Slow cooker cube steak makes an easy comfort food dinner for busy weeknight dinners or lazy weekends. The crock pot cooks up this inexpensive cut of meat perfectly, for a classic home-cooked dinner of tender, juicy cube steak with a rich, seasoned mushroom gravy. It's perfect to serve over noodles and rice for a hearty and satisfying meal.
Cube steak with gravy is a wholesome dinner that families have relied on for ages. I love making this slow cooker version because it's even easier than the original, and my family loves it. I usually set everything up in the Crock Pot before heading out for the day so it can do all the heavy lifting for me while I go about my day. Hours later, the meat is fork tender and the hearty gravy with mushrooms so tasty!
If you love easy slow cooker dinners you've got to try my slow cooker pot roast recipe, another twist on a classic. Both dishes are great paired with noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes for comforting home-style dinners.
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Why You’ll Love This Cube Steak in Crockpot Recipe
- Budget-friendly dinner: We're using affordable ingredients to create a meal with rich flavors that's sure to satisfy. You may already have some of them in your kitchen
- Easy to Make: This dish requires minimal effort so you don't have to spend hours in the kitchen to cook up a meal your whole family will love.
- Family Favorite: This dish is one even the pickiest eater will love. It's even kid-friendly dish.
- Versatile Meal: Pair your crockpot cube steak with a variety of side dishes to keep your menu feeling fresh and new.
Ingredients
- Cube steaks: This budget-friendly cut of beef usually comes from a top round or top sirloin. That has been tenderized by pounding with a meat tenderizer. This is usually a tougher cut of meat that works perfectly to cook slow and low to tenderize the meat even more.
- Au jus gravy mix: Adds all the flavor and thickener needed to create the savory rich gravy with the steaks.
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup: Adds creaminess and enhances the gravy with the essence of savory mushrooms. You can also use other creamy soups such as cream of celery or cream of onion soup to add flavor though the mushroom is my favorite flavor for the gravy.
- Beef broth: Boosts the beefy flavor of the sauce.
- Seasonings: Minced garlic is added for more depth of flavor along with some black pepper.
- Dijon mustard: Dijon brings a bit of zest to the gravy thanks to its unique flavor. However, you can use any kind of mustard you prefer to change the flavor profile of the dish.
- Worcestershire sauce: An easy flavor booster that's a popular pantry staple. You can also replace it with soy sauce though it has a slightly different flavor profile.
- Brown mushrooms: Also called cremini mushrooms they have more flavor than regular button mushrooms. Feel free to use regular mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms if you prefer.
- Yellow onion: Deepens the flavor and bulks up the gravy.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for full ingredient list and exact quantities of each one.
Flavor Variations
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- More Vegetables: Try adding your favorite vegetables like potatoes, carrots, celery, or bell peppers for a fusion of cube steak and pot roast flavors.
- Swap the Meat: This recipe can be made with chicken, pork chops, or pork roast. The gravy works well with all of them.
- Thicker Gravy: Add a slurry of cornstarch and water to the slow cooker about an hour before the dish is finished.
How to Make Slow Cooker Cube Steak
1: Add half the onions to the bottom of the slow cooker and place the steaks on top of them.
2: Combine the liquid ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until combined.
3: Pour the gravy mixture over the beef and onions, then top with the remaining onions and sliced mushrooms.
4: Cook until the beef is tender and the flavors have melded. Enjoy!
Hint
Adding half of the onions to the bottom of the slow cooker ensures a deep, caramelized onion flavor. Be sure you don't skip that step.
Storage
Refrigerate your cube steak in an air-tight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat the cube steak, defrost it overnight in the fridge if frozen. Then, add the steak and gravy with a touch of water to a baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees until heated through.
What to Serve with Cube Steak
One thing I love about this meal is that it goes with such a variety of sides. It's easy to turn it into a complete meal just by adding a few side dishes.
Crockpot cube steak with gravy pairs great with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, polenta or Crock Pot Rice which soak up all the tasty gravy.
You might give our Crock Pot Ranch Potatoes, Crock Pot Baked Potatoes, or Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes a try for something a bit out of the ordinary.
Round out your meal with a vegetable such as Green Beans with Bacon, Collard Greens, or Brussels Sprouts.
Don't forget a dessert! This Crock Pot Bread Pudding is one of my family's favorites!
Tips
- Choosing the Steak. Look for ½-inch thick cube steaks. They'll cook more quickly and become more tender.
- Get the Right Soup. Be sure to use condensed cream of mushroom soup rather than canned mushroom soup. They're different but often placed close to one another on the grocery shelf.
- Extra Step to Enhance Flavor: Dust the steaks with flour and lightly brown each side in a frying pan with butter before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Thicken the Gravy. In the last stages of cooking, whisk together 1 or 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 or 3 tablespoons of cold water. Pour the mixture into your crockpot and let it cook until it thickens. You may also use flour instead, but it should be mixed with water beforehand.
- Add Salt with Caution. Salt is purposefully left out of the ingredients. Between the soup, gravy packet, and other ingredients added I find it doesn't need additional salt. Be sure to taste and adjust as you desire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it does! Cube steak is not known for being a tender cut of meat but cooking it in the slow cooker helps break down the tough fibers and make it more tender. Avoid overcooking it though is that may lead to dryness. It's essential to strike a balance by cooking cube steak for adequate time to achieve tenderness without drying it out.
Most definitely! To make this in the oven, use a large and deep baking dish, such as a 9 x 13 dish coated with cooking spray. Layer the ingredients as described int he recipe. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 2 hours or until the cube steak is tender.
Yes, you can! This is a great way to meal prep a meal for later or if you need to serve a crowd. I recommend using a larger slow cooker to prevent overfilling it if you plan to make a double batch.
More Crock Pot Beef Recipes
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Slow Cooker Cube Steak
Ingredients
- 4-6 cube steaks (about 2 lbs)
- 1 (1 oz) au jus gravy mix
- 2 (10.5 oz) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 oz brown mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 medium yellow onion (sliced)
Instructions
- In a 6-quart crock pot, add half the onions on the bottom and place cube steaks on top.
- In a medium bowl, add au jus gravy mix, mushroom soup, beef broth, black pepper, garlic, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix until well combined and pour over cube steaks.
- Top with remaining onions and mushrooms.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
- Serve over egg noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes, and enjoy!
Notes
- If you have the time and desire to enhance the flavor, consider dusting the steak with flour and lightly browning each side in a frying pan with butter before adding it to the slow cooker. However, if you prefer a quick and effortless recipe, simply toss the ingredients into the crock pot and let it do the work for you!
- To thicken your gravy, add cornstarch to it. In the last stages of cooking, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 or 3 tablespoons of cold water to a small bowl and whisk. Then pour it into your crockpot. You may also use flour instead, but it should be mixed with water beforehand.
- To make this in the oven, use a large and deep baking dish, such as a 9 x 13 dish. Before layering the ingredients as per the recipe, coat the baking dish with cooking spray. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 2 hours or until the cube steak is tender.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Bonnie says
I have used this combination of ingredients for a sauce before. It was delicious! Served with mashed potatoes and green beans, it made a lovely meal!
Ryan Allen says
I am so happy you enjoyed it.
Ryan Allen says
I am so happy enjoyed it.