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.