold. A little flour, warm beef broth, a splash of Worcestershire… suddenly you’ve got a glossy, savory gravy that tastes like something that’s been simmering all afternoon.
Spoon that over the onions, slide the liver back in just long enough to warm through, and suddenly this “retro” meal makes sense again.
Salty Pot FYI: Caramelized Onions can be made ahead of time and froze in portions as well for easy dinners. Add them to steaks, pork chops, even with mashed potatoes!
Want to Go Full Diner Mode? Add Bacon.
- No one said this recipe was healthy, my friend!
- Fry a few strips of bacon first. Remove the bacon, leave the fat
- Cook the onions in the bacon fat and proceed with the recipe as written, then chop the bacon and sprinkle it back over everything at the end if you’re feeling bold. The smoky saltiness with the sweet onions and gravy is unreal!
Portioning and Freezing
This is how I portion out the dinners for my Mom. She likes slightly smaller portions and she’ll either make her own side, or warm up some mashed potatoes that I’ve prepared and froze in convenient Souper Cubes.
What to Serve With Liver and Onions
This is a plate that begs for something to soak up gravy.
- Mashed potatos (obvious, undefeated)
- Boiled or buttered potatoes
- Roasted carrots or glazed carrots
- Green beans or peas for something simple
- Even white rice if that’s what you’ve got
Basically: if it holds gravy, it belongs here.
Bottom Line is, this is old-school liver and onions with gravy. No frills. No apologies. But here’s the thing: when it’s done right, this old-school, diner-style classic is deeply comforting. Not fancy. Not trying to be trendy. Just rich, savory, delicious (to my Mom) gravy doing that is a must have with this dish.
The onions are intentionally excessive. The gravy is the payoff. And the liver? Tender enough to finally understand why people used to love this dish.
If you’re anything like my mom who absolutely loves liver and onions with gravy, you’ll love it too. Myself?……….. I’ll just enjoy making it for her. Thanks for stopping by The Salty Pot today – I’ll see you next time!
~Joanne
Liver and Onions with Pan Gravy
This liver and onions with gravy is a true old-school, diner-style dinner, no frills, just deep flavor. Tender liver is lightly floured and cooked quickly so it stays soft, It’s the kind of meal our parents made, where timing mattered, gravy ruled, and nothing was trying to be fancy.
Ingredients
- ***FOR THE ONIONS:
- 4 to 5 large yellow onions, thinly sliced (yes, a LOT — this is intentional)
- 3 Tbsp neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
- 3 Tbsp butter
- ½ tsp salt (to help them release moisture)
- ***FOR THE LIVER:
- 2½ to 3 lbs beef liver, sliced ½-inch thick
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder (optional but very retro)
- 2–3 Tbsp oil, as needed
- 1–2 Tbsp butter, as needed
- ***FOR THE PAN GRAVY:
- 2 Tbsp flour (use what’s left in the pan first)
- 1½–2 cups beef broth (warm if possible)
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1) Caramelize the onions: Heat a large, wide skillet over medium-low heat. Add oil and butter. Once melted, add all the onions and salt. Cook slowly, stirring every few minutes, for 25–30 minutes, until deeply golden, soft, and sweet. If they start sticking, lower the heat (caramelization takes patience here).
👉 Transfer onions to a bowl and cover loosely to keep warm.
2. Prep the liver: While the onions cook, pat the liver very dry with paper towels. Mix flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a shallow dish. Lightly dredge the liver slices, shaking off excess.
3. Fry the liver: Turn heat to medium-high. Add a little more oil and butter if needed. Lay liver slices in a single layer.Cook 1½–2 minutes per side, just until the pink is gone and the surface is lightly browned. Remove liver to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
❗ Do not overcook. The liver should still feel soft when pressed, not firm.
4. Make the pan gravy (liquid flavor gold): Lower heat to medium.If the pan looks dry, add a small knob of butter. Sprinkle in 2 Tbsp flour, whisking into the drippings. Cook 30–60 seconds until lightly golden. Slowly whisk in broth, scraping up every browned bit. Add Worcestershire and black pepper. Simmer 2–3 minutes until glossy and lightly thickened.
5. Finish & serve: Return onions to the pan, spoon gravy over them, then nestle the liver back in just to warm through (about 30 seconds). Serve immediately ... liver waits for no one.
Notes
- Best cut: Beef liver works best here; calf’s liver is milder but cooks even faster.
- Do not soak: Soaking liver in milk is unnecessary if it’s fresh and properly cooked.
- Pan size matters: Crowding = steaming = tough liver. Use a big skillet.
- Internal doneness: Liver is done when just barely cooked through, not browned hard.
- Leftovers: Refrigerate up to 2 days. Reheat gently or slice cold for sandwiches.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 459Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 154mgSodium: 991mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 18g
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
