Crockpot Cube Steak (with Onions & Gravy)

Mike loves his cube steak, but it can be quite a challenge trying to find new ways to prepare it. Other than pan frying (which is not only boring, but tough and chewy), there’s only so much you can do with a cube steak. I usually make Country Fried Steak, but this time I wanted to find a more “tender” approach. The best way to get fork-tender meat is to slow cook it. So, I went online to see if I could find any crockpot recipes. Believe it or not, I actually found a website that is dedicated specifically to “cube steak” (www.Cube-Steak-Recipes.com). How cool is that? Of course, there’s not a lot of recipes there (like I said, cube steak is limited), but I did find one that peaked my interest. Not only are the steaks slow cooked in a crockpot, but they are smothered in onions and bathed in a succulent gravy. Sound reminiscent of Salisbury steaks? Well, that’s exactly how they tasted. Mike couldn’t stop raving about them. They were moist, incredibly tender, a breeze to prepare, and as hearty and satisfying as their retro counterpart.

In a large re-sealable plastic bag, combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper. Add cube steaks, a few at a time. Shake gently to coat steaks. Repeat with remaining steaks. (I did find that the 2nd batch of steaks coated better on a plate, instead of the bag. So, use whichever method gives you a nice thorough flour coating.)

In large skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons oil over medium high heat. Add the steaks, a few at a time, and cook until browned on both sides. Add more oil, if necessary, and repeat with remaining steaks, reducing heat (if necessary, to avoid scorching).

Place the browned steaks in the slow cooker. Pour 2 cups water over all. Cover. Cook on low for 8 hours total (4 hours if using high setting), or until meat is tender. Halfway through cooking time, you will add the onions. Contrary to what you may have learned in the past about cooking veggies in the crockpot, some vegetables, such as onions and bell peppers, require a lot less time to cook than the meat. If you put them in with the meat initially, they will literally dissolve and disappear by the time the meat is cooked. I always add them much later in the cooking process. (With bell peppers, I usually wait until the last hour of cooking to add them, so they are crisp tender.)

Slice onions.  

After the steaks have been cooking for 4 hours on low (or 2 hours on high setting), add the onions to the crockpot. Cover and continue cooking for the balance of cooking time, or until steaks are tender.

In a bowl, whisk together the 3 packets of gravy mixes with remaining 1 cup of water. (Gravy mixture will be thick.)

Pour over onions and steaks in crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes more.

CROCKPOT CUBE STEAK (with Onions & Gravy)
Source: www.Cube-Steak-Recipes.com
Posted by: www.meldingmagic.com

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 to 2 onions, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 (about 4 ounces each) beef cube steaks
• 2 to 4 Tablespoons canola oil, divided
• 3 cups water, divided
• 1 envelope brown gravy mix
• 1 envelope mushroom gravy mix
• 1 envelope onion gravy mix

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large re-sealable plastic bag, combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper. Add cube
    steaks, a few at a time. Shake gently to coat steaks. Repeat with remaining steaks. (Or, place breading
    mix in a dish and dredge steaks.)
2. In large skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons oil over medium high heat. Add the steaks, a few at a time, and
    cook until browned on both sides. Add more oil, if necessary, and repeat with remaining steaks,
    reducing heat (if necessary, to avoid scorching).
3. Place the browned steaks in the slow cooker. Pour 2 cups water over all. Cover. Cook on low for 8
    hours total (4 hours if using high setting), or until meat is tender. Halfway through cooking time, you
    will add the onions.
4. After the steaks have been cooking for 4 hours on low (or 2 hours on high setting), add the onions to
    the crockpot. Cover and continue cooking for the balance of cooking time, or until steaks are tender.
5. In a bowl, whisk together the 3 packets of gravy mixes with remaining 1 cup of water.
6. Pour over onions and steaks in crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes more.