This Slow Cooker Cube Steak may just become your go-to recipe when you’re craving something tender and flavorful for dinner.
This dish is a fantastic comfort food that will surely satisfy your taste buds anytime you make it. You can serve it over Instant Pot mashed potatoes or plain rice for a savory meal that will fill you right up! It also goes well with vegetable dishes such as air fryer roasted vegetables.
I love easy weeknight meals that aren’t complicated to make. That is why this slow cooker cube steak recipe is a definite favorite. So, if you’re looking for a great beef dish to try using a Crockpot, feel free to use this easy recipe.
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What is a Cube Steak?
Also known as cubed steak, cube steak is a cut of meat that looks very similar to ground beef, making it easy to confuse one with the other.
This cut typically comes from a cattle’s rear end and is flattened and tenderized manually or by using a machine — where it gets its appearance. It’s also among the cheapest steak cuts out there because a cube steak is tougher than others, as it’s taken from a cattle’s fewer tender muscles.
This means this beef cut is good for people who like using beef in their dishes but are on a tight budget. On the flip side, however, this means cube steak needs to cook longer than other beef varieties — but it’s still delicious and great to use for recipes.
A serving of cube steak is high in protein, so it’s fantastic to include in your diet. Plus, it has 0 net carbs, making it a great option for those actively trying to limit their daily carbohydrate intake.
This makes dishes made with cube steak totally worth your while (and your buck). In fact, slow cooking may be one of the best ways to tenderize cube steak.
With some patience, you’ll enjoy a savory, delicious dinner that might become a mainstay in your meal plan.
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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here are great reasons why you’ll love this steak and gravy recipe as much as we do:
- One-pot meal: With this dish, you’re basically tossing everything into your slow cooker and letting it do all the work. This is especially useful for individuals with busy schedules or those who prefer hands-off cooking.
- Great for everyone: It’s hard to say no to this delicious comfort food. This dish will satisfy even those with the pickiest of palettes.
- Infused with flavor: The slow cooking process allows flavors to meld and develop, creating a rich and flavorful dish. The cubed steak absorbs the seasonings and spices, producing a delicious and well-seasoned dish.
- Fills the kitchen with a delicious aroma: This dish can be cooked low and slow, meaning your home will smell so heavenly for just as long. Trust us, you’ll be counting the minutes until it’s served on a platter and ready to be enjoyed.
- Meal prep: Slow cooker recipes are excellent for meal prepping. You can make a large batch of cubed steak and portion it out for future meals, saving time and effort on busy days.
If you find yourself looking for more delicious beef recipes to try out, then this amazing slow cooker short ribs is one of the more popular recipes out there.
🥘 Ingredients
A good thing about this cube steak with gravy recipe is that most of the ingredients you’ll need won’t be too difficult to find in your local supermarket or grocery store. Some might already be in your pantry as we speak.
To make this dish, you will need:
- Cube Steak:This ingredient forms the foundation of the recipe. You will use around 6-8 pieces of cube steak (about 1 ½ pounds) to create this dish.
- Cream of mushroom soup: This ingredient serves as the rich base for the delicious gravy.
- Beef gravy mix: This ingredient easily boosts the richness of the savory gravy and helps give it a nice, thick consistency to make it more appetizing.
See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities.
🔀 Substitutions
Can’t get a hold of the ingredients? Make these substitutions.
- Cube Steak: If you like to use beef alternatives such as chicken, pork, or turkey, you may do so. However, cooking time in the slow cooker will vary as a result, so you will need to adjust it accordingly.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: If you don’t have this on hand, feel free to use either cream of chicken soup or cream of celery soup as a substitute.
- Worcestershire sauce: Use soy sauce if you don’t have any Worcestershire sauce in your pantry.
🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins
Here are some ways you can create this slow cooker cube steak with your personalized twist:
- Remove the vegetables: If you prefer the dish without vegetables, feel free to leave them out.
- Green it up: Alternatively, you can boost the number of vegetables you add to the dish. Aside from the mushrooms and green bell peppers, you can add carrots, potatoes, Italian green beans, or celery. This is a good way to up its nutritional value.
- Add more seasoning: Add fresh garlic to the mix if you love a garlicky flavor. You can also play with seasoning blends like Cajun or Italian to make it more palatable. Other herbs and seasonings that work well with beef are thyme, rosemary, and paprika.
In need of another recipe for cooking steak? This air fryer steak and mushrooms is a great one to try.
🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
Alongside the ingredients, you’ll need the following equipment to make this easy cube steak and gravy recipe:
- Meat mallet: You’ll use this to tenderize the cube steak even more.
- Bowl: What you will use for mixing the sauce.
- Slow Cooker: This is where the magic happens. You will use this to cook the cube steak and the sauce together.
🔪 How to Make Slow Cooker Cube Steak
Here are the easy steps to prepare this dish. It’s basically a set-and-forget recipe that you’ll want to make on a busy day.
Step 1: Prepare the Cube Steak
Using a meat mallet, pound the cube steak to tenderize it slightly. Then, season both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 2: Create the Gravy
In a bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, French onion soup, beef gravy mix, water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper.
Step 3: Transfer the Gravy
Once the gravy is made and has been mixed well, transfer it to the slow cooker pot.
Step 4: Add the Cube Steak
Next, place the cube steak in the slow cooker pot. Make sure that each piece is coated with the gravy very well.
Step 5: Add the Vegetables
Add the onions, green bell peppers and mushrooms on top of the cube steak.
Step 6: Cook the Cube Steak
Lastly, cover and cook the cube steak on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. You will know that the cube steak is done once it’s fork-tender.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy
You can garnish the cube steak and gravy with fresh parsley or chopped chives before serving. Serve it with a side dish like rice or mashed potatoes and green beans. Enjoy!
👩🍳 Pro Tips
These tips make this slow cooker cube steak recipe a culinary masterpiece in your kitchen.
- For extra flavor, sear the cube steak in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes before adding it to the slow cooker. This extra step caramelizes the surface of the meat and adds richness.
- If you like thicker gravy, simmer it on high for a few minutes without the lid. Another option to thicken the gravy is to whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the slow cooker and cook on high for 30 minutes.
- To thin the gravy, add 1/4 cup water or beef broth near the end of the cooking time.
- If the gravy is drying up too fast, add liquid to the slow cooker to keep the meat moist during cooking. Beef broth can be used.
- Avoid overcrowding the slow cooker. Ensure there’s enough space for the ingredients to cook evenly. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and mushy textures.
- Allow the dish to rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the flavors meld, allowing any carryover cooking to finish.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Using a meat tenderizer powder on cubed steak can be an effective way to enhance tenderness. Tenderizer powders typically contain enzymes, such as papain or bromelain, which help break down proteins in the meat.
To use it, pierce cubed steak with a fork and sprinkle meat tenderizer powder on both sides. Gently rub it in, and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Rinse off excess and pat dry.
Yes, but don’t cook the cube steak while it’s frozen. It’s best to let the meat thaw first. Allow it to defrost to room temperature before cooking it.
You can store any leftovers by placing the cube steak in the refrigerator inside an air-tight container. It will still be good for up to 4 days.
Just put the leftover cube steak in a microwave-safe container and microwave for about a minute or two.
🙏 Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Slow Cooker Cube Steak:
Ready to get cooking? Print off the recipe card below or toggle on Cook Mode to keep your screen from going dark while you follow along on your phone or tablet.
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📋 Recipe
Slow Cooker Cube Steak
Equipment
- Slow cooker
- Meat mallet
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds cube steak (around 6-8 pieces)
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.75 ounces)
- 1 can French onion soup (10.5 ounces)
- 1 packet beef gravy mix
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1/2 cup mushrooms sliced
Instructions
- Pound the cube steak with the meat mallet to tenderize it. Then, season both sides with salt and pepper to taste.1 1/2 pounds cube steak
- In a bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, French onion soup, beef gravy mix, water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper to create the gravy.1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can French onion soup, 1 packet beef gravy mix, 1/2 cup water, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Once the gravy has been made, transfer it to the slow cooker pot.
- Next, add the cube steak on the sauce in the slow cooker pot. Make sure that each piece is coated with the gravy very well.
- Add the onions, green bell pepper and sliced mushrooms on top of the cube steak.1 onion, 1 green bell pepper, 1/2 cup mushrooms
- Cover and cook the cube steak on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. You will know that the cube steak is done once it’s fork-tender.
- If desired, garnish the cube steak and gravy with fresh parsley or chopped chives before serving it with a side dish. Enjoy!
Notes
Pro Tips:
- For extra flavor, sear the cube steak in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes before adding it to the slow cooker. This extra step caramelizes the surface of the meat and adds richness.
- If you like to thicken the gravy, simmer it on high for a few minutes without the lid. Another option to thicken the brown gravy is to whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the slow cooker and cook on high for 30 minutes.
- To thin the gravy, add 1/4 cup water or beef broth near the end of the cooking time.
- Avoid overcrowding the slow cooker. Ensure there’s enough space for the ingredients to cook evenly. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and mushy textures.
- Allow the dish to rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the flavors meld, allowing any carryover cooking to finish.
Recipe FAQs:
Should I use a meat tenderizer powder for cube steak? Using a meat tenderizer powder on cubed steak can be an effective way to enhance tenderness. Tenderizer powders typically contain enzymes, such as papain or bromelain, which help break down proteins in the meat.To use it, pierce cubed steak with a fork and sprinkle meat tenderizer powder on both sides. Gently rub it in, and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Rinse off excess and pat dry. Can I use frozen cube steak for this dish? Yes, but don’t cook the cube steak while it’s frozen. It’s best to let the meat thaw first. Allow it to defrost to room temperature before cooking it. How do I store any leftovers? You can store any leftovers by placing the cube steak in the refrigerator inside an air-tight container. It will still be good for up to 4 days. How do you reheat the leftovers? Just put the leftover cube steak in a microwave-safe container and microwave for about a minute or two.