Description
Slow Cooker Swiss Steak is a comforting, hearty dish featuring tender beef slowly cooked in a rich tomato sauce with onions and bell peppers. This set-it-and-forget-it recipe offers deep, savory flavors and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that makes for a perfect cozy meal on busy days or cool evenings.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Beef
- 2 pounds chuck steak or round steak
Sauce and Vegetables
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings and Coating
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or cornstarch/gluten-free flour for gluten-free option)
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Pat the beef steaks dry and lightly coat both sides with flour seasoned with salt and pepper. This dredging helps create a slight crust during cooking and thickens the sauce later.
- Brown the Meat (Optional, but Recommended): Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and quickly sear the coated steaks until browned on both sides, locking in flavor and adding extra depth. Skip if short on time.
- Layer the Ingredients in the Slow Cooker: Place the steaks at the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with sliced onions and bell peppers. Pour tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce over the top, then sprinkle with garlic powder and additional salt and pepper if desired.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the beef is fork-tender and the sauce is rich and thick.
- Final Touches: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Let the dish rest uncovered for 10 minutes to thicken the sauce further if desired before serving.
Notes
- Use quality beef cuts like chuck or round steak for maximum tenderness.
- Browning the meat adds more flavor, but can be skipped if short on time; compensate with extra seasoning.
- Slice onions and peppers evenly for consistent cooking and texture.
- Add Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder to layer and enhance umami flavors.
- Check tenderness near end of cooking to prevent overcooking as slow cooker temperatures vary.
- If sauce is too thin at the end, stir in a cornstarch slurry and cook on high for 15 more minutes to thicken.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/5 of recipe)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg