Gravy and Vegetables Slow Cooker Round Steak

Gravy and Vegetables Slow Cooker Round Steak

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 4 hrs 30 mins
Total: 4 hrs 45 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings

Round steak is a budget-friendly and flavorful cut of meat that is best when slow cooked or braised with plenty of cooking liquid. Of nice texture and a lot of flavor, round steak comes from the round, a primal cut from the rear leg of the cow. Because it's a muscle that's been heavily exercised during the animal's life, the meat tends to be tough, with a lot of connective tissue and very little fat or marbling. Our recipe transforms this round steak into a moist and juicy one-pot dinner, with barely 15 minutes of hands-on work. Cooked slowly for a few hours, the texture becomes tender, and the flavoring penetrates the meat to make a succulent piece of beef. Vegetables and gravy complete the dish.

Searing the steak is key to the overall flavor and texture and adds color to the meat. You can certainly forgo the browning step and add the raw beef to the slow cooker, but we recommend browning the meat for a tastier finished dish. By caramelizing the exterior you are also taking a step toward killing any potentially harmful bacteria on the meat and enhancing the earthy and deep flavors of the beef.

This easy recipe uses onion soup mix and condensed soup to make a creamy and delicious gravy for the round steak. In the slow cooker, you'll have everything you need for a wholesome dinner, but a nice fresh salad might make for a great accompaniment and a touch of color on your plate.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds round steak

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or vegetable oil

  • 1 (1-ounce) packet dry mushroom and onion soup mix, or classic onion soup mix

  • 2 (10.75-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup

  • 1 1/3 cups water, or unsalted stock

  • 4 medium carrots, thinly sliced

  • 2 medium onions, sliced

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Gravy and Vegetables Slow Cooker Round Steak ingredients

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Slice the round steak into serving-size portions or thin strips. Sprinkle the meat with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides.

    steak pieces on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Place the flour in a large bowl. Add the sliced meat and toss to coat thoroughly.

    steak covered in flour, in a bowl

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Add the oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the flour-coated steak and cook, turning to brown all sides, about 5 to 6 minutes. Reserve.

    steak cooking in a skillet

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. In a medium bowl, combine the dry onion soup mix with the cans of cream of mushroom soup and the water.

    combine the dry onion soup mix with the cans of cream of mushroom soup and the water in a bowl

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Place half of the steak, carrots, and onions in the crock pot. Pour half of the soup sauce mixture over the meat and vegetables.

    vegetables, meat and sauce in the crock pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Place the remaining steak, carrots, and onions on top, and cover with the remaining sauce mixture.

    Gravy and Vegetables Slow Cooker Round Steak cooking in a crock pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Place the lid on and cook on high for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours—or on low for about 8 to 9 hours—or until the beef is tender.

    Gravy and Vegetables Slow Cooker Round Steak in a crock pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Other Flavorful Additions

This recipe is great for adding other vegetables or personalizing it to your family's taste with spices or fresh herbs. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Add 1/2 cup of diced celery along with the carrots and onions. Cubed rutabaga or sliced turnips are also a great addition.
  • Add 1 small jar or can of drained sliced mushrooms. Alternatively, sauté about 1 cup of fresh sliced mushrooms in a teaspoon of olive oil before adding them into the slow cooker.
  • Add 1 to 2 small cups of round potatoes or fingerlings; this will give the dish a healthy carbohydrate and stretch the serving portions.
  • Stir about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of a gravy browning sauce, such as Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet, into the sauce mixture to give it some deeper color.
  • Top the finished dish with fresh parsley to add some color and freshness when serving.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
432 Calories
20g Fat
18g Carbs
46g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 432
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 25%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 128mg 43%
Sodium 894mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 46g
Vitamin C 2mg 9%
Calcium 113mg 9%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 583mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)