Slow Cooker Cube Steak and Gravy Recipe

This Slow Cooker Cube Steak and Gravy is an easy, savory comfort-food dinner made with tenderized beef, onion, broth, and a rich gravy that cooks right alongside the meat in the crockpot. With only a handful of ingredients, it is a simple recipe for busy days when you want tender beef without a lot of hands-on cooking.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Cube Steak and Gravy

This recipe keeps the ingredient list simple:

Cube steak
Beef broth
Onion
Dry onion soup mix
Arrowroot starch or cornstarch
Butter or ghee, optional

slow cooker cube steak and gravy 2 — Simple ingredients for making cube steak and onion gravy in the slow cooker.

Cube steak is a good choice for slow cooking because it starts as a tougher cut of beef that has already been mechanically tenderized. Low, slow cooking gives the meat time to become tender while the onion and broth create the base for the gravy.

If you like this kind of hearty beef dinner, Classic Homemade Meatloaf has the same comforting, family-style feel.

Beef and Gravy Goodness

The beefy flavor of the cube steak is satisfying on its own, especially after the meat has had time to become tender and juicy in the slow cooker. But the gravy is one of the best parts of the recipe.

The slow cooker produces plenty of flavorful onion gravy, so there is enough to spoon generously over the cube steak and over sides such as mashed potatoes.

That makes this a particularly good comfort-food dinner when you want something rich and saucy rather than a dry meat dish. For another hearty one-pan style meal, this Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet is another easy option.

How to Make Cube Steak and Gravy in the Crockpot

One of the advantages of this recipe is that you do not need to brown the cube steaks first. They can go directly into the slow cooker raw.

slow cooker cube steak and gravy 3 — Cube steak can go directly into the slow cooker without browning first.

The beef cooks with the onion, broth, and onion seasoning so that the gravy develops directly in the crockpot while the meat becomes tender.

Arrowroot starch or cornstarch is used to help thicken the liquid into gravy. Butter or ghee can also be included if desired.

slow cooker cube steak and gravy 4 — Tender cube steak after slow cooking in its rich onion gravy.

For another recipe where the slow cooker does most of the work, try Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken with Pineapple.

What If You Don’t Have French Onion Soup?

If you cannot find French onion soup, the source notes that you can substitute a can of beef broth or prepared gravy instead.

That makes the recipe flexible when a specific ingredient is unavailable. The important part is maintaining enough flavorful liquid for the beef to slow cook in and for the gravy to develop.

If you are serving this meal with bread for soaking up the gravy, Gluten-Free Artisan Bread is another option from the site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cube steak?

Cube steak is usually top round or top sirloin that has been tenderized before it is sold. The tenderizing process leaves small indentations or holes in the surface of the beef, which gives it its characteristic appearance.

Because it comes from a tougher portion of the animal, cube steak works especially well with low-and-slow cooking methods.

Do you need to brown the cube steak first?

No. The source recipe adds the cube steak directly to the slow cooker without browning it first.

Do you have to use homemade dry onion soup mix?

No. A store-bought packet can be used instead. However, the source notes that doing so may change whether the recipe is paleo, Whole30 compatible, or gluten-free depending on the packet ingredients.

Can you double this recipe?

Yes. The recipe can be doubled when feeding more people. Use a larger slow cooker so the additional meat and liquid have enough room to cook properly.

If you regularly make larger slow-cooker meals for a family, recipes like Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken and Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken with Pineapple use the same hands-off style of cooking.

Can you add other vegetables?

Yes. The source uses onion, but also suggests mushrooms, bell peppers, or frozen peas and carrots as possible additions.

For another vegetable-heavy comfort-food option, Gluten-Free Minestrone Soup is another recipe to save.

What size slow cooker should you use?

The source recipe was made in a 3.5-quart slow cooker. If you double the recipe, use a larger slow cooker.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover Slow Cooker Cube Steak and Gravy in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

For general food-safety guidance on storing cooked leftovers, you can also reference the FoodSafety.gov Cold Food Storage Chart.

For another easy savory dinner to keep in your meal rotation, Dry Rub Chicken Wings work well when you want something crisp instead of slow cooked, while Loaded Hummus Pitas are useful for a lighter meal or appetizer.