There’s nothing quite like liver and onions with gravy when you’re craving hearty comfort food that comes together fast. This easy pan-fried liver dish is rich, flavorful, and satisfying. It’s the best beef liver and onions recipe for a busy weeknight. Whether you’re new to liver recipes or just want to perfect your pan-fried liver with onions technique, this quick pan-fried liver dish shows you how to cook liver that’s tender and delicious. Whether you’re craving smothered liver and onions with gravy, calf liver and onions with gravy, or classic liver and onions with mashed potatoes, this easy recipe is for you!
Why I Love Liver and Onions with Gravy
Yes, I’m a liver lover. Liver pâté, liverwurst, and fried chicken livers are all favorites with me. This liver and onions recipe with gravy brings some beloved comfort foods together, as I’m a mashed potatoes and gravy girl as well. After soaking the liver in milk (optional), this recipe comes together quickly for an easy weeknight meal. Surprise your family with something unexpected for dinner!
Equipment for Liver and Onions with Gravy
1 mixing bowl for soaking liver (optional)
1 large skillet (mine is 12 inches across)
1 covered casserole dish (to keep the liver and onions warm while the gravy is being made)
1 wooden spoon
Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients for Liver and Onions with Gravy
1 cup milk (optional, for soaking)
1 pound sliced beef liver (I buy mine at Winco in the freezer section, pre-packaged and pre-sliced)
1 medium onion, sliced and separated into rings
4 tablespoons butter, divided
Salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons water
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup beef broth
Instructions for Liver and Onions with Gravy
Soak liver and onions in milk in a mixing bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (optional).
While the liver is soaking, slice the onion into rings.
In a large skillet, melt two tablespoons of butter. Cook onions in butter over medium-high heat until tender, but not brown.
Remove onions from the skillet and place them in a covered casserole dish.
If you chose to soak the liver, remove it from the refrigerator, rinse, drain, and pat dry.
Turn the heat down to medium and add liver to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Cook for three minutes, then turn the liver over and return the onions to the skillet.
Cook for two or three more minutes until the liver is slightly pink in the center.
Remove the liver and onions from the skillet. Place in the covered casserole dish.
Stir water, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce into the pan drippings.
Add two tablespoons of butter and two tablespoons of flour. Mix together to make a roux.
Stir in one cup of beef broth. Mix and stir until thickened and bubbly.
Return the liver and onions to the skillet to warm in the gravy. You can serve the liver and onions in the skillet or return the liver, onions, and gravy to the casserole dish to serve. Enjoy with mashed potatoes or rice.
This liver and onions with gravy recipe makes 4 servings.
Common Questions About Liver and Onions with Gravy
Why do you soak liver in milk before cooking it?
Soaking liver in milk helps mellow its strong flavor and tenderize the texture by drawing out bitterness and impurities before cooking.
Can I cook liver without soaking it in milk first?
Yes, you certainly may, especially if you’re in a hurry. The liver flavor will be stronger and the meat might be slightly more chewy, but the gravy in this recipe will help mitigate the strong flavor and chewiness.
What’s the secret to tender liver and onions?
The secret is not to overcook the liver. Cook it just until it’s slightly pink inside, and soak it in milk beforehand to keep it tender and mild.
What goes well with liver and onions?
Liver and onions pair well with mashed potatoes, gravy, steamed vegetables, a tossed salad, or buttery rice for a hearty, comforting meal. A warm apple crisp would make a wonderful dessert for this comfort food dish.
Should you rinse your liver before cooking?
Yes, rinse liver under cool water before cooking to remove any residual or impurities, then pat it dry for even browning.
Is liver and onions healthy to eat?
Yes, liver and onions are healthy in moderation. Liver is rich in iron, protein, and vitamins A and B12, supporting energy and overall health.
When to know if liver is cooked?
Liver is cooked when it’s browned on the outside but still slightly pink inside and feels tender, not tough, when pressed. Simmering liver in the gravy on very low heat in this recipe helps keep the liver tender as well.
Liver and Onions with Gravy
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl for soaking liver (optional)
- 1 large skillet
- 1 Covered casserole dish
- 1 Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk optional, for soaking
- 1 pound sliced beef liver
- 1 medium onion sliced and separated into rings
- 4 tablespoons butter divided
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons water
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice bottled is fine
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup beef broth
Instructions
- Soak liver and onions in milk in a mixing bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (optional)
- While the liver is soaking, slice the onion into rings.
- In a large skillet, melt two tablespoons of butter. Cook onions in butter over medium-high heat until tender, but not brown.
- Remove onions from the skillet and place them in a covered casserole dish.
- If you chose to soak the liver, remove it from the refrigerator, rinse, drain, and pat dry.
- Turn the heat down to medium and add liver to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Cook for three minutes, then turn the liver over and return the onions to the skillet.
- Cook for two or three more minutes until the liver is slightly pink in the center.
- Remove the liver and onions from the skillet. Place in the covered casserole dish.
- Stir water, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce into the pan drippings.
- Add two tablespoons of butter and two tablespoons of flour. Mix together to make a roux.
- Stir in one cup of beef broth. Mix and stir until thickened and bubbly.
- Return the liver and onions to the skillet to warm in the gravy. You can serve the liver and onions in the skillet or return the liver, onions, and gravy to the casserole dish to serve. Enjoy with mashed potatoes or rice.
Notes
Other Easy Skillet Recipes
Skillet recipes are great when you’re in a hurry. If you like the idea of a one-pan meal, you might want to try an easy sausage, potato, and tomato dish. In the mood for a breakfast skillet? This simple egg, bacon, and hashbrown skillet meal is perfect for camping.
More Meal Inspiration
It’s always nice to have a plan when it comes to meals. If you’re looking for a way to get more organized with your meal planning efforts, I’ve got something for you. Free, editable meal planners! The templates can be used over and over, as often as you need them. You can make as many duplicates as you like, and you’ll be able to save old meal plans for future reference. I hope it simplifies things for you.
Have fun making easy runner bean soup, and may all of your home-cooked, made-with-love meal endeavors meet with great success!
Your dish looks so tasty! It’s funny that you mentioned liver being chewy if you don’t soak in milk first before cooking it. I’ve tasted lamb only once, and it was really chewy. It’s funny because I actually didn’t mind the chewy taste. I liked it! My only problem was the lamb was really oily, but that’s probably because of the way the lamb was cooked.
I have never had lamb, but maybe it would be a good idea to soak it in milk like liver. =)
This liver and onions with gravy recipe sounds heavenly. Love to try it this weekend.
Great! I hope you enjoy your liver and onions experience!
Great instructions on how to make this comfort food! My grandma loved to make liver and onions – but I had never tried for myself. I appreciate all these simple ingredients and the easy-to-follow recipe!
I’m so happy you liked the recipe. If I make liver and onions with gravy as easy as possible, maybe more people will try it!=)
Thanks for sharing this recipe, Lisa! I love liver, but I haven’t tried cooking it myself. I find your recipe for liver and onions with gravy easy to make and delicious.
Excellent! I hope this liver and onions recipe becomes a favorite.
I’ve always liked liver and onions but have never made it. Thanks for including the video for the gravy-challenged–that would be me!
You’re welcome! Until very recently, I was gravy-challenged as well. Then I discovered a basic white sauce recipe in an old cookbook, and it transformed my gravy making. Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the liver and onions with gravy recipe!
I love liver and onions, but have never known how to make the gravy until now. Thank you for including the video for a visual tutorial. Wonderful flavor, and the gravy was so simple.
You are most welcome! I learned how to make the gravy for this recipe by following an old basic white sauce recipe in a cookbook my mother gave me. I substituted the cup of milk in the recipe for the cup of beef broth. This same gravy method should work with other liquids as well.