Beef Manhattan
This delicious combination known as Beef Manhattan Recipe is a wonderful combination of meat, potatoes, bread, and gravy. This recipe is the ultimate comfort food, great for any occasion. Learn all about how you can make this delicious food on your own!
What is Beef Manhattan?
A beef Manhattan is typically an open-face sandwich made with one slice of bread, beef cooked to perfection, underneath creamy mashed potatoes topped with gravy poured all over the entire meal. In some cases, there can be a slice of bread on the bottom, layered with beef and then another layer of bread, topped with mashed potatoes and gravy, but the traditional dish is known for being open-faced. All versions of the sandwich are delicious.
Beef Manhattans can be made with various kinds of meat. The main kinds of meat used are roast, thin-sliced roast beef, hamburger, or even pieces of steak. You can cook it however you desire. Later on, we will go into detail on how the different types of beef are typically cooked for Beef Manhattan sandwiches.
About Beef Manhattan
The dish that is known as a “Manhattan” in many parts of the United States actually has nothing to do with New York City. The Beef Manhattan started in Indianapolis later in the 1940s, in a small deli. The dish is said to be named by Naval Ordnance Plant Indianapolis workers who trained on the fabrication of the Norden Bombsight in Manhattan during World War II.
How Do You Make Beef Manhattan?
The process of making a beef Manhattan is quite simple. There are three main parts to this dish that you will need to obtain or create separately, then assemble them to make a delicious meal. The different pieces you will need in order to make this is bread, cooked beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Then, assemble them by stacking them all atop one another. This meal is best when enjoyed hot. Really, it’s as simple as that!
Kitchen Tips
Bread. The kind of bread you use is not a big deal. You can use anything from the cost-effective store brand to a little bit nicer fluffier bread. The type you choose is mostly up to your preference.
Gravy. There are two or three ways you can handle the gravy. You can use a jar of store-bought gravy and simply warm it up before pouring it over the top of your dish. There are also packets of gravy that you can purchase. I have used these before and they are typically pretty good. All you will have to do is combine the packet with water and bring it to a boil. The final way takes slightly more time, but it tastes better in my opinion. My preferred way is to make gravy from the beef broth that comes out of your meat when you cook it. Follow the step-by-step instructions below on how to make this gravy.
Non-stick pan. If you have the option, use a non-stick pan for making the gravy. This will help things go much more smoothly.
Ingredients
To make a Beef Manhattan you will need the following ingredients:
Beef:
Beef roast (or hamburger)
Olive oil
Water
Mashed Potatoes:
Potatoes (I prefer using yellow or red skin potatoes)
Cream cheese
Butter
Milk
Parsley, to taste
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Garlic salt
Garlic powder
Gravy:
Beef juice from your roast
Beef bouillon cube
Flour (or corn starch) OR packet of gravy
Details
This recipe can vary depending on the size of a roast you use, as well as how many potatoes you use. If your potatoes are on the small side, I typically figure on two potatoes per serving. You can also use about ¾ cup cooked roast per serving as a good rule of thumb.
Preparation
A great first step to take when you are getting ready to make your beef Manhattan is to prepare all of your ingredients. You are going to want to allow time for your roast to cook if you are using a fresh roast, so you will want to allow time for this, and get it cooking before you jump into anything else. Next, you can get your potatoes washed, cut, and boiling. Depending on how many you are cooking, this could take anywhere from 15-45 minutes for them to cook through completely. You will end with making the gravy and then assembling the dish.
Instructions
Step 1: To prepare the roast
If you have a Dutch oven, these work great to cook a roast. If you don’t another great way to cook one is in your crockpot. If you are using small slices then you can cook them on your stovetop in a Dutch oven or a frying pan. If you are able to cook it low and slow, you will get the best results.
Place your roast in a Dutch oven with one cup of water, olive oil drizzled on top, and sprinkled with a beef seasoning. Cover and bake at 325°F for about 3 hours for a 2-pound roast.
You may also use a crockpot to cook your roast. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Place the roast into the crockpot with water, olive oil and sprinkled with a beef seasoning.
Step 2: To prepare mashed potatoes
When you have about one hour left on your meat, you may begin cooking your potatoes. Wash and quarter your potatoes. Place them into a large pot and cover them with water. Cook at a rolling boil until a knife can insert into the potatoes easily. Remove from heat and drain the water.
To mash the potatoes, add milk, butter, cream cheese, garlic powder, parsley, garlic salt, as well as salt, and pepper to taste. Use a potato masher or mixer to mash the potatoes.
Step 3: For the gravy
If you are in a hurry, you can use a packet of gravy simply by following the instructions on the back of the package. You can also use a jar of premade gravy if you desire. If you prefer homemade follow the instructions below.
Step 4: For the sandwich
For the sandwich, you will need one, to two slices per serving of bread. The larger the slices of bread you are able to purchase the better your meal will be.
Step 5: To prepare the gravy
Once your beef is cooked, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool. Drain the juice from the roast into a saucepan.
In a cup, add flour or corn starch to the bottom, then take a scoop of your beef broth, and mix them together. You will get a really thick mixture. Add more juice to the cup until it becomes like thick gravy. Pour this cup full into your saucepan and whisk until there are no more lumps. If you have lumps that just won’t go away, you can pour your gravy into your blender and mix for a few minutes. If there ended up being too much flour and your gravy is too thick, you can add water and a cube of beef bouillon to help thin out the gravy but still keep the taste.
Step 6: To assemble the sandwich
Now that all of your components are made, it is time to assemble your Beef Manhattan! Start by putting a slice of bread on your plate. Next, add ½ to ¾ cup of your cooked roast on top of the bread. Top with a scoop of mashed potatoes and drizzle gravy over the entire dish. Serve while hot and enjoy!
General Notes
This is quite a simple dish. The most time-consuming portion is cooking your beef. If you use cooked beef, this dish can be ready in about 30 minutes.
Note: you can also use cooked hamburger or slices of cooked steak if you prefer instead of roast.
Nutrition
A lot of the nutrition depends on the various ingredients you use in creating your meal. Below are some of our estimated nutrition facts.
Calories in Beef Manhattan
We estimate that the number of calories in a serving of Beef Manhattan is around 742. This recipe is also high in protein, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium. Try enjoying it today!
Beef Manhattan Variations
There are several different types of beef Manhattan. They are all the same basic outcome; however, they have different names and can be prepared in a variety of ways. The following are some common titles for this dish.
Homestyle Beef Manhattan
Instant Pot Beef Manhattan
Poor Man’s Crock Pot Beef Manhattan
Poor Man’s Crock Pot Beef Manhattan Recipe
Roast Beef Manhattan a.k.a. Hot Roast Beef Sandwich
Roast Beef Manhattan
Manhattan Hot Shot Sandwich
No Beef Manhattan
Wolff’s Beef Manhattan – Elwood, IN
Manhattan (Roast Beef and Gravy) Sandwich Recipe
Quick And Easy Beef Manhattan
Slow Cooker Sherried Beef Manhattan
Homestyle Beef Manhattan Sandwich
Crock Pot Roast Beef & Brown Gravy
Out of these variations, there are three which are slightly different than what we covered in the recipe above. These are Poor Man’s Crock Pot Beef Manhattan, No Beef Manhattan, and Slow Cooker Sherried Beef Manhattan.
Poor Man’s Crock Pot Beef Manhattan
The Poor Man’s Crockpot Beef Manhattan is made by cooking hamburger in the crockpot, then assembling as mentioned above. This works really well if you are working with a tighter budget, but want to still enjoy the delicious dish.
No Beef Manhattan
No Beef Manhattan is an alternative to your traditional Manhattan recipe. This is an adapted recipe for people who prefer the Vegan diet. To make, simply omit meat and substitute with cooked vegetables.
Slow Cooker Sherried Beef Manhattan
Slow Cooker Sherried Beef Manhattan is made as stated in the recipe above, however, add 1 cup sherry to your meat as it is cooked. This gives it a delicious twist on your typical recipe.
Beef Manhattan is a delicious recipe that you can try making with your choice of meat. It is an amazing meal, that is your ultimate comfort food. This recipe is great for any time of year but especially fall and wither when we typically crave more comfort foods.
Have you tried this recipe? Would you like to try this?
Write to us and let us know!
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Beef Manhattan
Ingredients
Beef
- 2 lbs roast beef
- 1 cup water
- olive oil drizzle
- 1 can onion soup or raw onions
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Mashed Potatoes
- 3 lbs red potatoes
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
- parsley to tast
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Gravy
- 2 cups beef juice
- 2 Tbsp flour or corn starch
- 1 cube bouillon
Instructions
Beef
- If you have a Dutch oven, these work great to cook a roast. If you don’t another great way to cook one is in your crockpot. If you are using small slices then you can cook them on your stovetop in a Dutch oven or a frying pan. If you are able to cook it low and slow, you will get the best results.
- Place your roast in a Dutch oven with one cup of water, olive oil drizzled on top, and sprinkled with a beef seasoning. Cover and bake at 325°F for about 3 hours for a 2-pound roast.
- You may also use a crockpot to cook your roast. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Place the roast into the crockpot with water, olive oil and sprinkled with a beef seasoning.
Mashed Potatoes
- When you have about one hour left on your meat, you may begin cooking your potatoes. Wash and quarter your potatoes. Place them into a large pot and cover them with water. Cook at a rolling boil until a knife can insert into the potatoes easily. Remove from heat and drain the water.
- To mash the potatoes, add milk, butter, cream cheese, garlic powder, parsley, garlic salt, as well as salt, and pepper to taste. Use a potato masher or mixer to mash the potatoes.
Gravy
- If you are in a hurry, you can use a packet of gravy simply by following the instructions on the back of the package. You can also use a jar of premade gravy if you desire. If you prefer homemade follow the instructions below.
Assemble
- For the sandwich, you will need one, to two slices per serving of bread. The larger the slices of bread you are able to purchase the better your meal will be.
- Once your beef is cooked, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool. Drain the juice from the roast into a saucepan.
- In a cup, add flour or corn starch to the bottom, then take a scoop of your beef broth, and mix them together. You will get a really thick mixture. Add more juice to the cup until it becomes like thick gravy. Pour this cup full into your saucepan and whisk until there are no more lumps. If you have lumps that just won’t go away, you can pour your gravy into your blender and mix for a few minutes. If there ended up being too much flour and your gravy is too thick, you can add water and a cube of beef bouillon to help thin out the gravy but still keep the taste.
- Now that all of your components are made, it is time to assemble your Beef Manhattan! Start by putting a slice of bread on your plate. Next, add ½ to ¾ cup of your cooked roast on top of the bread. Top with a scoop of mashed potatoes and drizzle gravy over the entire dish. Serve while hot and enjoy!
This is delicious! Thank you!
can no longer afford beef
Hi Maria,
I understand. The prices of food are getting quite high. If you still want to make this recipe, you could substitute the beef with chicken. Sometimes chicken thighs or leg quarters are lower cost. Thank you for your interest in our recipes!
We have also found turkey or chicken, with a matching gravy, to be a more affordable alternative in this dish.