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Crockpot Steak and Gravy always comes out tender and flavorful. It is so easy to make with only 3 ingredients! A perfect supper for busy weeknights.
Featured with this recipe
I was introduced to this 3 ingredient Crockpot Steak and Gravy by a good friend of mine, Rashona, many years ago. It was a busy time in my life and she suggested this recipe to use for those crazy days when you just don’t have time to make dinner later in the day. I have made it countless times over the years, and it always turns out rich, tender, and absolutely delicious. My family gobbles it up; it’s one of their most requested dinners!
This slow cooker steak and gravy recipe could not be easier to make. Toss in three (THREE!) ingredients into the Crockpot first thing in the morning. It cooks all day, and the welcoming scent wafts through the house, making it seem like you spent hours making an extravagant meal. It is such a comfort to walk in the door after a long, busy day and realize dinner is ready!
Ingredients in Crockpot Steak and Gravy
- Top sirloin steak or London broil sliced thin
- Brown gravy mix packets
- Au jus mix packet
- Water
Getting the Right Cut of Steak
Cuts of steak such as such as chuck roast or round steak are perfect for this recipe because they become tender and juicy after slow-cooking. We often use London broil or top sirloin steaks. I usually just shop around for whichever is on sale and buy extra to put in the freezer for the next time I want to use it in my meal rotation.
What to Serve with Crockpot Steak and Gravy
We love serving the thick, creamy steak and gravy over over rice I make in the rice cooker, which is also an easy thing to throw together. We also love serving it alongside buttery mashed potatoes. There are so many side dishes that would work well with this easy steak recipe. Rice and potatoes are our go-to sides but it would also be delicious over pasta, thick toast, or just by itself with a side of broccoli or green beans.
Suggestions and Additions for this Recipe
Brown the Steak: To enhance the overall flavor, try searing the steak it in a hot skillet with oil or cooking spray before placing in the crockpot to lock in the juices.
Keep messes to a minimum: Use a crockpot liner for easy cleanup. After serving just toss remove the liner and toss it. It couldn’t be easier!
Swap out the Au Jus: Sometimes Au Jus mix can be hard to find. You can use onion soup mix instead and you won’t even notice a difference.
Season Generously: Don’t be shy with seasoning! In addition to the gravy mix and au jus, try using a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and your favorite herbs to infuse the steak with delicious taste. You can even try adding a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce.
Layer with Veggies: Add sliced onions, mushrooms, or bell peppers to the crockpot for extra flavor and texture.
Use Beef Broth: Pour in beef broth to create a savory base for the gravy, intensifying the taste of the steak instead of using just water. If you don’t want to add the extra sodium, you can use a low-sodium broth.
Low and Slow: Cook the steak on low heat for several hours to allow the flavors to meld and the meat to become tender. Slicing your steak into thin strips will help speed up the cooking process and ensure super tender, fall apart meat every time.
Thicken the Gravy: Once the steak is cooked, use cornstarch or flour mixed with water to thicken the juices and create a rich, velvety gravy.
Adjust Seasoning: Taste the gravy before serving and adjust the seasoning as needed to suit your preferences.
Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle chopped parsley or thyme over the finished dish for a fresh and vibrant touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the long cooking time, the direct heat of the crock pot, and the steam created by the tight seal of the lid helps to kill any bacteria in the raw meat.
Cooking low and slow (on low heat for 8-10 hours) in its beef broth creates a soft and juicy piece of meat. Remember to stir occasionally.
It isn’t necessary, but if you would like to, searing in a large skillet on medium-high heat can increase the flavor of your cut of beef and increase the texture as well. Searing the meat before slow cooking also gives a beautiful and appetizing color.
Read next: The Best Crockpot Meals
More Time Saving Crockpot Meals
The slow cooker saves the day in our home more often than not! Here are a few of our tried and true crockpot favorites:
- Easy Crock Pot Pork Chops
- Crock Pot Pork Roast
- Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Beef
- Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
- Slow Cooker Ham with Maple Brown Sugar
How to Make Crockpot Steak and Gravy
Crockpot Steak and Gravy
Video
Equipment
- Crock Pot (Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 pounds top sirloin steak or London broil sliced thin
- 2 packets brown gravy mix
- 1 packet Au Jus mix
- 2 1/2 cups water
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in crockpot.
- Cook all day (8-10 hrs) on low, stirring occasionally.
- Serve over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Throw some sliced mushrooms and/or onions into the Crock Pot for a delicious addition.
- We like to serve this meal with steaming rice from the rice cooker, but it also tastes delicious with creamy mashed potatoes or fresh pasta or egg noodles (or one of your most beloved carbohydrates), with delicious broccoli or your favorite vegetable on the side.
- Place any leftover meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator where it will last for three days.
- The leftover meat is great in soups! Cube steak, add tons of pepper, your favorite broth, and heat the crock pot cubed steak on the stove top. Enjoy your ingenious, protein packed meal!
My husband doesn’t want the meat so tender it falls apart like shredded beef. So should I cut the meat a little thicker or in cubes instead? Or maybe not cook it as long? Trying to figure out what I need to adjust. Thanks
Hmm… I’m not sure. When we make this recipe we try to make it as tender as possible, so I haven’t tried it that way. I would guess if you cooked it for less time, it wouldn’t be as tender. Let me know if you do try it!
Thicker chunks. Check on it after 6/7 hrs.
I just saw an ad for “Beef Shaved Steak” at my local Kroger store. I have never seen that before, but beef is scares due to the grocery stores meat limits during these trying times. I was wondering if it would work in this recipe. Please let me know, thanks!
Yes! I’m sure it would work great. Because the beef is slices so thin, it will not need to cook as long in the crock pot however. I would cook it on low for 5-6 hours, and on high 2-3 hours. Thanks for asking!
We have a 3 lb boneless striploin – would that work?
I don’t see why not! Just make sure you slice it thin!
Can I make this in oven
We haven’t tried it that way before, so I am not sure how it would affect the taste or texture. If you try it, let us know!
Would you add mushrooms the last 2 hours?
I would add mushrooms at the beginning! That way you get the amazing flavor all cooked in!
Quick question, it says to up the meat if making for more people. I would definitely have to make for 6-8, which is 4 pounds of steak. Do we not use anymore gravy mix or Au Ju or liquid?
Yes! So you’d need 3 packets of gravy mix, 1 and 1/3 packets of au jus, and 3 1/3 cups of water. Hope this helps!
I wish I had seen this before I just now made it. I had 4-1/2 pounds of top sirloin. So I doubled the Sauce part recipe. Hope this turns out ok. Just now put in crock pot. Hope it’s not too strong of a gravy taste.
In my opinion, you can never have too much sauce! I hope it turned out well!
What if I don’t have Au jus mix. Can I use bone broth instead?
We haven’t tried that specific variation, so I can’t speak to how it will affect the taste or texture of the recipe.
so you dont pre-brown the steak at all before cutting it in slices? the meat turned out very dry for me. using top sirloin. anyone know why? i cooked it on low for 6 hrs.
The thinner you can slice the meat beforehand, the more tender it will be!
Is the meat frozen or thaw?
I use thawed meat.
I want to try to make this tonight. If I wanted to use beef broth instead of au jus, what could I use instead of a gravy mix packet? Sometimes there’s too much sodium and would prefer to substitute if I can. Can I do a slurry if some kind with cornstarch? What would you suggest?
Yeah, I would try 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 1/4 cup water for your slurry. Let me know how it turns out!
Hello,
I was wondering for this recipe, can you also add carrots and potatoes and celery? I am not a big fan on veggies but i will eat them in a stew or like this. I had planned on making rice. Picky picky eater here. But this actually caught my attention.
Yes, you can add vegetables to the crock pot, but if you cook the vegetables all day they will be very soft and mushy. Add the vegetables halfway through the cooking time. They shouldn’t be in the crockpot for longer than 4 hours on low. Thanks for asking!
Thank you so much for letting me know. I am making this for tonight’s dinner.
I have it in my crockpot now, it is not sliced and i added an onion, beef broth, carrots and garlic. I will let you know, but I think itll be delicious. Would be good with sliced mushrooms added too.
Terri B Gehrke, howd the steak turn out not sliced? I hate handling raw meat. Would be so much easier to not cut it. Thx!
Can I cook this on high for 4-6 hours?
It won’t be as tender if you cook it that way, but you can give it a try!
Can this be made in an instant pot? If so, how?
I haven’t tried it in the instant pot. I am worried that the thickeners in the brown gravy mix would burn in the instant pot. Let me know how it turns out if you do try it!
Has anyone tried this by adding onions? I love onions and think they would be a great addition. I would want to use a vidalia or some kind of a sweet onion to try to balance out some of the sodium from the Au Jus and gravy mix.
If I use London Broil, as I plan to when I make this, how will it turn out if I don’t slice the steak before placing it in the crockpot?
We have only used thinly sliced steak in this recipe. Slicing the steak gives the meat more surface area to soak in all the liquid and makes it more tender. I would definitely recommend slicing it!
Very delicious, economical, and easy!
Made with nice creamy, buttery mashed potatoes and baby peas.
Just a few words of helpful advice… I had to slightly improvise due to my miscalculation of ingredients- I only had liquid au jus which equals approximately 1.5 cups, I accidentally put an additional 1 cup beef broth to equal the 2.5 cups needed in recipe not accounting for the liquid au jus I already added- so you can just add another package of gravy -* reduced sodium is what I had and it was to me the best way to balance it out… just a note for the people that only have liquid because it is really easy to overlook the measurements.
You really can’t mess up this recipe. Oh and also, like someone already mentioned cutting the meat in a semi frozen state is the way to go. Just thaw it out / marinate in the refrigerator before adding to crock pot.
Ok, when your boyfriend says it’s better anything that he’s mom makes as she is standing over your shoulder. Could eat every day and only takes a few things…. High 5!
Delicious! Used the top sirloin sliced thinly. Did not make any changes to recipe but cooked on low 8 hours while at work. So tender and good! Will definitely be fixing again.
Should I add more sauce stuff if adding onion and mushrroms
I think you should be okay. It is a very saucy recipe!
How much onion and mushrooms do aff
Easy to do, my husband typically doesn’t like meat cooked in a crockpot but enjoyed this. The only thing I would change is to use a low sodium gravy packet.
Absolutely delicious !!! I used the left over meat and made soft shell tacos the next night.
My people go crazy for this recipe.Put over mash potatoes.So simple so easy so delishes.Thank you.I have very picky people that if it doesn’t ckne out of a clowns mouth have troible eatting anything.They ask for this recipe.
Isn’t it wonderful to walk in the house to the aroma of a great supper all ready to sit down to? Here’s another, similar recipe that I use for pot roast. Throw the meat in the crockpot (can sear it if you’re that ambitious) a pack of dry onion soup mix, a pack of dry beef gravy mix that’s been mixed in half a cup of water, a can of cream of mushroom soup and a can of coke. Add your cut up veggies like carrots, potatoes, and celery. Delicious.
I enjoyed this recipe but I couldn’t get the juices to thicken until I added flour and cornstarch. I made this to surprise the wife with a meal after work but she did not like it because she said it tasted the same as a roast; she obviously is not a fan of roast. However, From my perspective this was a good recipe.
This recipe was simple and delicious. At the end of the cooking time, I added cooked noodles and let them soak up that gravy flavor. Served with sour cream in top. A great beef stroganoff revamped.
Love those ideas! Glad it was a hit!
I made this last night and we thought it was very good and easy to put together. I will be making this again.
So glad you liked it! Thanks for the 5-stars!
Hi there, do you mix the gravy and AuJus packet according to the packet directions OR do you just add the 2.5 cups of water and then the packets?
Just the 2.5 cups and then the packets. You don’t need to cook according to package directions. Hope this helps!
Hello,
your recipe caught my eye, so I decided to mosey on over to the Thriftway next door and take the ingredients into custody. After staring at the extensive gravy selection for five minutes I decided to substitute one of the brown gravies for a packet of mushroom gravy. For meat I am using two organic sirloin strips and one tenderloin. I know that’s overkill but they were in my freezer and needed to be used. I didn’t feel comfortable throwing red meat into the crock without seasoning, searing and cutting it into pieces first. Two and a half cups of liquid seems like a lot for the pot compared to the usual one half to a cup. So, I cut a large onion into thirds, then in half and piled the pieces on the bottom of the pot for the meat to use as a floatation device. I am a little skeptical of the gravy graduating from crockpot U. I hope I am proven wrong, gravy usually requires reduction on the stovetop, uncovered and stirring at boiling in order to thicken. However, I figure no big whoop, I’ll throw the juice in a saucepan after the fact and burn it down to satisfaction if needed.
Anyhoo, thanks for the idea, three ingredients is two more than I can usually handle, I’ll let you know how it dishes out!
Let us know how it turned out for you!
Trying to do Keto and low carb, how can I adjust the gravy? I have been searching for a cube steak recipe for low carb. Any suggestions! Please help!
You could just use beef base and add some pureed onions. This will help thicken it up, though the consistency might not be the same. You could also try thickening with almond flour– haven’t tried this before but it’s worth a shot. Hope this helps!