Slow Cooker Swiss Steak


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Make this classic old fashioned recipe for Crockpot Swiss Steak with round steak, tomatoes and peppers which makes the best savory sauce! It’s a nice meal that can pair with lots of things and something your whole family is sure to enjoy.

close-up of piece of swiss steak coming out of the crockpot.

If you’ve never heard of Swiss steak, it is a recipe that has been around for decades. Some recipes call for “swissing” the steak (tenderizing with a meat mallet), but if you are cooking it in the slow cooker that is not necessary.

My recipe is a mix of a few different recipes I found in my vintage recipe collection. I decided to thicken the sauce by dredging the meat with flour. It adds a nice touch to the sauce which many slow cooker recipes don’t have.

This old-fashioned recipe is still wonderful to make today! You can also make Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak or Slow Cooker Cube Steak, which has a different sauce but still has a vintage vibe.

Ingredients for Crockpot Swiss Steak

Here is what you need to make this vintage recipe. For full ingredient amounts, see the recipe card below the images.

ingredients to make crockpot swiss steak on a table.
  • Beef: Round steaks can be bough. Or bottom roast, or top round roast can be used and cut into thick steaks. 2-4 pounds will work fine in this recipe.
  • Flour: This will be used to lightly coat the chuck steak prior to searing with olive oil.
  • Beef Consomme or Beef Broth: Either one will work and both provide the perfect tasting base for the roast to cook in. I prefer Campbell’s brand.
  • Diced Tomatoes: You’ll need 2 cans of diced tomatoes, undrained.
  • Vegetables: An onion and green bell pepper are both diced and tossed into the crockpot to provide texture, flavor, and heartiness.
  • Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, freshly minced garlic cloves, and Worcestershire sauce come together to make the delicious seasoning taste in every bite.

Variations

Here are my approved variations to make this recipe your own.

  • Mushrooms can be added at the beginning of the cooking time, add 1-2 cups. You can also add tomato sauce, garlic powder, or mushroom soup for even more flavor.
  • You can add a 1/2 cup of red wine (such as Merlot or Cabernet) for more flavor.
  • Yes, if you can’t find bottom roast or steaks you can use one of these cuts of beef: cube steak (or cubed stew meat), chuck roast (leave whole, shred at the end and degrease the sauce by laying paper towels over the sauce and discarding), or stew meat.

How to make Swiss Steak in a Crockpot

This vintage recipe comes together easily, here is how to do it:

Step One – On a large plate add the flour and salt and pepper. Mix this together. Dredge each steak in this mixture on both sides, transfer to another plate. Save any excess flour mixture, you will add this to the slow cooker with the meat later.

Step Two – Set a large skillet to medium high heat. Add enough oil to coat the pan. Brown the steaks on both sides, no need to cook through.

Step Three – Add the browned steaks to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over any remaining flour from the plate.

Step Four – Add the remaining ingredients (tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, etc.)

Step Five – Stir everything together until well combined.

Step Six – Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours or HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time or until fork tender.

a piece of slow cooker swiss steak being held by tongs.

What to serve with Swiss Steak?

It’s best to serve this dish with a starch, here are my favorite ways to serve.

  • Mashed potatoes or steamed rice make great sides. You can also serve pieces over egg noodles for a great recipe that is tasty and hearty.
  • Serve Swiss steak with vegetables like green beans or a green salad adds a refreshing touch. We often make Crockpot Green Bean Casserole to go along with this meal.
  • Rolls or garlic bread are always a great match when looking for something to sop up the juices.
serving of slow cooker swiss steak on a white plate.
a piece of slow cooker swiss steak being held by tongs.

Slow Cooker Swiss Steak Recipe

4.86 from 14 votes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours
Total Time: 7 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 8
This Swiss Steak recipe features tender round steak slow-cooked in a rich tomato and beef sauce with onions, peppers, and garlic for classic comfort food.
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How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 2.5 lbs. round steaks, or bottom or top round roast cut into thick steaks (2-4 pounds will work fine in this recipe)
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 4 Tbsp. cooking oil
  • 10.5 oz. Campbell's beef consomme, or beef broth
  • 29 oz. petite diced tomatoes, (two 14.5 oz. cans) do not drain
  • 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

Instructions 

  • On a large plate add the flour and salt and pepper. Mix this together.
  • Dredge each steak in this mixture on both sides, transfer to another plate. Save any excess flour mixture, you will add this to the slow cooker with the meat later.
  • Set a large skillet to medium high heat. Add enough oil to coat the pan. Brown the steaks on both sides, no need to cook through. You may have to cook the meat in two batches if your pan is too small, add more oil inbewteen batches. Add the browned steaks to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over any excess flour from the plate.
  • Deglaze the pan that you browned the meat in with by adding the beef consomme and scrapping up any brown bits. Add to the slow cooker on top of the beef.
  • Add the remaining ingredients, stir.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 7 hours or HIGH for 4 hours with out opening the lid during the cooking time.

Sarah’s Notes

To Store: To store leftover slow cooker Swiss steak, allow it to cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate within two hours. Consume the leftovers within 3-4 days or freeze for longer storage, ensuring proper reheating before serving.
Thaw your meat before using this recipe, you will have better results with browning the meat.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 689mg | Potassium: 918mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 276IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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33 Comments

  1. SDurant says:

    Made the Swiss steak it was delicious. Will definitely make it again & again