It’s been a busy day around here! To set the record straight, I did not risk my life and go out for diapers at CVS and Valentine’s pencils at Wags in this dreadful snow storm! I went before “it” hit. Just took me a few days to blog about it!
Here’s my marked down beef…And I had a coupon for it too! Coupons are ESSENTIAL to my $5 meals. Many of my meals would not be possible without coupons. I’m always on the lookout for coupons for the products I buy!
Slow Cooker Steak and Potatoes
Enjoy this slow cooker cube steak and potatoes recipes - it's a great and affordable "meat and potatoes" kind of meal!
Servings - 4 servings
Ingredients
- 6 white Russet potatoes ($.79) scrubbed
- 1 - 1 1/4 lb. cube steak
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup water
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 broccoli heads side dish
- sour cream dollops
- shredded cheddar cheese garnish
Instructions
- Add the water and Worcestershire sauce into the base of the slow cooker. Place the steak into the water, and sprinkle a little salt and pepper directly onto the steak.
- Cut potatoes into quarters. Place on top of the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set on low and cook for 8 hours.
- Steam broccoli in steamer for 3-4 minutes, until turns bright green.
- Serve Cube Steak with potatoes and broccoli.
Amanda says
Did you have a lot of airspace above the meat? If so, putting a piece of foil over everything to keep more moisture on the meat might help.
Amy @ Finer Things says
I like to slow cook my round steak (cube steak) with onions and cream of mushroom soup. I know you can’t do “cream of” but what about a mushroom (not cream) or french onion soup? Also, I would definitely put the steak on the bottom. The potatoes will still soak up beef flavor on top.
Rona's Home Page says
Sounds delicious.
Michelle says
I agree with Amy. Steak on the bottom, and maybe at least some beef broth instead of water, to also help with flavoring the potatoes?
Amanda says
To me, the meat would not stay “steak” very long on the bottom, as all the moisture would be sitting on the meat. It would be good, but it would be pieces of meat in sauce, rather than steak.
CountryMama@The Cozy Country Home says
I do buy cube steaks, because they’re reasonable, but they are very difficult to prepare where they’re not tough. I have tried them just about every way possible in the crockpot, because (you’re right, meat most often does come out moist…even tougher cuts) But, have not found this the case with cube steaks. For some reason they always come out tough in the crock. The best way I have found to prepare it is to make it into “Chicken Fried Steak”…you can bread it with whatever you’re able to. I just made it on Monday, actually. Here’s a link… Good luck! http://thecozycountryhome.blogspot.com/2009/01/chicken-fried-steak.html
Deanna says
I sprinkle my meat with a dry packet of french onion dip and then pour a can of cream of mushroom soup on top. My boys love it.
CountryMama@The Cozy Country Home says
I just found this recipe in my email…I wonder if it would work with cube steaks? It sounds great! I think I’ll give it a try next time!
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Slow-Cooked-Swiss-Steak-2
Tracey C. says
Would it help to do the meat like the pressure cooker and quickly brown it (or sear it on the outside) on the outside before placing into the crockpot to seal the juices in? I’ve never cooked cube in the crockpot, so I’m not sure. Also, tenting with foil definitely will help keep moisture (steam effect) in/around the meat I think.
Warmth, Tracey C.
Monica says
I think the super lean meats (like Laura’s Lean) are hard to cook. Since there is very little fat, they tend to dry out more, IMO. I am not the worlds greatest cook, so I’m sure it’s a deficiency on my part, but I tend to stay away from super lean cuts of beef just for this reason.
Noah's Mommy says
thank you for the link….great place for coupons….and looks super yummy…and super easy…just the way I like it.
Latte says
When you have thin steaks…this just might be one area that is not crockpot worthy. My husband would say the only place a steak belongs is on a grill…I tend to agree after years of yummy steaks. I usually would sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder on them throw those on the grill for about 3 minutes a side glaze them with bbq for about 1 minute a side and enjoy.
5 minute steaks gotta love that!
Faith
Jenn says
How many people are you serving with these $5 meals?
Donna @ The Frugal Mom Blog says
I know these as “minute steaks”, at least that was what my grandma always called them. When she made them, I believed she fried them in a pan, kind of like a hamburger, and put stewed tomatoes over the top and let it simmer for a few minutes. I have not had these since I was a kid, thanks for reminding me! I will have to make them for dinner some night.
Tammy says
I think that most of the above posts are right…cooking the meat on the bottom usually prevents the drying out, but I think the real issue is the fact that it was a lean cut of meat. I was always told that the lean cuts dry out too much when put in the crock pot.
BTW, I love your blog! You do such an awesome job! Keep up the good work!
Becky says
I’ve done this with a jar of beef or mushroom gravy.
Cool Blue says
Try putting some butter/margarine on the steak while it’s in the slow cooker. I usually do this for my slow cooker roasts.
Clara D says
How about a sliced onion on top of the beef? Also, need a fattier cut to prevent from drying out.
Kellie Morris says
Dry onion soup mix…I use for all beef and pork I cook in the crockpot. Then leftover meat and broth can be used for many different recipes including…vegetable soup, chili, stroganoff and noodles. Plus it makes potatoes great!
amygayle_2000 says
I wonder if you used beef broth to flavor the potatoes but didnt put the cube steaks in the crockpot until about an hour or so before you were ready to eat? They are so thin they would cook pretty quickly even in the crockpot and they shouldn’t dry out if they aren’t in it too long.
Jennifer says
My mom always baked whole potatoes in the crockpot. They have a great flavor.
Vicky says
Here’s my take on it. I think you needed some tomato of some sort. Tomato will help break down the sinwiness (I know not a real word) of the meat for one, and probably give enough liquid that the meat would just be in it. Or if you have to add more water till the steaks are just sitting in it. Basically braising the meat. Perhaps some onions soup mix for more seasoning could be added to. (I make my own since I don’t trust store bought and adding lactose to everything) Last but not least I think later this month I will try this in my pressure cooker. I’m going nuts trying all kinds of crock pot dishes in the pressure cooker. I’ll try to remember to come back and update on how it turned out.
Sylvia says
I do this recipe without the marinade and halfway through I put the potatoes on top of the steak. I also placed green beans, drained on top. It turns out very well!!! 🙂