Discover the secret to a truly spectacular weeknight dinner with our Instant Pot cube steak recipe, complete with a rich, savory gravy. This culinary marvel comes together in under 30 minutes, making it an absolute winner for busy evenings. Imagine fork-tender bites of beef, generously coated in a luscious mushroom-infused gravy, ready to be served over a bed of fluffy buttered noodles or perfectly cooked rice. If you’ve previously enjoyed our air fryer cubed steak or experimented with your Ninja Foodi, you’ll be thrilled with how effortlessly this version cooks using the pressure cooker function, delivering unparalleled tenderness and flavor.
I am delighted to share this incredibly easy cube steak recipe, a dish that has even won over my children, who aren’t typically big fans of steak. It has quickly become one of our family’s favorite Instant Pot recipes for a comforting meal that’s ready in under 20 minutes of active cooking time. The magic of the pressure cooker transforms an ordinary cut of beef into an extraordinary, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Why Choose the Instant Pot for Cube Steak?
In our fast-paced lives, finding time to prepare a wholesome, delicious meal can be a challenge. That’s where your trusty pressure cooker, whether it’s an Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or Crockpot Express, becomes an invaluable kitchen companion. This method streamlines the cooking process, allowing you to create a complete, satisfying dinner with minimal fuss, leaving you more quality time to spend with loved ones. For this particular recipe, you’ll utilize the pressure cooking lid to achieve optimal tenderness.
While options like slow cooker frozen cube steak exist, they often demand an entire day of cooking. The beauty of the Instant Pot is its ability to deliver the same deep flavors and incredible tenderness in a fraction of the time. Whether your cube steak is fresh, thawed, or even frozen, the pressure cooker can handle it. The key to achieving fork-tender results brimming with flavor lies in cutting the meat into bite-sized pieces before pressure cooking. This not only ensures even cooking but also allows the rich gravy to infuse every morsel.
Essential Pressure Cooking Tips for Success
If you’re new to the world of pressure cooking, welcome! We offer a wealth of easy one-pot meal recipes designed to simplify your kitchen adventures. To get started on the right foot, here are a few fundamental tips:
- Make sure to bookmark our Instant Pot recipes page. We regularly update it with exciting new dishes!
- For a handy reference, print this essential Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet. It’s a fantastic guide to understanding how long various meats, vegetables, and beans take to cook under pressure.
- I highly recommend investing in this non-stick inner pot. It significantly enhances your pressure cooking experience.
- While it’s important to understand how to deglaze a pressure cooker after sautéing, a quality non-stick liner will minimize issues with food sticking, making cleanup a breeze.
For context, the model I primarily use for all my recipe creations is a 6-quart Instant Pot, perfect for family-sized meals.
How Long to Pressure Cook Cube Steak for Ultimate Tenderness
The cooking time for cube steak in a pressure cooker largely depends on how you prepare the meat. For the most incredibly tender results, like the ones achieved in this recipe, we recommend cutting the steak into bite-sized pieces. In this scenario, it only takes a mere 5 minutes of pressure cooking time. Leaving the pieces whole would require twice as long, and there’s a delicate balance to maintain; overcooking cube steak can actually make it tough, rather than tender. Follow our detailed instructions below to ensure perfect consistency every time.
Before the pressure cooking begins, there’s a satisfying step: tenderizing your beef. While you can certainly purchase pre-tenderized cube steak, there’s a unique satisfaction in pounding it yourself with a meat mallet. This process helps break down tough fibers, ensuring a more tender outcome. Just like my popular air fryer steak bites, I consistently find that cutting the meat into smaller, bite-sized pieces dramatically enhances its tenderness and makes it far easier for children (and adults!) to eat. This simple trick, which I’ve used for years with both beef and chicken, allows the gravy and seasonings to penetrate deeply, maximizing flavor in every single bite. If cube steak isn’t readily available at your local grocery store, you can easily create your own at home by pounding out thinner cuts of beef. It’s much simpler than it sounds and often, your butcher will have an affordable cut perfect for this preparation.
Essential Ingredients for a Flavorful Cube Steak Gravy
Creating a rich and comforting Instant Pot cube steak begins with a thoughtful selection of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need, along with why each component plays a crucial role in developing that irresistible flavor profile:
- Cube Steak: The star of our dish. You can pick up a pre-tenderized tray, or make your own using a meat mallet on top round or sirloin steaks. Don’t hesitate to ask your butcher to run a few steaks through their tenderizer; those tell-tale indentations ensure the meat becomes incredibly fork-tender and perfectly absorbs the delicious gravy.
- Olive Oil: Essential for sautéing the meat to achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust, which locks in flavor and adds depth to the dish.
- Flour: Used to coat the meat, creating a delicious crust while also serving as a key thickening agent for our rich gravy.
- Garlic Salt: A foundational seasoning that infuses the meat and sauce with aromatic garlic flavor, balancing the richness of the other ingredients.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup (condensed): This pantry staple forms the creamy base of our gravy, providing a depth of umami and a smooth texture. You can also opt for a homemade version for an extra touch.
- Onion Soup Mix (1 packet): A true flavor enhancer! This simple packet adds a complex savory depth and a wonderful oniony note to both the meat and the accompanying sauce.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Just a touch of this brings a tangy, umami-rich complexity that rounds out the gravy beautifully.
- Diced Onion (optional): For those who love a bit more texture and fresh onion flavor in their gravy, a small diced onion can be a delightful addition.
- Beef Broth: The primary liquid for pressure cooking, it forms the body of the gravy. You can use a bit more if you prefer a thinner consistency, or even substitute half a cup of water for some of the broth.
To complete this hearty meal, serve your Instant Pot cube steak over Instant Pot white rice, classic egg noodles, or creamy mashed potatoes. For those who enjoy a little kick, consider adding about 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the gravy for a subtle spicy twist.
Remember, seasonings are always a matter of personal preference. While the garlic salt, pepper, and mushroom gravy create a perfectly delicious meal as written, feel free to customize it with your favorite herbs and spices based on what you have on hand and what your family enjoys most!
How to Cook Cube Steak in Your Instant Pot
Achieving perfectly tender and flavorful cube steak in your Instant Pot is straightforward with these steps:
- Prepare the Meat: Begin by tenderizing your cube steak with a meat mallet on both sides. This is a crucial step for achieving that desired fork-tender texture. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-tenderized cube steak. Once tenderized, cut the steak into bite-sized pieces. If you prefer larger cuts, you could cut them in half, but smaller pieces absorb more flavor and cook more evenly.
- Coat the Meat: In a gallon-sized storage bag, combine flour, garlic salt, and a pinch of pepper. Add the cut cube steak pieces to the bag, zip it closed, and shake vigorously until all the meat is evenly coated.
- Brown the Meat: Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function on medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, carefully add the floured cube steak pieces to the pot, shaking off any excess flour beforehand. Cook the meat in batches, if necessary, until it’s lightly browned on both sides. This browning step is essential for developing deep flavor.
- Deglaze the Pot: Once the meat is browned, press the “Cancel” button to turn off the Instant Pot – this is an important step to prevent a “Burn” warning. Remove the browned meat from the pot and set it aside. Pour a small amount of beef broth into the hot pot and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. This process, called deglazing, prevents food from sticking and adds incredible flavor to your gravy.
- Prepare the Gravy Base: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, the packet of onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and the remaining beef broth until well combined.
- Layer and Pressure Cook: If using, spread the diced onions evenly on the bottom of the Instant Pot. Place the browned cube steak pieces on top of the onions, then pour the whisked soup mixture over the meat. Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and ensure the steam release valve is set to the “Sealing” position.
- Cook to Perfection: Set the Instant Pot to “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) on high pressure for 5 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, carefully move the steam release valve to the “Venting” position to quick release any remaining pressure.
- Rest and Serve: Once the pressure has fully released and the lid can be safely opened, lift the lid and let the cube steak rest in the pot for 5-10 minutes. This resting period is crucial, as it allows the sauce to thicken further and the meat to reabsorb its juices, making it even more tender and flavorful. Serve your delicious Instant Pot cube steak over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with a bit of salt to taste, as individual preferences for seasoning vary.
Understanding Cube Steak and Its Origins
For those curious about this particular cut of meat, cube steak is typically derived from tougher cuts of beef, most commonly top round or top sirloin. These cuts are then mechanically tenderized and flattened by pounding them with a meat tenderizer, or through an electric tenderizing machine. This process creates the distinctive “cubed” appearance and breaks down muscle fibers, making the meat more receptive to marinades and incredibly tender when cooked properly. It’s the same versatile cut used in dishes like our air fryer chicken fried steak.
Cube Steak vs. Minute Steak: What’s the Difference?
While cube steak is sometimes mistakenly referred to as minute steak, they are actually distinct cuts of beef. Cube steak is specifically cut from the round steak or chuck steak and then mechanically tenderized. Minute steak, on the other hand, is usually a very thin cut from the sirloin or round, designed for quick cooking (hence “minute”), but it does not necessarily undergo the same tenderizing process as cube steak. Both are great for quick meals, but cube steak’s tenderized nature makes it particularly suitable for braising or pressure cooking into tender dishes like this one. And yes, you can also make slow cooker cube steak with cream of mushroom soup – we have a fantastic recipe for that too!
Explore more delectable beef dishes on our dedicated Instant Pot beef recipes page. You’ll discover countless ways to transform all kinds of steaks into exciting and flavorful meals beyond simply grilling them plain.
Instant Pot Cube Steak Recipe
Justine
15 minutes
5 minutes
30 minutes
5
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Equipment
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1 pressure cooker
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1 meat tenderizer
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 lbs cube steak, top sirloin pounded flat, cut into bite size pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tbsp garlic salt
- pinch pepper, optional
- 1 pkg. onion soup mix, 1 oz. package
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 10.5 oz.
- 2 cup beef broth, or a bit more if you want it thinner
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 1 small onion , diced
Instructions
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Pound your eye of round steak with a meat tenderizer/mallet on both sides to tenderize (you can also buy it at the store already tenderized).
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Cut the tenderized steak into bite-sized pieces. Alternatively, you can cut them in half if preferred.
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In a gallon-sized storage bag, combine flour, garlic salt, and pepper. Shake the bag to mix well.
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Set your Instant Pot to “Sauté” (medium setting) and add the olive oil.
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Place the steak pieces into the baggie, zip it closed, and shake to coat the pieces thoroughly with the flour mixture.
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Once the Instant Pot is hot, take pieces of the floured meat out of the bag, shaking off any excess flour before carefully placing them into the pot.
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Cook all pieces until lightly browned on both sides. Then, turn the pot OFF by pressing the “Cancel” button – this is a critical step! Remove the meat from the pot and pour in some beef broth to deglaze the pot (scrape any stuck-on food from the bottom).
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In a bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix packet, Worcestershire sauce, and the remaining beef broth.
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Add diced onions to the bottom of the pot (if using). Then, return the browned meat on top of the onions, followed by pouring the soup mixture over everything. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and close the steam valve.
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Set the Instant Pot to “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) on high for 5 minutes, followed by a natural release for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes of natural release, quick release any remaining steam.
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Lift the lid and allow the dish to sit for 5-10 minutes. This resting period helps the sauce thicken further. Serve over rice or enjoy as is. Sprinkle with a bit of salt when serving, as personal preferences for salt vary.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 383kcal,
Carbohydrates: 11g,
Protein: 33g,
Fat: 22g,
Saturated Fat: 7g,
Cholesterol: 101mg,
Sodium: 2317mg,
Potassium: 644mg,
Fiber: 1g,
Sugar: 1g,
Vitamin C: 2mg,
Calcium: 48mg,
Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Entree, Main Course
American
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Can You Make Instant Pot Cube Steak with Pork?
Absolutely! While this recipe focuses on beef, the method is highly adaptable. You can certainly prepare a delicious Pork Cube Steak using a very similar approach. Just like with beef, begin by pounding your pork cube steak with a meat tenderizer or mallet on both sides. This ensures the pork becomes incredibly tender and absorbs all the wonderful flavors of your chosen gravy. The pressure cooker excels at tenderizing tougher cuts, making it perfect for transforming pork into a succulent meal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cube Steak
Cube steak is generally considered a very lean cut of beef, especially when compared to fattier cuts. It provides significant protein without excessive fat, making it a good option for a balanced diet when prepared appropriately. As with all foods, moderation is key, but in terms of lean protein, cube steak stands out.
If your butcher doesn’t offer pre-cubed steak, you can easily prepare it yourself. Purchase a few thin cuts of top round or sirloin steak. Place a slice of steak between two pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Using a meat mallet, firmly pound both sides of the steak until it has thinned out and the fibers are visibly broken, creating the tenderized texture characteristic of cube steak.
When prepared as bite-sized pieces, cube steak cooks remarkably fast in an Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi, requiring under 15 minutes of total cooking time (including pressure build-up and release). This is significantly faster than traditional slow cooker methods. For tender, savory cube steak smothered in rich brown gravy, our recipe provides precise directions for perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth results, whether you cook it in bite-sized pieces or whole.
Yes, one of the fantastic advantages of pressure cooking is its ability to handle frozen meat. While this recipe assumes thawed or fresh meat for optimal browning, you can cook frozen cube steak. You’ll likely need to extend the pressure cooking time by a few minutes (e.g., to 7-8 minutes instead of 5) and allow for a full natural release to ensure it becomes fully tender. Be aware that browning directly from frozen can be challenging, so adjust expectations for the initial sauté step.
Instant Pot Cube Steak with gravy is incredibly versatile. Classic choices include creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy white rice, or buttery egg noodles, which are perfect for soaking up all that delicious gravy. For a lighter touch, consider steamed green beans, roasted asparagus, or a simple side salad. Crusty bread is also wonderful for dipping!
We hope this comprehensive guide inspires you to create this delightful and incredibly easy Instant Pot Cube Steak with gravy. It’s a comforting, flavor-packed meal that truly simplifies dinner time without compromising on taste. Enjoy!