Tiffany Haney
Crockpot Swiss steak is a hearty, comforting meal that is perfect for chilly evenings and special occasions. It involves cooking tender beef steaks in a rich tomato gravy with vegetables. The dish is typically served over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles, and can be paired with a side of green beans or a fresh salad. The recipe is simple and easy to prepare, making it a convenient option for those seeking a flavourful and comforting meal with minimal effort.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Tender beef steaks, preferably round steak or cube steaks |
| Vegetables | Onions, peppers, carrots, celery, mushrooms, green beans, peas, corn, potatoes |
| Sauce | Tomato-based gravy made with diced or crushed tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, onion soup, ketchup, and cornstarch |
| Cooking Time | 6-8 hours on low heat or 4-5 hours on high heat |
| Serving Suggestions | Mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, garlic bread, salad, dinner rolls |
| Storage | Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days or freeze for up to 4 weeks or 2 months |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the ingredients
To prepare the ingredients for Crock Pot Swiss Steak, you'll need to gather your chosen vegetables, seasonings, and meat.
For a traditional Swiss steak, use round steaks or cube steaks, as these cuts become tender when cooked slowly. You can also use a cheaper cut of meat, such as a tougher steak, and cook it for an extended period until it becomes tender.
For vegetables, onions, peppers (bell peppers), carrots, and celery are commonly used. You can also add mushrooms, green beans, peas, corn, or potatoes. If you're adding potatoes, it's best to use baby potatoes, as they hold their shape better during the long cooking time.
Before adding the meat to the crockpot, you can season and brown it. Season the steak with salt and pepper, and optionally coat it in flour to lock in juices and enhance flavour. To brown the steak, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and cook the steaks for about 3-5 minutes on each side until slightly brown.
For the sauce, you can use a combination of diced or crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce or tomato juice, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch. If you want a thicker sauce, you can combine cornstarch with water and add it to the sauce. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes, or Italian seasoning to taste.
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Cooking the steak
To cook Swiss steak in a crock pot, start by placing the potatoes, carrots, and onion in the bottom of the pot. You can also add other vegetables like celery, mushrooms, green beans, or peas. Then, place the steak on top of the vegetables. If you're using a cheaper cut of meat, you can tenderize it by pounding it before placing it in the pot.
Next, you'll make the sauce. For a tomato-based sauce, mix together diced or crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and flavourful ingredients like garlic, Worcestershire sauce, onion soup, ketchup, and cornstarch. You can also add cream of mushroom soup for a creamier texture. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables.
Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-5 hours until the steak is fork-tender. For an extra-tender steak, cook it on low heat. If you want a thicker sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry at the end of the cooking time. To make the slurry, whisk together equal parts cornstarch and water, then add it to the sauce and stir gently.
Once the steak is cooked, serve it immediately with mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, or your favourite vegetables. Swiss steak is a hearty and comforting meal that's perfect for a chilly evening or a family gathering.
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Making the sauce
The sauce for Swiss steak is what gives it that bold, punchy flavor. It is a tomato-based sauce, with diced tomatoes, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and dry onion soup mix. You can also add onion, beef broth, ketchup, and cornstarch to thicken it. If you want to add a kick, use Rotel tomatoes with green chilies and include the juices.
To make the sauce, simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. You can also add the vegetables to the sauce at this stage, or place them in the bottom of the crock pot and pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables.
For a creamier texture, you can add cream of mushroom soup to the sauce. If you want to thicken the sauce, make a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with water and adding it to the sauce. You can do this at the end of the cooking time, and it will help to thicken the sauce.
The sauce is a key part of the Swiss steak dish, and you can serve it on the side, or use it to smother the steak. It is also great for soaking up with dinner rolls or garlic bread!
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Cooking the dish
To cook Swiss steak in a crock pot, you'll first want to prepare your ingredients. The vegetables you can use include onions, peppers, carrots, celery, mushrooms, green beans, peas, and potatoes. You can also add corn and garlic. For the sauce, you'll need diced or crushed tomatoes, tomato juice, and beef broth. You can also add Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and onion soup. If you want a creamier texture, you can add cream of mushroom soup or heavy cream. To thicken the sauce, you can use cornstarch.
Start by placing your vegetables in the bottom of the crock pot. If you're using potatoes, put them in first, followed by the rest of your vegetables. Then, place your steaks on top. If you want to brown your steaks first, heat some olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and cook the steaks for around 3-5 minutes on each side until slightly brown. You can also coat the steaks in flour before frying to lock in the juices and develop more flavour.
Next, pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. The steak is ready when it is fork-tender. If you want a thicker sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry at the end of the cooking time. To make the slurry, whisk together equal parts cornstarch and water, then add it to the sauce.
You can serve Swiss steak with mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, or vegetables. It also goes well with garlic bread or dinner rolls to soak up the sauce. Enjoy!
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Storing and reheating
Swiss steak is a delicious and hearty meal that can be easily made ahead of time and stored for later. In fact, it tastes even better the next day!
To store your Swiss steak, allow it to cool completely. Place it in an airtight container and cover it. It can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Make sure to label the container with the date.
When you're ready to enjoy your Swiss steak again, there are a few ways to reheat it. If you're reheating from frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator for a day before reheating. You can reheat it in a skillet or saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Add about half a cup of broth or water to the pan and cook for about 20 minutes, or until it's heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the oven at 325°F for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or in the microwave until warmed through.
Now you can enjoy your tender and flavorful Swiss steak again! It's a convenient and tasty meal that's perfect for busy days or when you're craving some comfort food.
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Frequently asked questions
Swiss steak is a tougher cut of meat that is cooked for an extended amount of time and braised or cooked until tender.
It takes 6-8 hours on low heat or 4-5 hours on high heat to cook Swiss steak in a crockpot.
The ingredients needed are round steaks, carrots, onions, potatoes, salt, garlic, onion soup, diced tomatoes, beef broth, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, cornstarch, olive oil, and flour.
Some tips for making Swiss steak in a crockpot include browning the meat before adding it to the crockpot, cutting vegetables into large pieces, and adding extra garlic for more flavor.
