This post may contain affiliate links.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak turns budget cube steaks into the most tender, savory, Mississippi style dinner with almost no effort, and my family started begging for it on repeat after I made it on a freezing weeknight when I needed dinner to cook itself. If you love dump and go comfort food like our slow cooker hot dogs, this one is about to become a regular.
Just six simple ingredients and your crock pot do all the work, so you get fall apart tender steaks and rich, buttery gravy every single time.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak Quick Look
- 🕐 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🍴 Cook Time: 8 hours
- ⏳ Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
- 🍽 Serving: 6 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 468kcal
- 🌶 Flavor Profile: Savory, buttery, tangy pepperoncini
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, a true dump and go dinner like our slow cooker Mississippi steak bites
Quick Answer
To make Slow Cooker Cube Steak, layer cube steaks in a slow cooker and sprinkle with au jus gravy mix and ranch seasoning. Pour in a little water, then top with cubes of butter and whole pepperoncini peppers. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours until the steaks are fork tender, then serve with the rich gravy from the pot.
Jump to:
- Slow Cooker Cube Steak Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Slow Cooker Cube Steak
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Slow Cooker Cube Steak FAQs
- Other Recommended Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
- Slow Cooker Cube Steak
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Au jus and ranch packets do the heavy lifting. Together they build a deep, savory, herby flavor with zero measuring or chopping.
- Pepperoncini add tangy balance. Their mild brightness cuts the richness so the dish never tastes flat or one note.
- Butter builds the gravy. As it melts it emulsifies with the beef juices into a silky, glossy sauce.
- Low and slow tenderizes the beef. The long gentle cook breaks down the tough fibers in cube steak until it is fork tender.
- Just a little water concentrates the flavor. Too much liquid would dilute the gravy, so a small amount keeps it rich.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is a true dump and go dinner with about 10 minutes of hands on time.
- Budget cube steak turns restaurant worthy, rich and fall apart tender for very little money.
- It is cozy comfort food just like our steakhouse beef tips and noodles.
Key Ingredients
- Cube steaks: Budget tenderized beef that turns fork tender after a long slow cook.
- Au jus gravy mix: The savory, beefy backbone of the gravy.
- Ranch seasoning: Adds herby, tangy depth, the classic Mississippi combo.
- Pepperoncini peppers: Mild tangy peppers that brighten the whole dish, just like in our chuck roast burnt ends.
- Butter: Melts into the juices to create that silky, rich gravy.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
- Make it spicier: Add extra pepperoncini or a splash of the pepper juice.
- Use a different cut: Swap in chuck roast or stew beef for a Mississippi pot roast.
- Thicker gravy: Stir in a cornstarch and water slurry at the end and let it bubble.
- Lower sodium: Use low sodium au jus and ranch packets.
- More slow cooker dinners: Try our slow cooker buffalo chicken sandwiches next.
How to Make Slow Cooker Cube Steak
- Place 3 of the cube steaks in the bottom of an 8 quart slow cooker.
- Sprinkle with half of the au jus gravy mix and half of the ranch seasoning.
- Layer the remaining 3 cube steaks on top and sprinkle with the rest of the au jus and ranch.
- Pour the water into the slow cooker.
- Scatter the cubes of butter and the whole pepperoncini peppers over the top.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until fork tender. Serve with the gravy from the pot.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Pat the steaks dry before seasoning so the rub sticks.
- Do not open the lid while it cooks, it lets out heat and adds time.
- Sear first if you have a few minutes for a golden crust and deeper flavor.
- Adjust to your cooker, some run hot and finish closer to 4 hours on low.
- Add pepperoncini juice for an extra tangy punch.
- Serve it over mashed potatoes or rice to soak up all that gravy.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Slow Cooker Cube Steak is pure comfort food, so spoon it and all that buttery gravy over a big pile of creamy mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles. Our loaded mashed potato cakes are a fun way to use up any leftover mashed potatoes the next day.
Round out the plate with a simple vegetable or salad. A crisp marinated cold green bean salad balances the rich beef, and it pairs just as nicely as it does with our steakhouse beef tips and noodles.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat gently with a splash of the gravy. It is the kind of cozy, hands off dinner you will want on repeat all winter, right alongside our slow cooker hot dogs.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak FAQs
Slow Cooker Cube Steak is a Mississippi style comfort dinner where tenderized cube steaks are slow cooked with au jus gravy mix, ranch seasoning, butter, and pepperoncini peppers until fork tender. It is an easy dump and go meal served with the rich gravy from the pot.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak uses cube steak, a budget friendly cut of beef (usually top round or top sirloin) that has been run through a tenderizing machine. The long slow cook turns this normally tough cut meltingly tender.
No, you do not have to brown the meat for Slow Cooker Cube Steak. You can layer it straight into the slow cooker. If you have a few extra minutes, searing the steaks first adds a deeper golden flavor, but it is completely optional.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak is not spicy. The pepperoncini peppers add a mild tangy brightness rather than real heat. If you want more kick, toss in a few extra peppers or a splash of the pepperoncini juice.
Slow Cooker Cube Steak is best served over creamy mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles so they soak up the gravy. Add a simple vegetable or a crisp salad on the side for a complete comfort food dinner.
Store leftover Slow Cooker Cube Steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of the gravy or a little beef broth to keep it moist.
Other Recommended Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
If you make this Slow Cooker Cube Steak, please leave a star rating and a comment below. I love hearing how it turned out, and it helps other readers find the recipe too!
Slow Cooker Cube Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cube steaks
- 1 ounce au jus gravy packet
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning packet
- 1/3 cup water
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into cubes
- 6 pepperoncini peppers
Instructions
- Place 3 of the cube steaks into the bottom of a 8-quart slow cooker.6 cube steaks
- Sprinkle with half of the au jus mix and half of the ranch seasoning mix.1 ounce au jus gravy packet, 1 ounce ranch seasoning packet
- Place the remaining 3 cube steaks on top and sprinkle with the remaining seasonings.
- Add the water to the cooker.1/3 cup water
- Place the cubes of butter along with the peppers on top of the steaks.8 tablespoons unsalted butter, 6 pepperoncini peppers
- Close the lid and cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. Serve immediately with the sauce as a gravy.
Notes
- Pat the Meat Dry: If there’s excess moisture on the steaks, pat them with a paper towel before seasoning to help the rub stick.
- Don’t Open the Lid: Slow cookers thrive on consistent heat. Peeking too often can add extra cook time—resist that urge!
- Adjust the Heat: If your slow cooker runs hot, you might only need 4 hours on low. If it runs cooler, go for 6 hours. Every crock pot is different.
- Try Browning First: If you have an extra few minutes, sear the cubed steaks in a large skillet with a little oil for a golden brown exterior. This step locks in flavor.
- Add Extra Pepperoncini: If you’re a fan of tangy flavor, toss in a few more peppers or drizzle in some pepperoncini juice.
- Pair It Right: Serve over creamy mashed potatoes, rice, or even toasted bread for a hearty meal that’ll impress your dinner guests.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
