Smothered Round Steak and Gravy

Make a deliciously juicy and tender round steak recipe smothered in gravy, mushrooms, and onions for a cozy weeknight dinner.

Rounds steaks are the number one cut of beef that I hear all too often getting a bad rep. Unfortunately, it is primarily due to incorrect cooking procedures, which can lead to tough and chewy meat.

However, once you learn how to cook round steaks correctly, they are very delicious.

I hope you like this recipe because this smothered round steak is one of my favorites; that’s right, we are talking about ribeye-level competition.

There are two ways to cook a round steak

One of my favorite ways to cook round steaks is slow cooking them in the dutch oven.

But if you don’t have time for that, no worries, you can quickly make the perfect round steaks recipe on the stove in less than 30 minutes, and it will still turn out tender.

And hey, if you like the idea of cooking a meal in under 30 minutes, you will surely love this elk steak recipe!

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How to Cook Round Steaks On the Stove

For this recipe, you are going to need a cast-iron skillet. You can certainly make this in a stainless steel pan, too, if needed.

Second, remember, the liquid is key! Yeah, yeah, I know; for every other steak we make, we practically want to dry the steaks with a towel, but round steaks are different.

So please don’t skimp on that step. Besides, our liquid is going to end up as a delicious brown gravy that is unbelievably delicious.

Anyway, on to the smothered round steak recipe. Slow-cooking round steaks in gravy is a pretty straightforward process, perfect for busy weeknights.

Smothered round steak and gravy recipe

Step 1: Heat your cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add butter.

Step 2: Once the butter is melted, sear round steaks on each side for about one minute. Basically, we want a nice sear to develop but not totally cook the steak just yet.

Step 3: Remove steaks from the skillet and set them aside.

Step 4: Reduce heat to medium; add more butter to the skillet.

Step 5: Once melted, add sliced onions and mushrooms. Sautee for about 5 minutes, and then add in salt, pepper, and minced garlic.

Step 6: Sprinkle vegetables with two tablespoons of flour. Stir to coat.

Step 7: Slowly pour in 1 cup of chicken broth, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer.

Step 8: Place the round steaks in the gravy and let them simmer until they are cooked through. It takes about 10-15 minutes.

*Complete ingredient list is in the printable recipe card below!

Make sure you check the internal temperature for the desired doneness. I use this instant thermometer to check the internal temperature.

Serve and enjoy

You will love how easy and filling this smothered round steak recipe is just on its own.

But, if you want to stretch this meal a little further, we love it with any of the following sides.

• Garlic parmesan Brussel sprouts
• Boiled asparagus
• Roasted squash with bacon
• Dutch oven baked beans

Oh, and one more thing: we love gravy. We make a lot of steaks in gravy; even our moose chops are finished in gravy.

Now that that’s out of the way, if you are a red sauce fan and have more round steaks in the freezer, you’ll have to try this round steak pizzaiola recipe!

Cooking tips

• Have a piping hot skillet. A hot skillet is essential in creating that nice sear to lock in the delicious flavor!
• Pat dry the steaks before searing. Excess moisture can result in the steak steaming instead of searing, so it’s important to really dry it off before beginning.
• Prevent burning. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan while stirring to prevent burning.
• Use an instant thermometer. Internal temperature can make the difference between a tender, juicy steak and a tough, dry steak.

How to Sear Round Steaks

The first step in making flavorful round steaks is giving them a nice, solid sear, which we achieve by gently placing them on a very hot skillet.

Searing the meat will lock in all the flavor and caramelize the natural sugars found in the meat. To sear the round steaks, heat your skillet over medium-high heat and then add in a chunk of butter.

Once the butter is melted, place the round steaks on the skillet and cook on both sides for 2 minutes total. Then, remove the steaks from the skillets and set them aside.

Frequently asked questions

How to Make Tender Round Steaks

I’ve already alluded to this above, but essentially, in order to cook round steaks quickly, they’ll need some liquid to simmer in to keep them tender.

We do that by making a gravy with simple kitchen ingredients like butter, flour, broth, and spices.

What is Round Steak?

Round steaks are a cut of steak that comes from the rear leg of a cow. If you have ever had venison steak, the texture is very similar.

The round steak is typically divided into different cuts, such as the top round and the bottom round steak. It is also an inexpensive cut of meat, perfect for budget-friendly meals.

Do I have to tenderize round steak?

Most of the time, round steaks will come tenderized. However, if it doesn’t come tenderized, all you have to do is give it a few good whacks with a meat mallet.

This will soften the fibers making it easier to chew and digest. But to answer the question, no, you don’t have to tenderize the meat.

Why are round steaks so tough?

A combination of lean meat and heavy use makes the round steak one of the tougher cuts of beef.

My favorite budget-friendly steaks

So I have had a lot of people ask what my favorite low-cost steaks are. I’m not about to write a post just for that, so you are going to get it right here.

At the top of the list, round steaks are going to be the cheapest cut. That is not the case in every area, but here in the Midwest, they don’t get much cheaper.

Other cuts that may fall into the “budget-friendly steaks” include:

• Skirt steak, which makes great fajitas
• Chuck steaks
• Flat iron steaks
• Chuck eye steaks
• Sirloin steaks (also on the list of most tender steaks)!
• Salisbury steak (does that even count)?

Wrapping up

For a delicious and easy dinner, smothered steak is the perfect one-dish meal that the whole family will love.

Give it a try now, and let us know what you think in the comments! If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to leave a review.

Once you’ve had your fill of smothered steak, why not give one of these recipes a go next?

• How to cook backstrap
• Jalapeno burgers
• Stuffed peppers
• Venison tenderloin medallions
• Fried liver and onions
• Venison burgers