Making Swiss steak crock pot is one of the easiest ways to create a warm, comforting meal with minimal effort. This simple recipe transforms affordable steak into a flavorful and fork-tender dish thanks to slow cooking in a rich tomato-based sauce. If you’ve been looking for a cozy dinner idea that’s both hearty and hands-off, this classic Swiss-style dish is one to add to your rotation.
These Swiss steak crock pot recipes are a great way to bring cozy comfort to your dinner table on cold evenings. It’s a no-fuss method for cooking Swiss steak with cube steak in the crock pot, resulting in tender, savory bites that simmer in a rich, hearty sauce. Pair it with mashed potatoes or egg noodles to soak up every drop—this is the kind of homestyle meal that makes winter nights a little more enjoyable.
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Why We Love These Swiss Steak Crock Pot Recipes
- It’s quick and easy.
Like with the chuck eye steaks, this dinner for your family will be on the table with very little effort with this simple slow cooker recipe! - Budget-friendly.
This Swiss steak with cube steak recipe is made with cube steak, which is very inexpensive. We have another Crock pot cube steak recipe, but this meal is our new favorite!! - Wholesome ingredients.
The combination of juicy and tender beef, caramelized onions, and tomatoes will make your taste buds sing!= - Leftovers are delicious.
This meal reheats beautifully, so you can enjoy it all week long!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cube steak: If you are unable to find cube steaks, you can use round steak or top-blade steaks, which are individual steaks cut from a boneless top-blade roast. Top blade roast also goes by the names chuck roast first cut, top chuck, flat iron, or blade roast.
Be sure to purchase steaks rather than a whole roast, or cut a whole boneless roast into individual steaks. - Vegetables: Our swiss steak crock pot recipe calls for onions and tomatoes. There is another version of Swiss steak with green peppers, which typically goes by the name pepper steak. Feel free to include them if you’d like!
- Broth: We use chicken broth in this recipe. However, beef broth or vegetable broth are good substitutes.
Recipe Variations
- Onion soup and gravy mix: Swap the tomato-based sauce for a rich gravy mixture. Whisk together onion soup mix, gravy mix, and cold water until smooth. Pour it over the seared cube steaks, then add sliced mushrooms and baby carrots before slow cooking. This version creates a rich, savory sauce that’s pure comfort food.
- Creamy celery and garlic twist: Instead of tomato puree, use a can of cream of celery soup mixed with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and a dash of salt. Add 1 cup of sliced green beans for color and texture. The cream base turns extra silky and flavorful after a long cook in the crock pot.
- Golden brown mushroom and slurry gravy: After searing the cube steaks to a golden brown, add them to the slow cooker along with sautéed mushrooms and onions. Whisk a slurry of cornstarch and cold water, then stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking to thicken the sauce. This makes a rich, earthy gravy that pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes.
- Peppery veggie-loaded swiss steak: Layer the crock pot with seasoned steaks, cubed carrots, chopped onions, and green beans. Add garlic powder, black pepper, and a bit of salt to enhance the flavor. Pour in 1½ cups broth mixed with 1 tablespoon gravy mix, and slow cook until the veggies are tender and the beef is fall-apart soft.
Do you love slow cooker recipes?
We do, too! A couple of our most popular crock pot dinners are Dr. Pepper Ham and Slow Cooker Turkey Tenderloin.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Slow cooker liner (optional)
- Meat tenderizer (if using top blade steaks)
- Crock pot (slow cooker)
- Non-stick cooking spray
How to Make Swiss Steak with Cube Steak
- Grease the inside of the crock, or use a slow cooker liner.
Slow cooker liners are fantastic time savers, because they make clean-up so much easier! - Sear the meat.
We recommend searing the cube steak in a skillet with some oil until browned before adding it to the crockpot. Searing adds a flavorful crust and locks the juices inside. This way, you can be sure your steaks are perfectly juicy when you cut into them.
- Sauté the onions.
We also suggest caramelizing the onions in a skillet before adding them to the slow cooker. This brings out their sweetness, which deepens the flavor of the beef cube steak in crock pot.
Serving Suggestions
These Swiss steak crock pot recipes pair wonderfully with creamy mashed potatoes. You can also serve it over a bed of cooked brown rice or basmati rice if you prefer.
For a more filling meal, serve with a side of buttermilk Bisquick biscuits or sourdough rolls and your favorite steamed vegetables, or a green goddess salad recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, we recommend searing the cube steak in a skillet before adding it to the crock pot. Doing this adds flavor, gives the steak a nice color, and keeps it moist.
This meal gets its name from the original method of preparing the beef, called “Swissing”, which is used to tenderize tougher cuts of meat.
The process involved making the meat softer by pounding or rolling it with a tool.
These days, cube steak is a common choice for a Swiss steak recipe because the meat is pre-tenderized.
In the fridge:
Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days. Just store them in an airtight container and refrigerate.
In the freezer:
Before freezing your crock pot Swiss steak, be sure the meal is completely cool first. Then, place it in a shallow airtight container or resealable bag, and store it for up to 4 months.
Reheating:
To reheat the meat and vegetables, you can use a microwave, or heat them in a pan over medium heat on the stove.
If microwaving, be sure to cover your dish with a damp paper towel to prevent splattering.
On the stove top, simmer for a few minutes until heated through. If the cube steak seems dry, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of water or cooking broth.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
When cleaning a slow cooker, always let it cool down completely before starting to clean to avoid any risk of burns or damage. For stubborn, cooked-on food, fill the cooker with warm, soapy water and let it soak for a few hours or overnight. Use a non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub the interior to prevent scratching the surface. Finally, dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth to prevent any water spots or mildew.
More Slow Cooker Recipes To Love…
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Pasta
- Crock Pot Cube Steak Recipe
- Dr. Pepper Ham
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chuck Roast
If you tried this Swiss steak crock pot recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Crockpot Swiss Steak
Equipment
- slow cooker liner - (optional)
- meat tenderizer - (if using top blade steaks)
- crock pot (slow cooker)
- non-stick cooking spray
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds cube steaks (or boneless top blade steaks, see Notes)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 medium onion peeled, halved, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 14 ounces tomato puree
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes or 1 cup diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Prepare the crock pot by spraying the liner with cooking spray or line it with a slow cooker liner.
- If using boneless top-blade steaks, lightly pound steaks with the meat tenderizer. Cube steaks are sold already tenderized. Pat steaks dry with paper towels.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Sear the steaks for 2 minutes per side, until browned. Transfer the swiss steaks to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Turn the heat to medium, add 1 tablespoon oil and sliced onions to the pot. Saute until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, and tomato paste, then sprinkle with flour. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in tomato puree and chicken broth and stir to deglaze the skillet.
- Pour over the onion broth mixture and the steaks and top with cherry tomatoes. Add the lid to the crock pot.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours, until swiss steaks are tender. Skim fat from sauce, and pour over steaks before serving.
Notes
-
- Onion soup and gravy mix: Swap the tomato-based sauce for a rich gravy mixture. Whisk together onion soup mix, gravy mix, and cold water until smooth. Pour it over the seared cube steaks, then add sliced mushrooms and baby carrots before slow cooking. This version creates a rich, savory sauce that’s pure comfort food.
- Creamy celery and garlic twist: Instead of tomato puree, use a can of cream of celery soup mixed with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and a dash of salt. Add 1 cup of sliced green beans for color and texture. The cream base turns extra silky and flavorful after a long cook in the crock pot.
- Golden brown mushroom and slurry gravy: After searing the cube steaks to a golden brown, add them to the slow cooker along with sautéed mushrooms and onions. Whisk a slurry of cornstarch and cold water, then stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking to thicken the sauce. This makes a rich, earthy gravy that pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes.
- Peppery veggie-loaded swiss steak: Layer the crock pot with seasoned steaks, cubed carrots, chopped onions, and green beans. Add garlic powder, black pepper, and a bit of salt to enhance the flavor. Pour in 1½ cups broth mixed with 1 tablespoon gravy mix, and slow cook until the veggies are tender and the beef is fall-apart soft.
- When cleaning a slow cooker, always let it cool down completely before starting to clean to avoid any risk of burns or damage. For stubborn, cooked-on food, fill the cooker with warm, soapy water and let it soak for a few hours or overnight. Use a non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub the interior to prevent scratching the surface. Finally, dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth to prevent any water spots or mildew.
- In the fridge, leftovers will be kept for 3-4 days. Just store them in an airtight container and refrigerate.
- In the freezer, before freezing your crock pot Swiss steak, be sure the meal is completely cool first. Then, place it in a shallow airtight container or resealable bag, and store it for up to 4 months.
- To reheat the meat and vegetables, you can use a microwave, or heat them in a pan over medium heat on the stove.
- If microwaving, be sure to cover your dish with a damp paper towel to prevent splattering.
- On the stove top, simmer for a few minutes until heated through. If the cube steak seems dry, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of water or cooking broth.
Nutrition
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