Crock Pot Loin Steak: Tender, Flavorful, Easy!

how to cook loin steak in crock pot

Loin steak is a juicy, thick cut of meat that can be cooked in a crock pot to perfection. This method of cooking allows the flavours to fully saturate the meat, resulting in a mouth-watering dish. The process is simple and straightforward, requiring very little effort and just a few ingredients. The crock pot also makes cleanup easier as there is no need for extra pots and pans. The loin steak can be served with mashed potatoes, rice, or a simple side salad.

Characteristics Values
Type of Steak Loin steak, sirloin steak, or pepper steak
Cooking Time 3-4 hours on high, 6-8 hours on low, or 5½-7½ hours on low
Ingredients Meat, garlic, salt, pepper, herbs, spices, broth, Worcestershire sauce, vegetables
Sides Rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, salad, bread
Equipment Slow cooker, skillet, crockpot

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Prep the crock pot

To prep your crock pot for loin steak, start by gathering your ingredients. You'll need items like loin steak, seasonings, broth, vegetables, and a slow cooker liner or cooking spray.

First, prepare your crock pot for easy cleanup. You can line your crock pot with a slow cooker bag or liner, which makes cleanup a breeze and helps keep the food from sticking to the pot. Alternatively, you can lightly spray the inside of the crock pot bowl with a non-stick cooking spray.

Next, prepare your ingredients. Place the steaks on a clean work surface and pat them dry with paper towels. Season the steaks generously on both sides with your desired seasonings. Kosher salt and ground black pepper are commonly used, but you can also add other herbs and spices like garlic, rosemary, oregano, bay leaves, or marjoram to enhance the flavor.

After seasoning the steaks, it's time to layer the ingredients in the crock pot. Scatter sliced onions, peppers, and any other desired vegetables at the bottom of the pot. You can also add potatoes, carrots, or celery if you want to create a complete meal.

Now, you can add the steak to the crock pot. Place the seasoned steaks on top of the sliced onions and vegetables. At this point, you can also add liquids such as broth, Worcestershire sauce, or water to the pot.

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Season the steak

Seasoning your loin steak is a key step in the cooking process, as it adds flavour and depth to the meat. Firstly, place your loin steaks on a clean work surface and pat them dry with paper towels. This will ensure that the seasoning sticks to the meat and isn't diluted. Next, season the steaks generously on both sides. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as kosher salt and ground black pepper, or garlic powder. You can also add other herbs and spices like rosemary, oregano, bay leaves, marjoram, mustard, smoked paprika or red pepper flakes. If you want to add fresh herbs, remember that the conversion ratio is generally 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs for every 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.

Additionally, you can sprinkle beef sirloin strips with garlic powder and sear them in a pan with vegetable oil before transferring them to the crock pot. This will add a nice crust to the meat and enhance the flavour. You can also try adding some peeled garlic cloves to the crock pot for extra flavour.

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Add ingredients to the crock pot

To cook loin steak in a crock pot, you'll want to add a variety of ingredients to the pot to create a flavorful gravy. Here are the steps to follow:

First, scatter sliced onions at the bottom of the crock pot. You can also add other aromatic vegetables such as celery or carrots if you wish. Next, pour in some broth or beef broth, along with Worcestershire sauce if you have some. You can also add some chopped tomatoes at this stage to add a fresh layer of flavor.

Then, place the seasoned steaks on top of the onions. You can season the steaks with kosher salt and ground black pepper on both sides before placing them in the crock pot. Additionally, you can sprinkle garlic powder or minced garlic on top of the steaks. If you're using a packet of brown gravy mix, this can also be sprinkled over the meat.

Finally, add some butter pats and fresh thyme sprigs on top of the steaks. You can also include other herbs and spices such as rosemary, oregano, bay leaves, or marjoram. If you want a spicy kick, add some red pepper flakes or smoked paprika.

Once you've added all the ingredients, you can cover the crock pot and let it slow cook for several hours until you have tender, flavorful steak.

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Cook the steak

To cook loin steak in a crock pot, start by seasoning the steak generously on both sides with kosher salt and ground black pepper. You can also add garlic powder to taste. Next, heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sear the steak for about 5 minutes on each side. Place the steak in the crock pot.

Now, prepare the crock pot by adding in the remaining ingredients. You can add sliced onions, peppers, and tomatoes to the pot, along with beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings like dill, thyme, pepper, and red pepper flakes. You can also add a bouillon cube dissolved in hot water, or cornstarch to thicken the gravy.

Cover the crock pot and cook the steak on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. The steak is ready when it reaches your desired level of doneness. For a well-done steak, you may need to cook it for a longer period of time.

Finally, remove the steak from the crock pot and keep it warm. If you want to thicken the gravy, combine cornstarch and water, then gradually stir this mixture into the cooking juices in the crock pot. Cover and cook on high heat until the gravy thickens, which should take about 30 minutes.

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Serve with sides

Loin steak cooked in a crock pot is a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides. Here are some ideas for sides to accompany your crock pot loin steak:

Mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a classic side dish that pairs well with steak. They can be made in the crock pot alongside the steak for added convenience.

Rice

Rice is another great option to soak up all the delicious juices from the steak. White rice can be cooked easily in the crock pot, or you could serve the steak with egg fried rice or chow mein for an Asian-inspired dish.

Baked potatoes

For a more hearty and filling option, serve your crock pot loin steak with baked potatoes. You can load them up with cheese, sour cream, and chives for an indulgent side dish.

Fries

Crispy fries are always a popular choice and can be a great contrast in texture to the tender crock pot steak. Dip them in the gravy from the steak for extra flavour.

Salad

A fresh salad can help to balance out the richness of the steak. Keep it simple with a green salad, or add in some potatoes, beans, or carrots for a heartier option.

Vegetables

Steamed or roasted vegetables such as carrots, celery, or green beans make a healthy and colourful side dish to accompany your crock pot loin steak.

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Frequently asked questions

Cooking times can vary depending on the size of the steak and the temperature setting of your crock pot. Generally, it takes 3-4 hours on high heat or 6-8 hours on low heat.

You will need loin steak, garlic powder, vegetable oil, beef bouillon, hot water, cornstarch, onion, green peppers, stewed tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, salt, and your choice of seasonings.

First, heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sear the steak strips for about 5 minutes per side. Next, transfer the steak to the crock pot and add the remaining ingredients. Stir everything together, cover, and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

Traditional steak sides such as sauteed mushrooms, a simple side salad, and crusty bread go well with crock pot loin steak. You can also serve it with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.

Yes, you can add vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery to the crock pot with the loin steak. Cut the vegetables into uniform pieces and place them at the bottom of the crock pot.

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