What Is Beef liver and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about beef liver and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 36 recipes to cook tonight.

What is beef liver?

Beef liver is sold sliced either as beef liver or baby beef liver. A whole liver weighs from 10 to 15 pounds.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 slice (81g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 141Calories from Fat 34

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 3.8g 6%

Saturated Fat 1.2g 6%

Trans Fat 0.2g

Cholesterol 308mg 103%

Sodium 62mg 3%

Total Carbohydrate 4.2g 1%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 21.5g

Vitamin A 423% Vitamin C 1%

Calcium 0% • Iron 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Where found

Beef liver is usually found in the meats section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Beef liver is a member of the Beef Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does beef liver weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 slice	81 grams

Beef Products

Beef, short ribs 58 Beef, steak 94 Beef liver 36 Suet 51 Corned beef 76 Rump steak 5 Beef roast, rump 38 Beef, tenderloin 63 Beef, filet mignon 50 Stewing beef 184

In Chinese:	牛肝
British (UK) term:
en français:	foie de boeuf
en español:	hígado de res

Recipes using beef liver

There are 36 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Jewish Potato Knish

Homemade pastry stuffed with potato - "knish upon a star" and your dreams will come true.

Doggie Liver Treats

Three-ingredient homemade dog treats made with pureed beef liver, garlic, and corn muffin mix baked into firm, crunchy squares. Easy to make, easy to freeze, and dogs go absolutely crazy for them.

Kitty Heaven Cat Food

Homemade cat food with canned sardines, cooked rice, minced liver, and parsley. A simple 4-ingredient recipe your cat will love, ready in 5 minutes with no cooking required.

Liver with Onions & Apples

Pan-fried beef liver with onion rings and apple slices, smothered in a dark pan gravy with hot paprika. Old-fashioned liver and onions with a sweet apple twist.

Single Serving Liver Dumplings

Liver dumplings (leberknödel) blend scraped beef liver with lard, breadcrumbs, egg, and parsley, then poach in clear broth. Single-serving Austrian-German soup garnish.

Beef soup with liver balls: short ribs simmered into a rich, skimmed broth with carrots and tomatoes, then dropped with tender liver dumplings seasoned with marjoram and mace. Old-world comfort in a bowl.

Gillan's Liver Bologna

Old-fashioned homemade liver bologna with beef liver, potatoes, bacon, and graham flour, boiled in cloth bags. A heritage charcuterie recipe from scratch.

Awesome Liver Dumplings

Pennsylvania Dutch liver dumplings (Leberknödel) with ground beef liver, onions, eggs, and bread crumbs. Old-world dumplings simmered in broth, makes 4 dozen.

Liver & Onions

Microwave liver and onions: a fast, gluten-free take on the retro classic. Beef liver and sliced onions cooked with soy sauce, sage, and a bright squeeze of lemon. Dinner in 20 minutes.

Liver in Mustard Sauce

Pan-seared beef liver in a Creole mustard and white wine sauce with shallots and cayenne. A Cajun-style liver dish with a tangy, sharp pan sauce ready in 35 minutes.

Dill Liver & Onions

Flour-dredged beef liver pan-fried in butter with minced onions and dill weed. A quick, old-fashioned liver and onions recipe ready in just 15 minutes from start to plate.

Chopped Liver Spread

Old-fashioned chopped beef liver spread with hard-boiled eggs, onions, and melted butter. Molded in a loaf pan and served chilled on crackers or toast as an appetizer or lunch.

Yummy Tomato & Liver Stir-Fry

Chinese-style beef liver stir-fry with fresh tomato wedges, marinated in soy, sherry, ginger, and cornstarch. A protein-rich, iron-loaded weeknight wok dish over rice.

Liverschnetzel

Liverschnetzel is a German-style pan-fried beef liver with apple, pineapple, brown gravy, and sour cream. Quick to cook with a sweet-savory fruit sauce, served over noodles or rice.

French-Fried Liver

French-fried beef liver strips with a curried sour cream dipping sauce. Crispy, golden liver bites served as an appetizer with a creamy, spicy fiesta dip.

Stir-Fried Liver

Chinese-style stir-fried calf liver with mushrooms, onions, scallions, garlic, and soy sauce in peanut oil. A quick, high-heat method that keeps liver tender.

Liver Loaf with Pan Gravy

Ground beef liver meatloaf with salt pork, onion, bread crumbs, and parsley baked until browned, served with a pan dripping gravy. A classic mid-century American liver loaf.

Mexicali Liver & Onions

Beef liver and onions with a Mexican twist: flour-dredged liver browned with garlic and jalapeno, then simmered low and slow with sliced onions until tender.

Liver Kabobs

Grilled liver kabobs wrapped in bacon with bell peppers and onions, brushed with a tangy molasses-mustard-ketchup sauce. A bold cookout skewer.

Yummy Chopped Liver

Classic Jewish chopped liver made the traditional way with schmaltz, sweet sauteed onions, and hard-cooked eggs. Smooth, rich, and perfect spread on rye, matzo, or stuffed into celery stalks.

Kishke (Stuffed Derma)

Traditional kishke (stuffed derma) with beef liver, rice, ground beef, and coriander in natural casing, simmered low and slow in beef stock until tender.

Liver Piquant

Pan-fried beef liver in a tangy gravy loaded with green olives, mushrooms, lemon juice, and Worcestershire for a quick weeknight dinner that proves liver doesn't have to be boring.

Creole Liver & Rice

Beef liver seared and simmered in stewed tomatoes with green pepper, basil, sherry, and garlic, spooned over hot rice. Old-school Cajun comfort for liver lovers.

Favorite Liver Dumplings

Leberknödel are Austrian liver dumplings made from stale rolls soaked in milk, mixed with ground beef liver, onions, marjoram and lemon zest. Poached gently and served in clear beef broth.