CrockPot Steak with Mushrooms and Onions

Tender and juicy CrockPot steak made with mushrooms and onions and a flavorful A-1 sauce gravy. Perfect slow cooker meal for the whole family. Easy weeknight meal.

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I love the little cookbooks at the cash register of the grocery store. I don't care whose cookbooks they are - Taste of Home, Everyday Food, Pillsbury, Campbell's. They're usually a couple of dollars, and most of the time, they're packed with yummy recipes that use normal ingredients.

Over the last couple of months, I have only allowed myself to buy the cookbook if it features low fat or low calorie foods. It's not as hard as you might think.

On Valentine's Day, I picked up Prevention magazine's Slow Cooker Recipe Book. After I bought it and brought it home, I noticed that it says "Display until 12/22/09" on the cover, but I didn't care. It's not like recipes expire.

I picked out quite a few recipes to try, and I like that the recipes all have nutritional information calculated. It's listed right alongside the recipe. When I make the time to track my food, that information will be really important to me.

I wanted to share my favorite recipe so far. This one is indulgent, but it's still under 330 calories per 6-ounce steak.

I'm the kind of person who eats a little burger with a lot of A-1 sauce, so being marinated in A-1 made these steaks a huge treat for me.

We ate this with Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice casserole. It's another of our favorites, and it's fairly healthy, too. It was a perfect comfort food kind of meal.

Why this is the best CrockPot steak recipe

It's very quick & very easy: This recipe has only four very easy steps. You do need to marinate the steaks, but aside from that, you can have it prepped and in the CrockPot in less than ten minutes.

It uses standard ingredients: This recipe uses basic ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Nothing fancy here!

It tastes great! Marinating the steaks in A-1 sauce gives them a spicy flavor that isn't overwhelming but makes them melt in your mouth delicious.

The steaks get really tender: Because the steaks cook at a low temperature for a few hours, they get fall apart tender.

It's versatile: Your serving options for this CrockPot steak are limitless. You can serve it plain with veggies like roasted carrots, or you can serve it over CrockPot mashed potatoes, stovetop mashed potatoes, or egg noodles with side dishes of roasted asparagus or roasted beets. It's nice to serve it over potatoes or noodles because there is a lot of rich, A-1 sauce broth after it cooks. See below for instructions on making this broth into gravy.

It's allergy-friendly and great for special diets: This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, and nut-free. It is great for keto, low-carb, low-calorie, and bariatric diets.

What's the best cut of beef for slow cooker steak and mushrooms:

I typically buy a beef round steak when I make this meal, but you could also buy a chuck steak, a cube steak, or a chuck roast. Top sirloin or London broil are also good choices.

There's no need to buy expensive steaks for this recipe. You're cooking the meat "low and slow," which will loosen the fibers in a tougher cut and make it tender and juicy.

What you'll need to make Crock-Pot steak and mushrooms:

EQUIPMENT

• Crockpot - I mean, obviously, right? You need some kind of slow cooker, and it should be at least 6 quarts.

INGREDIENTS

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See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.

• Boneless beef round steaks - I use a 2 ½ to 3 pound beef round steak, but you could also use a top sirloin steak or cubed steaks. (I generally stick to the cheaper steaks because they are going to get tender in the slow cooker no matter what. It's not really necessary to buy an expensive steak.) You will want to trim off any large pieces of fat and have the butcher cut the steak into 6 equal pieces.
• A-1 steak sauce - As I mentioned above, I LOVE A-1 Sauce, and I think it gives the steaks such an amazing flavor in this recipe. Feel free to use extra if you like it as much as I do.
• Olive oil - This is used so that the steaks don't stick to the skillet while browning.
• Sliced mushrooms - You can use quartered or halved mushrooms if you want. Any variety of mushroom is good, but I prefer to use baby bellas or plain button mushrooms.
• 2 large onions - These can be chopped or sliced, as you prefer. I use sweet Vidalia onions but you can use any variety you want.
• Table salt - You can also use kosher salt.
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Cornstarch (optional)

How to make slow cooker steak and mushrooms

1. Combine steaks and ½ cup steak sauce in a large zippered plastic bag.
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2. Massage contents to coat evenly. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
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3. Remove steaks from marinade. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add steaks and brown, turning once, about 2 minutes per side. Remove skillet from heat.
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4. Add browned steaks to the slow cooker.
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5. Layer mushrooms, onions, and browned steaks in a 6-quart CrockPot. Deglaze skillet with a small amount of water and add pan juices to the slow cooker.
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6. Sprinkle in salt and pepper.
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7. Pour in the remaining ½ cup A-1 sauce and stir to distribute.
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8. Cover. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, until meat is cooked through and tender.
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9. If you want to make the broth into gravy, remove the steak, onions, and mushrooms from the juices. Make a cornstarch slurry by whisking together ¼ cup of cold water with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch until it makes a thin paste. Pour the slurry into the CrockPot and whisk. Turn the slow cooker to high, and cook for about 30 minutes. The sauce will thicken right up. If you'd rather make your gravy on the stove, see the FAQ section for stovetop instructions.

Cook's Tips for the best slow cooker steak recipe

You can use a CrockPot liner to make cleanup easier. They're cheap (less than 50¢ each if you buy them on Subscribe & Save), and they reduce your clean-up time to zero.

If you're short on time, you can slice the steak. Sliced thin, it will cook in about half the time.

Adjust the seasonings. A-1 Sauce is already seasoned, so you probably won't need additional salt and pepper, but just in case, you should always taste the dish before serving and add one or the other (or both) as needed.

Garnish with fresh herbs, as I did in the photos. Some chopped parsley or thyme makes a pretty presentation and adds a fresh note to the meal.

CrockPot steak variations

You can add a clove or two of garlic to the stew. Press it with a garlic press or mince it very finely and mix it in with the A-1 Sauce. Alternately, sprinkle some garlic powder over the steak, onions, and mushrooms before cooking and stir it in.

You can use beef broth, beef stock, or even red wine to deglaze the skillet, instead of water.

You can add other veggies to the CrockPot, including baby gold potatoes (my favorite!), baby carrots, bell peppers, or even celery.

What to serve with slow cooker steak

Your serving options for this CrockPot steak are limitless. You can serve it plain with veggies like roasted carrots, or you can serve it over CrockPot mashed potatoes, stovetop mashed potatoes, or egg noodles with side dishes of roasted asparagus or roasted beets. It's nice to serve it over potatoes or noodles because there is a lot of rich, A-1 sauce broth after it cooks. See above for instructions on making this broth into gravy.

What to do with leftover CrockPot steak

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

You can freeze CrockPot steak as well. Simply transfer cooled steak, onions, and mushrooms (with as much of the juices as you want) to a zippered freezer bag or an airtight freezer container, and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

To serve frozen CrockPot steak, thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat in a skillet until heated through or throw it in the CrockPot on High for 30-60 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to cook raw meat in the slow cooker?

Yes, the temperature of the slow cooker is high enough to make the beef safe to eat, even on the low setting.

How long do you cook steak in the slow cooker?

The best way to cook this recipe in the slow cooker is for 6-7 hours on low. You technically can cook steak on high for 3 hours, but the meat will not be as tender and delicious as it will be if you cook it for a longer time at a lower temperature.

How can you thicken the juices into gravy in the CrockPot?

The juices in this recipe are fairly thin. If you want a thicker gravy, remove the steak, onions, and mushrooms from the juices. Make a cornstarch slurry by whisking together ¼ cup of cold water with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch until it makes a thin paste. Pour the slurry into the CrockPot and whisk. Turn the slow cooker to high, and cook for about 30 minutes. The sauce will thicken right up.

How can you make beef gravy on the stove?

If you have trouble with the CrockPot directions or simply want to make your gravy on the stove (it's faster), you can follow these instructions: Transfer 2 cups to a small saucepan on the stove. Bring to a boil. In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup of cold water with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch until it makes a thin paste (called a slurry). Pour the slurry into the boiling broth and whisk. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook until the broth has thickened into gravy.

How do you make beef tender in the slow cooker?

Cooking beef "low and slow" in the CrockPot loosens the connective fibers in the meat and makes it very tender. Aim for at least 6 hours on low, but preferably 7-8.

Do you have to sear the steaks before adding them to the CrockPot?

I like to brown the steaks for two reasons. It gives them a nicer, richer flavor, and it gives them a nicer appearance. Is it absolutely necessary? No, and if you're really short on time, the steaks will taste okay without searing. But they will taste better if you have time to do it.

More delicious CrockPot meals:

• CrockPot Steak with Mushrooms and Onions
• Crock Pot Beef Stew with Gravy
• CrockPot Chicken and Potatoes
• Crockpot Mexican Steak and Beans
• Crock Pot Potato Soup
• Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup
• CrockPot Corn Chowder
• CrockPot Jambalaya
• Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
• Easy CrockPot Salsa Chicken

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