Slow Cooker Cube Steak

Name: Slow Cooker Cube Steak (7 Ingredients!)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 420 min
Total time: 450 min
Ingredients: 2-2 1/2 pounds cube steak; Salt and Black Pepper; Flour for dredging; 2-3 tablespoon oil; 2 10.5 ounce cans condensed cream of mushroom soup; 10 ounces milk; 1 envelope Lipton Onions Soup mix; 8 ounce sliced mushrooms

Jump to Recipe

This slow cooker cube steak is the perfect weeknight meal with 7 ingredients. With just 30 minutes of prep time you can make a comforting crockpot dinner recipe that everyone loves. Cube steak is something my family has made for years and I've given you all the tips for success to make it even easier.

Cube steak, mashed potatoes and green beans on a plate.

Slow cooker recipes are a go-to for busy weeknights or nights I just don't feel like cooking! If you want an easy meal that's comfort, convenience, and mouthwatering tenderness, look no further than this tender cube steak and savory gravy!

Cooked to tender perfection with a savory mushroom onion gravy that's incredible ladled over your favorite side dish, your whole family is sure to request this enter the dinner rotation!

Save The Recipe!

Add your email below and we’ll send it straight to your inbox+ you’ll receive all our newest recipes!

A few more of our family crockpot favorites are Slow Cooker Korean Beef, Crock Pot Beef and Noodles, and Crockpot Roast Beef!

Table of Contents

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Budget-Friendly: Cubed steak is often an economical choice compared to more expensive cuts of meat.
Convenience: With just a handful of ingredients, you can set this crockpot cube steak recipe and forget it, making it an excellent choice for an easy weeknight meal on a busy day!
Feel Good Food: It’s one of the best wholesome comfort food meals!
Side Dish Variety: It’s great served over mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or light bread!

What is Cube Steak?

Cube steak is a cut of beef, such as top round or top sirloin, that has been tenderized by pounding with a meat mallet or running it through a mechanical tenderizer. This process creates small indentations or cube-shaped markings on the surface of the meat, giving it its name. The goal of tenderizing cube steak is to break down the muscle fibers and connective tissues, resulting in a more tender and easily chewed texture.

While cube steak is already tenderized, it's important to cook it using appropriate methods to ensure optimal tenderness and flavor. Chicken-fried steak is one of the classic recipes featuring cube steak. In this dish, the meat is breaded and fried, similar to fried chicken, and served with a creamy gravy. A slow cooking process, such as this recipe, also yields a super tender end result!

Ingredients in Crockpot Cube Steak

Scroll down to see the ingredient amounts in the recipe card.

Cube Steak: The main protein in the dish, providing a hearty and meaty texture.
Flour: Serves as a coating for the cube steak before searing. This coating helps to create a browned crust on the meat when seared, adding flavor and contributing to the texture of the dish. You can use all-purpose or self-rising flour.
Oil: Used for searing the cube steak. Searing the meat before slow cooking helps to lock in flavors and adds a layer of richness to the dish. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil.
Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup: Serves as the base for the sauce in the dish. It provides a creamy and savory element, adding richness and depth of flavor.
Milk: Add a touch of creaminess and contribute to the overall texture of the dish.
Lipton Onion Soup Mix: Adds a robust onion and herb flavor to the dish, enhancing the savory profile.
Mushrooms: They complement the beefy taste of the cube steak and contribute to the overall richness of the sauce.

The ingredients to make cube steak and gravy.

Tools You'll Need

How to Make Slow Cooker Cube Steak

Slice mushrooms in quarter inch slices.

Heat a large fry pan on high with oil. Season cube steaks with salt and pepper and lightly dredge with flour.

Sear both sides 2-3 minutes each. Work in batches if needed.

To a crockpot, whisk together cream of mushroom soups, milk, onion soup mix, and mushrooms.

Add the seared cube steaks to the crockpot and cover with the sauce. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5.

Adding cube steak to a crockpot with gravy.

Serve over mashed potatoes, brown or white rice, or egg noodles.

A plate with cube steak, potatoes and green beans.

Expert Tips for Recipe Success

Choose the Right Cut: While cube steak is typically tenderized, choosing a higher-quality cut, such as sirloin or round steak, can enhance the overall quality of the dish. This dish can also be made with boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
Monitor Cooking Time: Check the slow cooker at the specified time in the recipe, low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. While slow cooking is forgiving, it's important not to cook the cube steak for excessively long periods as it can lead to mushiness.
Cream of Mushroom Soup Substitute: There are several substitutions for canned cream of mushroom soup:
- You can instead use cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, or another variety of condensed canned soups.
- You can also make my homemade cream of mushroom soup. Make sure to double the recipe.
- Another option is remove the meat at the end of cook time and whisking in 8 ounces of softened cream cheese plus 8 ounces of milk.
- Lastly, you could instead use 8 ounces sour cream plus 8 ounces of milk.
Gluten-Free Options: If you need a gluten-free option, replace flour with a gluten-free flour or cornstarch for thickening.
Customize with Flavors: Add Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, or Dijon mustard for additional depth and complexity. You can also add fresh herbs toward the end of the cooking process for a burst of fresh flavor. Dried herbs can be added at the beginning.
Lipton Onion Soup Mix Substitute: A homemade version of 1 Lipton Onion Soup Mix packet can be used instead of store-bought. Simply combine 2 ½ tablespoons dried minced onion, 4 cubes regular or reduced sodium beef bouillon, crumbled, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper.

Oven and Instant Pot Cube Steak and Mushroom Gravy Instructions

This easy cube steak recipe can also be cooked to successful tenderness first on the stove top then in the oven and in an instant pot:

Instant Pot: Coat each cube steak with a thin layer of flour. Season with salt and pepper. Set the Instant Pot to "Sauté" mode. Add oil and sear the cube steaks on both sides until browned. Transfer steaks to a plate. Add mushrooms and sauté until softened. Pour ½ cup water to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in the milk, cream of mushroom soups, and onion soup mix. Return cube steaks. Close the Instant Pot lid, set the valve to "Sealing," and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Allow for a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully release any remaining pressure.

Oven: In an oven-safe skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown cube steaks on both sides. Remove steaks and set aside. Sauté mushrooms in the skillet for 1 minute. Stir in the milk, cream of mushroom soups, and onion soup mix. Return cube steaks, ensuring they're fully submerged. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and transfer it to a 350°F preheated oven. Bake for approximately 45-60 minutes or until the cube steaks are tender and cooked through.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Allow leftover cube steak to cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days. I like separating the meat in a separate bowl from the gravy, but this is optional.

This easy recipe yields a lot of meat. While the leftovers are excellent, freezing works great as well. Simply place in an airtight container and freeze up to 3 months.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Cube Steak and Gravy

This tender beef is amazing served over Whipped Mashed Potatoes, 3 Ingredient Rice, or light bread with a big ladle of the gravy. A few vegetable dishes that are a great complement are Gremolata Green Beans, Ranch Roasted Potatoes, Easy Cooked Vegetables, steamed broccoli, and Whole Roasted Honey Carrots.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cook cube steak so it is tender?

While cube steak is already tenderized, you can further tenderize it by gently pounding each piece with a meat tenderizer. This helps break down muscle fibers and ensures even thickness. If you're using a liquid-based recipe, consider braising the cube steak first before simmering. Slow cooking helps break down the connective tissues and results in a more tender texture. The USDA recommends a minimum safe internal temperature of 145°F for beef.

Does cube steak get more tender the longer you cook it?

While cube steak can benefit from slow cooking to enhance tenderness, there is still a limit to how long it should be cooked in a crockpot to avoid overcooking and potential dryness. Past 6-8 hours on low heat or 3-4 hours on high heat and the meat can become dry.

Why do you soak cube steak in milk?

In some recipes, soaking cube steak in milk is recommended to help tenderize the meat and reduce its potential gaminess. The milk acts as a mild marinade, contributing to a more tender and flavorful end result. In this recipe, it cooks in a gravy made with milk.

What is cube steak good for?

Cube steak is good for chicken fried steak, Swiss steak, stroganoff, kebabs and skewers, stir fry, slow cooker or crockpot recipes, sandwiches, taco filling, salads and quick pan-frying.

Will cube steak get tender in the crock pot?

The slow and low-temperature allows the connective tissues and collagen in the meat to break down gradually. The exact cooking time can depend on the recipe, specific crockpot model, and temperature settings. Typically the meat will get tender on a low between 6-8 hours and on a high between 3-4 hours.

Can I use frozen cube steak?

Cooking frozen meat in a slow cooker can lead to uneven cooking, longer cooking times, and the potential for bacteria to multiply in the meat's outer layers before reaching a safe temperature.

How can I thaw cube steak quickly for cooking in a crockpot?

Thawing can be done in the refrigerator, in a sealed plastic bag placed under cold running water, or using the defrost function on a microwave.

What can I use instead of cream of mushroom soup?

You can instead use cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, or another variety of condensed canned soups. You can also make it from scratch. Another option is remove the meat at the end of cook time and whisking in 8 ounces of cream cheese plus 8 ounces of milk. Lastly, you could instead use 8 ounces sour cream plus 8 ounces of milk.

More Delicious Crockpot Recipes

Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe

5 from 8 votes