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 ribeye-level competition.

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!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Get my full disclosure here.

How to Cook Round Steaks On the Stove

For this recipe, you are going to need a cast-iron skillet. First, we’ll be giving the steaks a quick sear to lock in the flavor, then finish them in the homemade gravy till they cook through.

The most important part about cooking round steak is using a lot of liquid; the liquid is key to making them juicy, tender, and delicious.

For the liquid, we are going to make a brown gravy with sauteed onions and mushrooms. The round steaks we will simmer in the sauce as they cook to get extra flavor.

Slow-cooking round steaks in a sauce such as gravy is a straightforward process, perfect for busy weeknights.

This gravy method may be a favorite among some, but if you like red sauce, you’ll have to try this round steak pizzaiola recipe!

How to Sear Round Steaks

The first step in making flavorful round steaks is giving them a nice, solid sear. We are going to do this over high heat very quickly.

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.

How to Make Tender Round Steaks

As already mentioned above, we’ll be cooking the round steaks in gravy. In order to make round steaks in a skillet quickly, they will need to be cooked in a liquid to keep them tender and juicy.

For the gravy, you will need butter, flour, chicken broth, an onion, mushrooms, and spices.

Round Steak and Gravy

1. Heat cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon of butter.
2. Once the butter is melted, sear rounds steaks for 1-2 minutes on each side, depending on thickness.
3. Remove steaks from the skillet and set them aside.
4. Reduce heat to medium; add 1/4 cup of butter to the skillet.
5. Once melted, add sliced onions and mushrooms. Sautee for about 5 minutes, and then add in salt, pepper, and minced garlic.
6. Sprinkle vegetables with 2 tablespoons of flour. Stir to coat.
7. Slowly pour in 1 cup of chicken broth, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer.
8. Place the round steaks in the gravy and let them simmer until cooked through, about 10-15 minutes.

I use this instant thermometer to check the internal temperature.

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.

Serving suggestions

You will love how easy and filling this smothered round steak recipe is.

We love it with mashed potatoes covered with steak gravy.

Or try this round steak and gravy with one of these popular sides.

• Garlic parmesan Brussel sprouts
• Boiled asparagus
• Roasted squash with bacon
• Baked beans
• Side salad

What is Round Steak?

Round steaks are a cut of steak that comes from the rear leg of a cow. And actually, surprisingly enough, can easily be substituted for venison steak.

The round steak is typically divided into different cuts, such as the top round and the bottom round. Round steak is an inexpensive cut of meat and one of the cheapest steaks you can find.

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.

Budget-friendly steaks

Round steaks are one of the cheapest steak cuts you can purchase. 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

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
• Creamy ham and potato skillet
• Fried liver and onions
• Venison burgers