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A simple dinner to make this week is Poor Man’s Steak Diane. Loaded with tender beef and savory gravy with plenty of mushroom and Dijon flavors.
This slow cooker steak Diane is one of the recipes from my cookbook, published over 10 years ago! This recipe is still amazing! Steak Diane is one of my favorite things to order at fancy restaurants. It’s usually made with filet mignon. But with the handy dandy slow cooker, we can use beef stew meat and let it cook low and slow and get just as tender steak Diane for a fraction of the cost.
Another popular recipe on the site is Poor Man’s Stew. When groceries were cheaper, it was under 10 dollars to make!
Key Ingredients
Beef: To make this meal “poor man’s,” I use beef stew meat instead of an expensive cut of steak.
Vegetables: Shallots (which are in the onion family and super cheap!) and baby bella mushrooms.
Gravy Ingredients: My easy gravy for steak Diane is brown gravy packets, tomato paste, Dijon mustard, seasonings, and a touch of sour cream, which is stirred in at the end.
How to Make Steak Diane in the Slow Cooker
- Build the base: add beef, gravy mix, Dijon, tomato paste, and aromatics to the slow cooker and toss to coat.
- Stir in the water to make a sauce, then cook on LOW until the beef is fork-tender.
- Finish silky with sour cream.
Sarah’s Tips & Variations
Other Meat Cuts: Can’t find beef stew meat? You can cut up a chuck roast instead, but be sure to cut off any fatty pieces. You can also use bulk steak cut into cubes, which usually is the same price as beef stew meat.
Cut the cost more: Swap half the beef for extra mushrooms; their meaty texture stretches servings without losing flavor.
Cream Swap: Use a 1/4 cup of heavy cream instead of sour cream.
What to Serve with Steak Diane
Mashed Potatoes: This is my favorite way to serve steak Diane, and a great touch is to add a tablespoon of creamed horseradish to the potatoes!
Rice: Rice is a cheap way to feed a crowd and it really soaks up all the creamy sauce.
Other Sides: Add a vegetable like broccoli, green beans or a green salad.
Do I need to brown the meat first?
Not required. Browning adds flavor, but this recipe is designed for dump-and-go.
Poor Man’s Steak Diane
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. beef stew meat, or chunks of chuck roast or cheap sirloin steaks
- ½ tsp. dried leaf oregano, (not ground)
- ½ tsp. dried leaf thyme, (not ground)
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- 2 oz. beef gravy mix, (two 1-oz. packets) I use McCormick
- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 shallot, diced (about 1/4 -1/2 cup)
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
WAIT TO ADD
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Add the beef stew meat to the slow cooker
- Sprinkle over the gravy mix and seasonings. Add the tomato paste, Dijon mustard, and garlic.
- Add the shallots and mushrooms, pour over the water. Stir together, try to get the tomato paste and Dijon mustard to blend into the gravy.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours.
- When the cooking time is up, stir in the sour cream and serve!
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
My Other Favorite Beef Stew Meat Recipes
Warm up with Slow Cooker Beef Stew or Guinness Beef Stew for classic, cozy bowls.
Craving comfort plates? Try Beef Tips & Gravy or Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff over mash or noodles.
For a change of pace, ladle up Steak & Potato Soup, dish up Beef Noodle Casserole, or simmer Easy Teriyaki Beef for a sweet-savory twist.
