Slow Cooker Swiss Steak
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 4 hours
This hearty Slow Cooker Swiss Steak is the definition of cozy comfort food.
Tender cube steak is lightly dredged in seasoned flour, seared for rich flavor, then slow-cooked with carrots, celery, onion, stewed tomatoes, brown sugar, and a savory brown gravy sauce until it melts in your mouth.
This easy, budget-friendly recipe is a family classic, perfect for chilly nights, Sunday dinners, or meal prepping ahead of time.
Serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles for a stick-to-your-ribs meal everyone will love.
How To Make Slow Cooker Swiss Steak
Ingredients
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2-2 pounds cube steak
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes with juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, or to taste
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 brown gravy packet
Step-by-Step Guide
1. In a shallow dish add your flour and the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and paprika.
2. Whisk to combine.
3. Lightly dredge the steaks in the flour and set aside.
4. Meanwhile in a large skillet over medium high heat melt your butter.
5. Add your steaks to the butter in the pan and quickly brown on each side. Were just looking for a little color, not to cook through.
6. Add the steaks to the slow cooker.
7. Add the carrots, celery and onion on top of the steaks.
8. Next in a small bowl whisk together the garlic, brown sugar, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce and brown gravy mix.
9. Pour the liquid mixture into the slow cooker.
10. Cover and cook on low 6-8 or high 4-6 until the meat and veggies are tender.
11. Serve!
Tips & Tricks
- Dredging and searing the steak adds flavor and helps thicken the gravy as it cooks.
- Use tongs to flip the steak while browning, it helps keep the coating intact.
- Slice vegetables evenly so they cook at the same rate and soften nicely.
- Stir the sauce well before pouring to evenly distribute the gravy mix.
- For a richer gravy, add a splash of beef broth or red wine with the tomatoes.
- This dish gets even better the next day, perfect for leftovers!
Substitutions
- Cube steak – Swap with round steak, chuck roast (cut into pieces), or even boneless short ribs.
- Stewed tomatoes – Use diced or crushed tomatoes in a pinch; add a pinch of Italian seasoning if needed.
- Brown gravy packet – Sub with 1 tablespoon of beef bouillon + 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
- Vegetable oil – Use butter or olive oil for searing.
- Celery – Can substitute with bell peppers or omit if preferred.
Variations
- Add potatoes – Toss in peeled, diced potatoes for a complete one-pot meal.
- Spicy twist – Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to the sauce mix.
- Creamy version – Stir in a splash of heavy cream or sour cream just before serving.
- Mushroom Swiss steak – Add sliced mushrooms to the veggie layer for earthy flavor.
- Low carb – Serve over mashed cauliflower or zucchini noodles.
Slow Cooker Swiss Steak
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2-2 pounds cube steak
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 carrots chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 14.5 ounce cans stewed tomatoes with juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or to taste
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 brown gravy packet
Instructions
- In a shallow dish add your flour and the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and paprika.
- Whisk to combine.
- Lightly dredge the steaks in the flour and set aside.
- Meanwhile in a large skillet over medium high heat melt your butter.
- Add your steaks to the butter in the pan and quickly brown on each side. Were just looking for a little color, not to cook through.
- Add the steaks to the slow cooker.
- Add the carrots, celery and onion on top of the steaks.
- Next in a small bowl whisk together the garlic, brown sugar, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce and brown gravy mix.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low 6-8 or high 4-6 until the meat and veggies are tender.
- Serve!
Notes
Tips & Tricks
- Dredging and searing the steak adds flavor and helps thicken the gravy as it cooks.
- Use tongs to flip the steak while browning, it helps keep the coating intact.
- Slice vegetables evenly so they cook at the same rate and soften nicely.
- Stir the sauce well before pouring to evenly distribute the gravy mix.
- For a richer gravy, add a splash of beef broth or red wine with the tomatoes.
- This dish gets even better the next day, perfect for leftovers!
Substitutions
- Cube steak – Swap with round steak, chuck roast (cut into pieces), or even boneless short ribs.
- Stewed tomatoes – Use diced or crushed tomatoes in a pinch; add a pinch of Italian seasoning if needed.
- Brown gravy packet – Sub with 1 tablespoon of beef bouillon + 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
- Vegetable oil – Use butter or olive oil for searing.
- Celery – Can substitute with bell peppers or omit if preferred.
Variations
- Add potatoes – Toss in peeled, diced potatoes for a complete one-pot meal.
- Spicy twist – Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to the sauce mix.
- Creamy version – Stir in a splash of heavy cream or sour cream just before serving.
- Mushroom Swiss steak – Add sliced mushrooms to the veggie layer for earthy flavor.
- Low carb – Serve over mashed cauliflower or zucchini noodles.
