Cooking meals every day for the family can become a little mundane, and finding new ways to incorporate vegetables or create nutritiously sound meals can be tricky.
This is why you need to try your hand at these successfully tried and tested steak crock pot recipes the whole family can enjoy, they are quick and easy to make and essentially cook themselves while you carry on with your day.
A meal that is ready at the end of the workday that requires minimal, if any, supervision will help to make life that little less stressful, and you can focus on more important things like driving the kids up and down to their sports practices and the never-ending pile of laundry that haunts every day.
#1. Easy Crock Pot Steak Bites Recipe
The summer season is upon us and when the weather is so nice it only makes sense to have the family and friends over, there is laughter and great conversation in the air and everyone is in such a great mood.
And while I love having fruity cocktails, and fruit-filled juices for the younger attendees, my mother and granny always taught me to have some form of food to serve no matter how big or small the group or event. So this has stuck with me.
The problem is I don’t like slaving in the kitchen just for simple appetizers that will be gone before you know it (my family can eat), so the quicker and simpler the better. And these slow cooker steak recipes were the perfect find.
And the best part is, they are super healthy and perfect for those on a Keto-based eating plan. And why would you not want a meal that tastes good, is healthy and takes no effort to prep? There are no negatives and this dish will surely be a hit at your next summer bash so be sure to try it out.
The heading alone made my husband give me a thumbs up for us to try this recipe for dinner one night, so why not.
I love when crock pot steak recipes are quick and easy, especially if they are new dishes because I don’t have the time to think about a hundred steps and just want it to be ready (can you tell how impatient I am).
This dish ticks all the boxes I needed so we went ahead and gave it a go, and it was a beautifully delicate meal that was smothered in a homemade gravy (not that store-bought packet version). I love when the gravy is made from the liquid the meat has been simmering in throughout the day as it is packed to the brim with flavors, spices, and seasonings with natural goodness.
Serve with creamy mashed potato and your family will be in heaven like mine was, a successful dish that is now a frequent visitor on our dinner rotation menu.
When game day season hits you know all about how many weekends are filled with gatherings of boys and men in the downstairs common area with everyone shouting at the TV, and that means the fridges need to be stocked with beverages for all ages, and you need a whole host of grab-and-go snacks they can hold in their hands while jumping up and down.
These steak slow cooker recipes saved the day time and time again and have been such a hit I have had to make double the recipe yield to keep up with hungry men and growing boys.
The sauce is the most important part of this and essentially is what takes up most of the preparation time (all 5-10 minutes of it), and as the meat gently gets on with its slow cooking the fibers break down leaving you with meat that is falling apart at the end.
Shred the meat roughly and put it back in the liquid to absorb as much of the meaty juices and give a full-flavored result. Fill brioche buns with tender meat and top with coleslaw or caramelized onions. You’ll soon understand why the lads always want game days to be around your house.
This dish is packed with color and is so versatile you can pick and choose the ingredients as you have them in your fridge which is great to use up leftover veggies, or for the preferences of family members or picky kids (like mine) who are going through their “I am only eating red fruit and veg period.”
The meat once it is cooked is easily mixed into salads for a light summer salad and outdoor dining as the sun sets, and makes for a great filling in wraps or sandwiches for lunch boxes or grab-and-go snacks as you head to sports practice.
You could also add fresh chili or dried chili flakes when serving for adults or rubbed into the meat for a bite to the overall meal. Sprinkle a generous serving of coriander for freshness and a squeeze of lime to have a beautifully balanced dish.
A winner in our house and a hit with the family. When easy steak crock pot recipes are this versatile your creative spark will be ignited (mine was) and soon you will find new meals to incorporate this recipe into.
This is a steak variation that is effortless and so easy to compile that even the most novice of cooks will succeed at making it.
And you can make the flavor to suit your taste by adding the various spices into the meat mix before putting it in the slow cooker, my go-to mix is onion and garlic powders, smoked paprika which elevates the meal to a new level, and a good amount of fresh chopped herbs.
I like to give the steak patties a good searing before in a hot pan with garlic olive oil and butter for richness to the meat and to seal in the juices and give an extra charred flavor and color to the meat.
Pop the steaks into the cooker, with the gravy you have mixed on the side, and leave it to cook for several hours. You can use the gravy juice as is or thicken it with a cornstarch slurry at the end. Serve with a green salad to bring a lightness to the dish.
I love all dishes and meals that have an Asian influence on them, they have a magical way with ingredients that are light and airy, offering flavors that bring life to the dish, and are simple in their combinations but are perfectly harmonious.
Teriyaki is a unique flavor and I was initially worried it may be too overpowering for the kids but I was proven wrong.
The rich sauce absorbs into the meat giving it a dark, velvety color and texture and when topped with toasted sesame seeds (optional) and fresh, finely sliced spring onions it offers a gorgeous background and the colors pop off the plate.
A true crowd-pleaser of a meal that looks as good as it tastes.
In the country, we currently live in (in Eastern Europe) cabbage and meat are a staple in most, if not all, homes, and I have come to love it for being so humble yet filling and all made with simple ingredients.
For too many years these countries have lived poorly because of communism but that didn’t mean that they didn’t eat well, and you will be surprised at what you can when you have no other choice (words from my mother-in-law during stories she tells from her childhood and growing up less fortunate).
And I can believe it when you only have a handful of ingredients you soon become more creative than you would have thought of yourself, and thus, these basic dishes are created and have been a prominent feature on menus around the world.
If you want a simple meal that is a one-pot sensation and truly delicious then look no further, there is nothing tastier than crock pot steak recipes that are budget-friendly and are quick to prepare. A winning meal.
Stew is unbeatable comfort food, and when winter comes around and you see those grey clouds more frequently then you need slow cooker steak recipes that offer comfort and heartiness to keep those winter blues away.
Sitting on the sofa with a steaming bowl of stew watching your favorite series while the fire crackles in the distance is like something from the movies, except in our house, I try to create these situations as often as possible and the crockpot makes that possible.
With the sealed steaks placed in the cooker working their slow cooking magic, a generous serving of mixed vegetables is thrown in for color and nutrition (of course) and left to simmer gently till the carrots are soft and tender, this is a meal that cooks itself.
Turn it on low in the morning as you dress in your one hundred wooly layers to tackle the day, and come home to a gorgeous meaty aroma that hits you the moment the front door opens.
My children love this dish because they get allocated a particular color of bell pepper and then when we slice them up they see who has the most of each in their bowls, simple fun but at least it gets them to eat a vegetable and that is my main goal (isn’t it every parent’s goal I think).
But this is so easy, let everything cook on low till the meat is tender, and serve with your favorite starch. We have come to like the pasta version where we drain the meat, thicken the remaining liquid which is packed with delicious meaty goodness, and toss the meat and cooked pasta of choice back in and give it all a good stir.
It is filling, cheap and cheerful to make, and gets the whole family involved.
We love a hearty meal when the chill outside is getting worse and you need something to warm the soul, and body, and you can do that easily with these steak crock pot recipes.
Not only is the meal a one-pot sensation, but a little goes a long way, one serving with a chunky piece of homemade bread can fill the hunger gap quicker than you realize. This means this dish is more than likely a two-day serving which is perfect for busy families.
This recipe calls for kidney beans and black beans but feel free to add cannellini or any beans you may have on hand to prevent having to run to the shops just for a packet of beans, this is a versatile recipe so make it work for you.
And the best part (in my kids’ professional culinary experience) is that they get to dollop a generous spoonful of sour cream on top, sprinkle chopped chives on top of that, and the ultimate crushing of tortilla chips which they look forward to more than anything else.
It also adds a great texture element so I go with it. If you have extra you can have it on the side because kids love to use the triangles as edible serving utensils.
Tender, falling-apart pieces of steak smothered in a rich gravy sauce and surrounded by al dente pasta, the ultimate feel-good food.
Soup is always a winner because it costs almost nothing to make, you can make a large batch at one time, and you can add the ingredients that suit your family (or whatever is left in the fridge).
If you make a double portion of the steak meat before adding the pasta at the last part of the slow cooking process, you can half the yield, cool, and freeze down for a later date. The mix reheats just as well.
Simply pop the frozen mix into the slow cooker, set to low, and after several hours it will be hot and ready just like the first time, a double bonus meal. Win-win.
#12. Slow-cooker Mongolian beef with thinly sliced flank steak
All the flavors of the perfect Asian meal combined in one dish complemented with fluffy rice, and a generous sprinkle of spring onion and you are all set.
The thinly sliced beef is what makes this dish so tender, the meat easily absorbs the flavorful liquid it simmers in for several hours, and then as the soy sauce and sugar thicken the juices become rich and sticky coating the meat for the best mouthful of Mongolian inspired meat you will ever have.
Yes, my husband says it is even better than the restaurant version we have when we eat out, and I put this down to love because if you love what you’re cooking it tastes that much better.
Try this with the kids, throw in a couple of chopsticks for a fun element (be sure to have the forks and spoons on standby), and if you have an Asian lantern to adorn the table you can bring a great ambiance and mood to the dinner. If not why not as my granny used to say, life is short, let’s live each day to the fullest.
And if that means lighting a colorful glass lantern for supper, then I am all for it.
I didn’t know that there were so many versions of tacos, taco shells, taco wraps, and even taco cups that could be filled with a meaty mixture, but I was humbly schooled by my kids when we were at the supermarket the other day.
They each chose their favorite and we began our taco adventure with the crispy taco shells.
We made it so that each night the person whose vessel we were using would be the kitchen helper, they loved the idea, and it gave me small tasks to delegate so one less thing for me to do and got them involved, what a winning combination.
The meat and veggies can simmer gently while you get on with the decorations (as my little one likes to call it) for the toppings. We decided to eat outside as summer was here and the weather was gorgeous so set up a buffet station of sorts of shredded lettuce, tomato salsa, and cheese.
We dished the ready meat mix into a serving bowl and it was fun watching everyone ‘build’ their own filled tacos, it is a messy meal I will say that as the meat is so deliciously saucy, so have plenty of napkins.
Butter has this magical effect on food, it adds richness, creaminess, and a flavor unlike any other. You may not think it but using oil instead of butter is highly detectable so be sure to make this meal with the best quality of ingredients you have or can afford.
Tenderize the meat if need be (the kids take great joy using the mallet), season, and layer like a lasagna in the crockpot alternating with steaks and butter. If I have it on hand I like to add a few blocks or slices of homemade garlic butter to add a more intense flavor to the final dish.
The butter soaks into the meat and it is almost impossibly tender after a few hours in the cooker. Serve the meat on top of creamy mashed potato, even sweet potato or celeriac mash has been proven highly successful at our dining table, and pour the leftover liquid on top to get every ounce of goodness from the dish.
The easiest and simplest meal you may have ever made with literally a handful of ingredients, as well as steps, and you have a ready meal at the end of the day.
Steak slow cooker recipes that require a step where you pour Coca-Cola over the mix are a thrill for the kids, they love seeing the bubbles fix and pop all over the place. Pour over the honey mix and let them drizzle the Coke everywhere they can inside the slow cooker.
Set it to low and come back to it at the end of the day after all the endless number of household chores have been completed.
The sweetness is subtle yet present, and the carbon bubbles from the soda help to tenderize the meat as it cooks.
Seasoning and sealing the steaks in a hot skillet before adding to the cooker is a crucial step in locking in that much-wanted flavor, and it won’t be dry either as it seals in the juices. It has a beautiful charred, golden appearance to the meat which is always appealing to tuck into.
Layer the potatoes and steaks in the crockpot, don’t we just love slow cooker steak recipes that have a layering effect, it means there is every ingredient in each bite throughout (win). I also like to layer in thinly sliced onions and if you want to add a nice bite to the meal (if not serving to the kids), throw in a couple of sliced chilies or jalapenos too.
They add color as well as the heat you want.
This recipe is quite rich so we usually serve it with a side salad to keep the dish light, but starch is just as good during the colder months when you want more of a comfort-food option.
Beef and mushrooms are one marriage that just can’t be faulted, they complement each other in color, texture, and flavor and work well in pretty much all dishes where they are paired together.
And this one does not disappoint either.
A creamy meal with pasta, protein, and veggies and all is right with the world. My husband likes to make this from time to time (thankfully so because it means a night off for me) and he is successful every time which goes to show that even the most novice of kitchen chefs can make a tasty meal that is packed with flavor.
Serve a bowl of parmesan on the side for everyone to sprinkle some onto their dishes when they eat and be sure to make more than necessary as there are always requests for seconds in our house, and I can guarantee there will be in your house too.
This is almost like a stew but has elements of an elevated dish that looks as good as it tastes, if not better.
The colorful array of ingredients is what brings the meal to life, they add green olives but all the colors appealed to me so I added them all (ha, it was brilliantly tasty), then you have the traffic lights of peppers to add that tang and sweet component, and all of this simmers gently for several hours in the crockpot.
It fills the hunger gap for those growling tummies that come running in the front door after a long day at school, serve with turmeric or saffron (if you have it) infused rice to add that last pop of color on the plate, although white fluffy rice is just as superb.
Simple, humble, and a crowd-pleasing meal every time.
Steak for some people may seem like a luxury but in many cases, they are the cheaper cuts of meat which make these steak crock pot recipes the whole family can enjoy a breeze to try out for those midweek dinners when the weekend couldn’t come sooner.
Life with children in the house is busy, to say the least, so quick and easy dishes are the key to stress-free meals, there are plenty more to choose from on our blog, and something to suit everyone.
Using the slow cooker for meals means less time in the kitchen and more time to focus on the important things in life, family.
Born and raised in South Africa and being immersed in the rich culture, Candace soon found a passion for all things food related. Exploring and experiencing new flavors and taste profiles she pursued her career as a qualified chef in silver service specialized in fine dining.
