Crock Pot Cube Steak is an easy recipe that creates the most fork-tender, falling apart cubed steaks ever! Plus they create their own creamy mushroom gravy as it cooks! Serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or by itself!
NOTE: This recipe was updated in 2020 to include new images and some extra tips. The recipe stayed exactly the same!
There are a lot of days when I have to help on the farm. By the time I get into the house, I’m tired and hungry. Thank goodness for slow cookers! There’s nothing like coming home to the smell of Cube Steak simmering away in a divine mushroom sauce!
If you’re wondering what to make with cube steak be sure to check out these other cube steak recipes: Slow Cooker Cube Steak Stew or make my Philly Cheesesteak Quesadilla with leftover cube steak.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak is great for busy days
I come from several generations of farm women. My grandma used to work right along with my grandpa. She was an amazing truck driver, cattle worker, bookkeeper, bread baker, and canner, among other things.
It was so cool that she could go outside in her grubbies and work then come home and get dolled up for some occasion. I love to go outside and help the boys on the farm. But I also like to get dressed up, once in a while and feel somewhat pretty.
I will always remember the meals we used to have at Grandma’s house. She always served bread and sliced cheese….at every meal! What a good lady! How different her life would have been if she would have had owned a slow cooker. My family survives because I own a slow cooker.
There are many days when I am working and don’t have an extra minute to think about dinner. When my boys walk through the door after doing their chores, they are HUNGRY! Trust me, something like chicken salad sandwiches is not going to satisfy them.
Why This Recipe Works
There are so many reasons to love this recipe!
- Quick and easy! Although you’ll need to plan ahead because it takes about 6-8 hours for this cube steak to cook in the Crock Pot, you’ll only need about 20 minutes to prepare it! The slow cooker does its magic and when you come home your house will smell divine!
- Inexpensive! Cube steak is an inexpensive cut of meat because it’s made from some of the tougher cuts of beef. The secret to getting tender cube steak is letting it cook low and slow!
- Tried and true recipe! I’ve made this recipe a thousand times and it’s ALWAYS delicious! It’s that old-fashioned cube steak recipe with dry onion soup mix and cream of mushroom soup! It basically makes its own gravy without you having to whisk or stand at the stovetop at all!
All about Cube Steak
I’ve answered all the questions about cube steak in this post called What is Cube Steak! I’ll walk you through how to tenderize cube steak without a meat mallet. I share the best ways to cook Swiss steak. What it’s made of and what cut of meat it comes from.
Seriously, go check it out because it has all my tips on a super quick and easy way to tenderize cube steak! I’ve been using this method for years and it works great. No special kitchen gadgets or tools are needed!
Ingredients
You’ll need simple ingredients to make this recipe. Let’s talk about options for substituting.
- Cube Steak: If you don’t have cube steak you can use round steak. It won’t be the same, but it will still be delicious!
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: Feel free to use cream of whatever soup. Cream of chicken and cream of mushroom are both great!
- Evaporated milk: Since evaporated milk has been heated until about 60% of its water content has evaporated it won’t curdle in the slow cooker. Be sure to use evaporated milk, not whole milk or condensed milk.
- Dry Onion Soup Mix
- Seasonings: This recipe is easy to customize according to your tastes. Adding dry herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and sage are all yummy. Or, you can add garlic powder or onion powder.
- Mushrooms: I like fresh best, but canned mushrooms will also work. If you don’t like mushrooms leave them out or replace them with diced onions.
How to make Crock Pot Cube Steak
If you’re wondering how to cook cube steak so it isn’t tough you’re in the right place! This cube steak crock pot recipe makes the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth, falling apart cubes steak ever!
It’s such an easy recipe because it creates a smothered cube steak without having any extra steps!
STEP 1: Tenderize cubed steaks as I showed you with all the other everything else you need to know all about cube steak! You’re basically going to sprinkle the cube steak with a dusting of flour, salt, and pepper. Then use a meat mallet or cleaver to pound the steak. Flip and repeat. The steak doesn’t need to be super thin. Work it until the flour is pretty much worked into the meat. It’s a bit like dredging steak, but you don’t need to fry it before cooking it.
STEP 2: Make the cream of mushroom, or onion gravy, by mixing onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, and a little milk together. It will be lumpy but don’t worry about that.
STEP 3: Layer half of the cubed steaks in the bottom of a slow cooker then add half of the gravy mix.
STEP 4: Repeat step 3 layering the other half of the meat and sauce. Add sliced mushrooms if you’d like.
STEP 5: Cook steaks in the crock pot on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Garnish with chopped parsley if you’d like!
Cube steak is round steak of top sirloin steak that has been tenderized by the butcher. This is done by running it through a “cubing” machine or being pounded with a mallet. The process breaks down the muscle fibers in the steak making it more tender.
Cooking cube steak low and slow is what makes cube steak tender. I recommend cooking this in the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours. The flavors get stronger and the fibers in the meat break down making it extra tender.
What to serve with Crock-Pot Cube Steaks
We LOVE these steaks served over pasta, rice, or my make-ahead cheesy mashed potatoes, or spinach mashed potatoes. It’s also great served by itself with a few sides! These are all great choices.
- Smashes Potatoes – quick and easy
- Cheesy Potatoes – can be made ahead
- Slow Cooker Corn Casserole – creamy and cheesy
- Glazed Carrots – a skillet side dish
- Bacon Peas – easy and flavorful
- Garlic Knots – with parmesan
- Herb Monkey Bread – so cheesy and yummy
- No Knead Wheat Bread – so easy
Get the Crock Pot Cube Steak recipe!
When your crew wants something hearty, something to warm them up. Slow Cooker Cube Steaks in mushroom gravy is one of those recipes that farm women have been passing down over the years.
Comfort food like that hits the spot every time. The longer it cooks the more tender the cube steak gets until it is falling apart. The mushroom sauce is so creamy and delicious it could be eaten alone with a spoon.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak in Mushroom Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 whole cube steaks
- 1/4 cups flour
- dash salt and pepper
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme optional
- 1 10.75 ounce cans cream of mushroom soup See Note
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Spray a slow cooker with nonstick baking spray or line with a slow cooker liner.
- Lay cube steaks flat on a cutting board. Sprinkle one side with flour, salt and pepper. Pound meat with a meat tenderizer, or a knife. Flip steaks and repeat on the other side.
- Mix dry onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, evaporated milk, and thyme together. Add mushrooms and stir.
- Arrange half of the steaks on the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour half of the mushroom sauce on top. Repeat with the rest of the cube steak and mushroom gravy.
- Cook in a slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
- Serve over cooked noodles, mashed potateos, or rice.
Sharon says
I just put this in the crock pot! My concern is the milk, it doesn’t cuddle?
Amy Engberson says
Good question Sharon! I always use evaporated milk and I haven’t ever had a problem with it curdling! I can’t wait for you to try it!
Sherry says
Every one loved it. And it was soooooo tender. Thank you for sharing.
Amy Engberson says
That’s my favorite part about this recipe! The cube steaks come out fork tender!
Dianne says
I used this recipe in my Instant Pot. It was very flavorful. I added a few more mushrooms and high pressured for 10 minutes. Very good recipe!
Dianne from FL
Amy Engberson says
I love that you made it in the pressure cooker! It makes the whole process so much faster!
Cathy Pressey says
I definitely will make this. But am confused you say 1 can of milk. Did you mean a cup of milk or a whole can of evaporated milk. Please reply. Thanks
Cathy Pressey says
I see that someone else asked the same question & I read your reply. Just fill the empty soup can with milk. Got it
Katie says
Hello! What if I wanted to cook this in the oven? What would you recommend? The same amount of time at??…..250? 300?
Thanks pal!
Amy Engberson says
Hi Katie! I actually haven’t ever cooked this in my oven because the slow cooker is so forgiving when it comes to time and is such a hands off way to make sure dinner is ready when my family is ready for it. The other reason I like the slow cooker is because cube steak is a tougher cut of meat and needs plenty of time to cook so it can tenderize as it cooks. With that having been said, if I was cooking it in the oven I think I would cook it at 350 degrees for about and hour. It might not be as tender as if you cooked it in the slow cooker though. Good luck!
Linda says
One can of milk? Wish it was a little more specific?? I’m not much of a cook so I need to know EXACTLY what I need.
Amy Engberson says
Oh goodness, that does need clarification! After adding the soup I use that same soup can and fill it up with milk (I’m all about eliminating dirty dishes)! I can’t wait for you to try these! It’s such a comforting meal!
Linda says
Thank you dear! I’m making this for my husband tonight & I’m sure we are both going to love it! Thank you for the great recipe!!!
Annie says
Hi Amy! This sounds delicious! If I cut the recipe in half, how long would you recommend I cook for?? Thanks, Annie
Amy Engberson says
Hi Annie! I would cook this for the same amount of time because the cube steak needs to cook for quite awhile to tenderize it regardless of how many steaks are in the slow cooker! Trust me, your house is about to smell divine!
Don says
My go to recipe on busy days is Salsa Chicken in the slow cooker, because the only required ingredients are both in the name! 6 hours on low, and then all you have to do is shred the chicken to use in tacos, burritos, etc. with your favorite toppings.
Amy Engberson says
That’s one of my favorite recipes too! We make pork chops the same way! Yum!
Toni Jones says
Amy,
Your recipe for slow cooker cube sreak sounds delicious. I’ll be trying it soon.
Toni
Amy Engberson says
I can’t wait for you to try this recipe Toni! This is one of our family favorites!
Julianne says
I’ve been making this for years without the crockpot. My husband just asked if we could have some, but with it being in the 100s outside I really didn’t want to heat up the house. Never even thought about cooking this in the crock. He will be so happy to have it for dinner and I will love cooler less messy kitchen. Thanks!!
Amy Engberson says
Yay for crockpots! They are the best for all the comfort food I want to make in the winter and they are just right for cooking dinner in the summer without heating the house up! I need to make this recipe again!
Robin says
Making this again tonight! My hubby loves cube steak,I not so much,until we tried this! Very good easy too. Now everyone is happy,thanks
Amy Engberson says
Oh yay! We always have plenty of cube steak in the freezer. It’s not my favorite cut of meat either but I love it in this dish!
Roslyn says
The recipe was great. Enjoying now for Sunday dinner.
Amy Engberson says
Yay! Glad you loved it!
sherry johns says
So you don’t brown the meat and flour before putting in crock pot?
Amy Engberson says
No, I don’t brown the meat first. I know it sounds a little crazy but it works great and I love not having to do that extra step1 Enjoy!
Celia J. says
This was fabulous! I have never had cubed steak so tender! I have to admit that I omitted the Kitchen Bouquet & parsley, & it was still the best. I was skeptical serving my family a mushroom-based meal, even though I love them. But there was never a complaint! I will be making this again soon!
Amy Engberson says
Yay! Cube steak is a tough cut of meat, but with a few tricks it can be super tender! Glad your family loved it!
TT MURPHY says
Also keep the recipes coming!
TT MURPHY says
HOWDY! Farm Girl so glad I found your post, like you my first LOVE IS GOD & my Family I’m a work in progress lol! First time trying your recipes ( roast) it’s in the crock pot now will holler back, love coming home from early Sunday service & Walla dinner is ready! Take care Family is Truly a Blessing!
Amy Engberson says
I think we are all a work in progress and try our hardest to be a little bit better every day! I just have to remember to be patient with myself. I hope you enjoyed your roast as almost much as you do your family!
Holly says
There is something about kitchen bouquet in the directions but not in the ingredients???
Amy Engberson says
Sorry Holly! Kitchen Bouquet is a liquid in a brown bottle and has a yellow lid. I don’t really think it adds much flavor to the dish, but I love it for the rich brown color it adds. You could leave it out if you didn’t have any. I add a splash, probably about a Tablespoon!
allison says
When the recipe calls for one can of milk what is that exactly? And how many ounces please?
Amy Engberson says
I can see how that was confusing Allison. I fill the soup can full of milk one time! Using the soup can instead of a measuring cup makes less dirty dishes and I love that!
Kathy says
Hello from TN – found you while pinning something and browsed your blog – it is GREAT – I have never been to Idaho but maybe someday will get to visit your state. I enjoy cooking and pets and photography – are you on Instagram? I follow a couple of dairy farms on IG who post a lot of cute cow pics and pics of farm life and scenery. I really enjoy those. I will be back when I have more time to browse your recipes. I do have a question on Crock Pot recipes – what recipe is your very FAVORITE for a slow cooker? I am going to try this one for sure. I will make sure to follow you on Pinterest and look forward to reading more on your blog. Thanks Kathy (@volkathy on IG and Pinterest)
Amy Engberson says
Thanks for the sweet words, Kathy! I hope you get a chance to visit Idaho some day! I am on instagram at https://instagram.com/amyengberson/. I would love to have you follow me!
Elaine Duckett says
I am pretty sure Grandma Berrett would have a loved a slow cooker. I am kind of surprised she didn’t invent one.
Amy Engberson says
I’m sure in her own way she did invent something that worked similarly to a slow cooker! She was a master of making new inventions!