Swiss steak isn’t a dish I make very often. In fact, my children didn’t even know what it was prior to me creating this recipe. 🙂 My favorite cuts of beef aren’t cube steaks. I usually want REAL steak or ground beef! However, after making Swiss Steak in the Slow Cooker, I’m convinced I will be making this recipe a lot more often. Not only is it super-fast to throw together, but the flavors are completely satisfying after a long day of work and school.
Swiss Steak in the Slow Cooker Recipe…
Swiss Steak in the Slow Cooker is a modification of the Swiss steak recipe in my trusty Better Homes and Garden cookbook. I wanted to know if I could change a few ingredients and add them to the slow cooker. Turns out, yes, I can! I found several packages of cube steak in my freezer that needed used from our last side ‘o beef purchase, and as I needed dinner to be mostly ready when I arrived home, Swiss Steak in the Slow Cooker was born.
After making a nice bed of sliced onions and chopped celery, I added the cube steaks, being sure to season each with a little sea salt and fresh black pepper. No browning the meat ahead of time for me! The onions on the bottom of the slow cooker served as a nice buffer between the hot pottery and the meat, thus cooking everything nice and slowly throughout the day.
I topped the meat with an entire can of crushed tomatoes, sprinkled on some dried (granulated) garlic and dry thyme leaves. Then, I left for my day. When I arrived home 9 hours later, the kitchen smelled amazing. Plus, both of our children were excited about the dinner prospects for the evening! 🙂 That happens, well, very rarely.
I decided to serve the Swiss Steak over a bed of rice, though noodles would have been equally tasty. With a lovely green salad, dinner was on the table in less than thirty minutes. More importantly,  we had time to enjoy each other as a family. The recipe also reheats very well, and we enjoyed the leftovers several days later. If you like goulash or dishes with an Italian-type flare, Swiss Steak in the Slow Cooker is one to try!
Please share your favorite slow cooker recipes! In this busy season, we all could use a little less time in the kitchen. Less time in the kitchen means we can spend more time making a difference in our little corners of the world. 🙂
Notes
Leftover Swiss Steak can be mixed with leftover rice or noodles and stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for several days. This makes a great "next day" lunch, too.
Ingredients
- 6-8 cube steaks
- 20 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
- small onion, sliced into rings
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- salt and pepper
- 2 t. granulated (dry) garlic
- 1 t. dried thyme leaves
- cooked rice or noodles, optional for serving
Instructions
- Spray bottom and sides of slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Place sliced onions and celery in bottom of slow cooker.
- Place cubed steaks on top, adding salt and pepper to the top of each steak.
- Cover meat with can of tomatoes and sprinkle with granulated garlic and thyme.
- Place lid on slow cooker, and cook on low 10-12 hours.
- Break up the steak into the sauce or keep steaks whole for serving.
- Serve steaks and sauce over cooked rice or noodles, if desired.