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.
Notes
Nutrition
Lasesana says
This dish looks so delicious and great. I plan on smoking a pound or two of salmon. What is best way to keep small sections for future consumption? Thanks.
Amy Engberson says
I actually don’t like fish so I’m not very experienced at cooking or storing it. I’d probably try storing it in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge. Sorry, I’m not much help with that one!
Denise says
This looks awesome and I know it will be delicious. I’m going to try it soon! We raise hogs as well as beef so I always have pork in my freezer and I’m going to try this with some pork cutletts. I think it will be just as delicious! Love your recipes!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks for stopping by! I love that you raise beef and pigs! Making this with pork is a great idea! Slow cooker meals are the best and this one is definitely a favorite!
Sara says
The meat was pink. I realized 8 hours later that it doesn’t say anything about browning the meat before you put it into the cooker. I’m afraid to try it because it doesn’t look cooked and I wasted all the ingredients
Amy Engberson says
I have never browned these cube steaks before cooking. After being in the slow cooker on low for 5-6 hours or high for 4 hours they should be completely cooked through. You could always check the temperature to make sure they’re completely cooked through. 145 degrees is the safe temperature for cooking steak. Hopefully that helps!
Thomas says
Awesome! One of my favorite Slow Cooker Cube Steak in Mushroom Sauce, nice to see your recipe, easy to follow, will cook this for family this weekend. Thanks you.
Pete says
Can leftovers be frozen? I am cooking for one.
Amy Engberson says
I’ve never tried freezing this particular meal, but I think it would work really well. Let me know how it goes.
Mary says
When I make cube steak with onion soup mix, sauteed onions, minced garlic and 2 cans of beef broth, I always make a big batch of it becuase it freezes so well. This is a great example of comfort food, one that I like to make once or twice over the Winter months. but I omit the cream of mushroom soup and milk. Either way you make it, its always a treat to come across a container of tender, cube steak dinner in the freezer, which keeps so well. My family insists on fluffy mashed potatoes served on the side, which tastes so great with the gravy!
Amy Engberson says
Yes! It really is the best comfort food! It’s the perfect winter meal!
Amy Engberson says
It should take longer than 45 minutes to make this recipe unless you are making it in the pressure cooker.
Alice says
Hi, Amy
I love you and your recipes, but I don’t like mushrooms but I also try to make this recipe for my family
thank you so much
Amy Engberson says
The mushrooms could easily be left out! It will still taste amazing!
Peter Crouch 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
Isn’t this the BEST easy meal every! It’s so comforting and a winner with kids! Glad you enjoyed it!
ZAME says
My Mom really loves to eat any recipes making from mushroom. Your tip is the good one for me to prepare the healthy meal every day for her. Thank you so much for your sharing.
Williams says
I love to cook, learn and update new recipes for my daily menu, which makes me always interested in my work. Today’s my lucky day, Slow Cooker Cube Steak in Mushroom Sauce is great, just follow the instructions and everything is easy, I like that. Thanks for your sharing
Marciniak says
I love Cube Steak, it’s great to be able to do it yourself at home, thanks to your videos and tutorials, just follow it and everything is easy.
Anthony Allen says
Eating this great comfort food right now! Will definitely make again. SO easy and convenient!
Williams says
They look very attractive. Thanks for your guide recipe. You make the processing of them easier. added the menu for this week and will try it soon. thanks again!
Ed Carmichael says
it looks perfect and tasty! Can’t wait to have this any time of the day, love it!
rook brand cloth says
Looks yum and creamy, oh thanks so much even you’r busy but also made a great post. I will cook this on weekend for my family.
Amy Engberson says
It’s crazy how busy life can get! Yes! This is a fantastic meal especially on the busiest of days! Enjoy coming home to a hearty homemade meal!
Toroso Restaurant says
I love this recipe, I made it easily thanks to your detailed instructions
Amy Engberson says
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it! This cube steak recipe is one of my super easy, go to recipes! You just can’t beat fork tender steak!
laura@lasesana says
Mushroom sauce is new for me, I haven’t tried this before so I may not make the same as yours but I will try your recipe, thanks.
Amy Engberson says
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it as much as we do!
Charles McKnight says
Wow! I loved! I’ll try to do it today.
Amy Engberson says
Yay! Glad you loved it!
Angel Stokes says
1 can of milk? I can of evaporated milk? What are the measurements? This is unckesr
Amy Engberson says
After you empty the soup from the soup can fill it up with milk and use it. I always measure my milk this way because then I don’t have to wash a measuring cup. A can of cream of mushroom soup is 10.5 ounces so you could measure if you’d like. It would be about 1 1/4 cups. Evaporated milk works well in this recipe, so does whole milk, or 2% milk. Hopefully that clears it up!