Mouthwatering Cube Steak Recipe (2024)

Make dinner a night to remember with this delicious recipe for Tender Cube Steak with savory brown gravy and caramelized onions. You can prepare this amazing meal using your stovetop in a slow cooker. This dish is perfect with sides like homemade mashed potatoes, roasted green beans, cornbread, or glazed roasted carrots!

I couldn’t help but laugh when my hubby came home from the store. Instead of buying ground beef (which I clearly wrote on his list), he purchased some cube steak because, by his logic, beef is beef, right? But everything works perfectly, and while I enjoy making hamburger steaks, it’s fun to switch things up occasionally.

This has become one of my favorite cube steak recipes, and that’s guaranteed to shake things up. Plus, I found preparing it was a little easier than making my favorite Chicken Fried Steak recipe since you don’t have to worry about bread. (That said, the seasoning I use for this cube steak recipe will knock your socks off!)

Cube Steak Explained

• Cube steak is simply a cut from Top Sirloin or Top Round that’s been tenderized (beaten thoroughly using a textured mallet), a process that leaves the meat with a few tiny indentations. Pounding the steak serves to break down its muscle fibers, which removes a lot of the toughness, making it more tender.

How to CookCubeSteak Recipe

Check out our recipe card below for the exact ingredient quantities and a full list of instructions.

Start by tenderizing your cube steaks until you get them to about 1/2 thick. Next, start rubbing them with your seasoning mix before flouring.

Over medium heat, sear your cube steaks in a pan with olive oil for around three minutes on each side.

Once finished, set your cube steaks on a side plate. Then melt some butter in the skillet using medium heat. You take a silicone spatula and use it to scrape up all that delicious fond from the bottom. (Fond is the tasty leftover in the pan after searing meat, it really makes a huge difference in flavoring your gravy).

Now, it’s time to add your onions to the butter. Sauté until they are soft (between 15-20 minutes), and be sure to stir them well to soak up all that yummy fond.

Add the rest of your gravy ingredients, then bring the skillet to a boil before reducing it to a simmer.

Reintroduce your cubed steaks back into the pan and use a spoon to cover them in gravy. Partially cover your skillet while allowing everything to continue simmering for about 5-7 minutes. If you feel the gravy isn’t thick enough or the meat isn’t tender enough, allow for more time. Two of my favorite sides for this dish are buttermilk biscuits and mashed potatoes.

Preparing in a Slow Cooker

• Season and tenderize your cube steaks as mentioned above.
• Sear your cube steaks for a shorter duration, only 2-3 minutes per side, then set them aside.
• Prepare your gravy as mentioned above, then transfer everything to your slow cooker, including your cube steaks.
• Pro Tip: You can complete the steps mentioned above the night before and then cook everything in your slow cooker the following day.
• Cook everything on low heat for between 7-8 hours or cook on high heat for 3-4 hours.

Making This Recipe Ahead of Time

• Season, tenderize, and sear your cube steaks, as mentioned above. Then set them aside and prepare your gravy using the steps mentioned above.
• Remove the skillet from the fire and allow the gravy to cool.
• Store your gravy and steaks together in the fridge inside an airtight container for between 1-2 days, and reheat everything on your stovetop.
• If gravy is too thick, you can thin it out with a splash of water or a bit of beef broth while everything’s reheating.

Including Mushrooms

To give your dish a more delicious umami flavor, add mushrooms. But, sauté the mushrooms separately to release excess water.

Notes

Pro Cooking Tips

• Try to bring the internal temperature of your cubed steaks up to 125 degrees or closer to get the most tender results. You may need to increase the temperature an extra 5 degrees or so after removing it from the heat.
• The recipe for the gravy calls for a combination of chicken and beef broth to add extra depth to the flavor, but you can also just use beef broth.
• You can also make this recipe without onions, substituting mushrooms instead.
• Use a cast iron skillet to give your cubed steak a lovely crusty sear.
• Cornbread is a fantastic side dish for this meal.
• You can also try this recipe from Julia’s Simply Southern!

Meal Storage

The best storage solution is an airtight container. You can refrigerate this meal for up to three days or freeze it for three months.

Best Side Dishes to Serve with Cubed Steak Recipes

Corn Casserole, Buttermilk Biscuits, and mashed potatoes are all excellent options. You can see all of my delicious side dish recipe ideas here.

Tools Used to Make This Cubed Steak Recipe

• Meat Tenderizer – This makes the beef tender and soft, especially in this cube steak recipe.
• Better than Bouillon – I use it every time I need to make gravy. It’s super-easy to measure out just the amounts you need for your recipe, plus it doesn’t take up much room in the fridge.
• Silicone Spatula – I used this to scrape and ‘clean’ the bottom of my pot to collect the “fond” or cubed steak remnants to give the gravy more flavor. I use these for all my cooking projects.
• Meat Thermometer – Used to determine the meat’s temperature, which also determines its “doneness.”
• Deep 13-inch skillet – This one will last you forever.
• Magnetic Measuring Spoons – These keep my drawer nice and organized.
• 1/2 cup Plastic Rubbermaid containers, including lids – I used these to combine my cold water and cornstarch. Just put the ingredients in, put the top on, and shake. It’s the ideal size and only takes a second to mix the two ingredients.

Mouthwatering Cube Steak Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a popular gravy for cube steak?

A popular gravy for cube steak is onion gravy. To make onion gravy, sauté thinly sliced onions in butter until they are caramelized. Add flour to the onions, stirring to coat them evenly. Gradually add beef broth, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Season with salt, pepper, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Simmer the gravy until it thickens.

What are some healthy variations of cube steak dishes?

For a healthier take on a cube steak dish, you can opt for a lighter breading by using whole wheat flour or almond flour. Additionally, you can serve the cube steak with a side of steamed or roasted vegetables, brown rice, or a mixed green salad. Lastly, consider skipping the gravy or choosing a low-fat gravy alternative.

How to make country fried cube steak?

To make country fried cube steak, first, season the cube steak with salt and pepper. Create a breading station by setting up three shallow dishes: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs. Coat the cube steak in the flour, then dip it in the egg mixture, and finally, coat it with breadcrumbs. In a frying pan, heat oil over medium heat and fry the breaded cube steak until it is golden brown and cooked through. Serve with your favorite gravy or sauce.

What is the cooking time for cube steak in a frying pan?

The cooking time for cube steak in a frying pan will depend on the thickness of the steak and your desired level of doneness. Generally, it takes about 3-4 minutes per side for a medium level of doneness. Adjust the cooking time as needed for your preferences.

How to prepare cube steak with mushroom gravy?

To make cube steak with mushroom gravy, start by seasoning and browning the cube steaks in a pan with oil. Remove the steaks and set them aside. In the same pan, sauté sliced mushrooms and minced garlic until they are soft and browned. Add flour to the pan, stirring it into the mushrooms. Gradually add beef broth while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Return the cube steaks to the gravy, cover, and simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the steaks are tender. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice for a delicious and comforting meal.

What are some air fryer recipes for cube steak?

Using an air fryer for cube steak is a great way to achieve a crispy exterior without deep frying. One idea is to season and bread the cube steak as you would for a country-fried cube steak. Then, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook the breaded cube steaks for approximately 4 minutes on each side, or until they reach your desired level of doneness. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce or gravy.

Mouthwatering Cubed Steak Recipe Video