Tender Slow Cooker Cube Steak with Onion Gravy
This Slow Cooker Cube Steak is tender, flavorful, and smothered in a rich onion gravy. Made with simple ingredients, it’s an easy weeknight meal that’s perfect served over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak
When I’m looking for an easy comfort food dinner that my whole family will enjoy, this Slow Cooker Cube Steak is one of my go-to recipes. Cube steak is on regular rotation around here, and slow cooking it in the Crockpot is hands down my favorite way to make it. The steaks become incredibly tender while they cook low and slow, and the rich onion gravy is perfect spooned over a big pile of mashed potatoes.
This recipe uses simple pantry staples like canned soup, beef broth, and a gravy packet to create a savory gravy that tastes like it’s been cooking all day, because it has! It’s a flavorful meal that’s easy enough for a busy weekday but comforting enough to serve for Sunday dinner.
Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or just craving home-cooked comfort food, this Crockpot cube steak recipe is sure to become a favorite.
Recipe Snapshot
PREP TIME:Â 15 minutes
COOK TIME:Â 6 hours
SERVINGS:Â 6
SERVE WITH: mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, crusty bread, or salad
BEST FOR:Â beginner cooks, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food
What Is Cube Steak?
Cube steak is an inexpensive cut of beef that has been tenderized by a mechanical meat tenderizer, creating the small indentations that give it its “cubed” appearance.
Cube steak becomes especially tender when cooked low and slow. The slow cooking process allows the meat to break down gently while soaking up all the delicious flavors from the onion gravy.
If your grocery store doesn’t carry cube steak, round steak works well too. Just tenderize it first using the spiked side of a meat mallet until it’s about ½-inch thick.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Cube Steak
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Cube Steak
- Cube steak – The star of the recipe. It becomes fork tender after hours of slow cooking.
- Salt and black pepper – Adds simple seasoning to the beef.
- Vegetable oil – Used for optional browning, which adds extra flavor and color.
- Onion – Slowly cooks down and adds sweetness to the gravy.
- Garlic – Gives the gravy even more savory flavor.
- French onion soup – Adds deep onion flavor and richness.
- Cream of mushroom soup – Creates a creamy, hearty gravy.
- Beef broth – Helps thin the gravy while adding beefy flavor.
- Brown gravy mix – Thickens the sauce and boosts the savory flavor.
- Fresh parsley – Adds a pop of fresh color before serving.
How to Make Slow Cooker Cube Steak
- Season both sides of the cube steaks with salt and pepper.
- If desired, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the steaks for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Arrange the cube steaks in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the sliced onions and minced garlic over the steaks.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the French onion soup, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, and brown gravy mix until smooth.
- Pour the gravy mixture evenly over the cube steaks.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 4 to 5 hours, until the steaks are fork tender.
- Remove the steaks from the slow cooker. Whisk the gravy until smooth and thickened.
- Spoon the gravy over the cube steaks and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Why Browning the Cube Steak Is Optional
If you’re short on time, feel free to skip browning the cube steaks.
While searing adds another layer of flavor and gives the steaks a beautiful brown color, the recipe is still delicious without it.
One benefit of browning is that it helps prevent the steaks from sticking together while they cook. If you skip this step, place a few onion slices between each layer of meat to help separate them.
How to Make the Best Gravy
The onion gravy is one of my favorite parts of this recipe. If the gravy seems thinner than you’d like after cooking, try these easy fixes:
- Remove the cube steaks and whisk the gravy well.
- Let it cook on High with the lid removed for a few more minutes to reduce.
- Stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon cold water, then whisk it into the gravy and simmer until thickened.
- If it becomes too thick, simply whisk in a little more beef broth or water.
For an even creamier gravy, replace the French onion soup with another can of cream of mushroom soup, or stir in ½ cup of heavy cream just before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use round steak instead of cube steak. Tenderize it well before cooking.
- Add sliced mushrooms for even more earthy flavor.
- Stir in carrots, celery, peas, or potatoes for a complete meal.
- Use low-sodium beef broth, soups, and gravy mix to reduce the sodium.
- Use Lipton Onion Soup Mix instead of a brown gravy packet.
- Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce for extra depth of flavor.
- Sprinkle shredded Parmesan cheese into the gravy for a unique twist.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Cube Steak
This flavorful cube steak with rich brown gravy pairs well with all your favorite comfort food sides. Some of my favorites include:
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Buttered egg noodles
- White rice
- Roasted broccoli
- Green beans
- Buttered corn
- Side salad
- Dinner rolls
Expert Tips & Tricks
- Cook on Low whenever possible for the most tender results.
- Don’t overcook on High or the meat can become dry.
- Separate layers of cube steak with onion slices if you skip browning.
- Taste the gravy before serving and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Whisk the gravy well before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley for extra color and freshness.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerator:Â Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer:Â Freeze the cooked cube steaks and gravy in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating:Â Warm leftovers on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through. If the gravy has thickened too much, stir in a splash of beef broth while reheating.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping seasoning the meat before cooking.
- Cooking on High when you have time to cook on Low.
- Forgetting to whisk the gravy before serving.
- Over-thickening the gravy without adding additional broth.
- Using untenderized round steak without pounding it first.
FAQs about Slow Cooker Cube Steak
Easy Weeknight Crockpot Dinner
The next time you’re looking for an easy meal that practically cooks itself, this Slow Cooker Cube Steak is one recipe you’ll want to keep on repeat. The tender beef, rich onion gravy, and simple pantry ingredients make it a dependable meal for busy weeknights and relaxed Sunday dinners alike. Serve it over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice, and you’ll have a hearty meal that always gets rave reviews at my house. Happy cooking!
More Beefy Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love
- Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs
- Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles
- Crockpot Garlic Butter Steak Bites
- Crockpot Beef Stew
- Easy Beef Stroganoff in the Crockpot
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Tender Slow Cooker Cube Steak with Onion Gravy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.75 lbs cube steak about 6 pieces
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil for searing steak, optional
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 10.5 oz can French onion soup
- 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 1 oz pkt brown gravy mix
- fresh chopped parsley optional for garnish
Instructions
- Season both sides of the cube steaks with salt and pepper.
- Optional: If desired, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the steaks for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Arrange the cube steaks in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the sliced onions and minced garlic over the steaks.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the French onion soup, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, and brown gravy mix until smooth.
- Pour the gravy mixture evenly over the cube steaks.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 4 to 5 hours, until the steaks are fork tender.
- Remove the steaks from the slow cooker. Whisk the gravy until smooth and thickened.
- Spoon the gravy over the cube steaks and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
