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Make this low carb (ketogenic) by substituting Shirataki noodles for the rice. Click here to see my post on Shirataki noodles.
My mother has one sister, my aunt Kathy. They have a lot of cousins and such, but just the two of them when it comes to siblings. They like to meet once a week or so at this little restaurant in between their towns for lunch, and often during the course of chatting over their restaurant food, they’ll start talking recipes. That’s just how my family is. We are always thinking of the next thing we are going to cook. I tell people that in my family, once you see the way we talk about and are always planning our cooking sessions you’d think we we were always one meal away from starvation!
At their last lunch, Kathy told Mama about this tender swiss steak recipe that just melts in your mouth. Hers is cooked in a Dutch oven, which I love to use. But with summer here, I tend to use my slow cooker as often as possible as opposed to firing up the big oven. It saves electricity by only generating a small amount to run an appliance and also by not heating up the house as the air conditioner is trying to cool it down.
So I took that recipe that Kathy gave Mama, then modified it to use what I had on hand (I already go to the grocery store so much the manager offered to have me a name tag made) and boy was she right! This is a uniquely different taste, very savory, beefy, and with a wonderful oomph thanks to the choice of seasonings. I made the mistake of only cooking enough for four but won’t do that again as my husband wanted seconds (and thirds). It is not often that cubed steak can be cut with a fork like a hot knife through warm butter but this dish is just that. A wonderful supper idea if you’re looking for something new to try. We will be having this again. In fact, I think this will be our Sunday dinner this week along with sweet and sour green beans.
Now I told y’all on Facebook that I was spending the week reminiscing about my grandparents and to expect to hear more so here are my thoughts for today on Grandmama and Grandaddy 🙂 :
My grandparents had a work ethic that wouldn’t quit. I never once saw them spend a day sitting down and relaxing all day as we seem to fantasize about. Even in Heaven, I’m absolutely certain they are enjoying working (click here to read why). Grandaddy worked at a company called Thiokol, building and testing rocket engines. Grandmama also worked at Thiokol as a secretary for one of the guys we refer to as “big wigs”, which is pretty much anyone who is important enough to have a secretary (mental note: become a big wig someday). They got up before the sun each morning to get ready for work and Grandmama would cook breakfast for them in addition to making sausage and biscuits to take with her to the office. She sold those from her desk for 50 cents each. This was her little extra money. They counciled us to always have a little extra money put back…
(Me and Grandmama used to talk about setting up a sausage and biscuit stand out by the river, so fisherman could ride up in their boats and buy them. I may just do that one of these days…)
They rode into work together and rode home together. Once work was over, it was time to go home and work in the garden. Now keep in mind that my grandaddy wasn’t a hobby gardener, he had a serious garden which took up most of their back yard so working in it required a good bit of time each day. On Saturdays, it would be yard work (Their yard always looked perfectly manicured) and sometimes they’d head out to their little plot of land on the Tennessee river where they would fish all day, clean those, and bring them back to add to the freezer.
It was always about working, gathering, making a living, taking care of yourself and others. Saturdays weren’t days for sleeping in, they were days for getting more done. But they didn’t look on extra work as hardship, they looked on it for the satisfaction of a job well done. My grandparents had lived hard lives growing up and they enjoyed laboring to provide for themselves. They lived with the security that their work provided.
They worked hard in ways that a lot of people don’t consider nowadays. It wasn’t a Monday through Friday 8-5 gig. That was just the job that paid the bills. The job that made the life started after they had clocked out. They worked on their land, they worked on their garden, they worked to make their home nicer, cleaner, better, they worked on their marriage, they worked on their relationship with their children and grandchildren, and when they went to sleep at night, they slept well knowing they had done the best they could that day.
And some reading this might think they were exchuasted and never really enjoyed life. But I’d argue that they enjoyed it much more than anyone who would think such a thing enjoys theirs.
There is a satisfaction that can only come from self sufficiency and a job well done – and my grandparents had it.
Another reason to admire The Greatest Generation.
You’ll need: Can of tomatoes (sliced, diced, stewed, crushed, whatever you want), tomato sauce, onion, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper.
I am using smoked paprika but just use whatever paprika you grab first.
You’re also going to need cubed steak.
I usually find these two at a time on clearance but needed a whole passle of them for this post so I paid full price and bought a big package. I then brought them home, intending to make this within a day or two, got busy, and threw them in the freezer for when I did find time to make this. Apparently, I didn’t put them level in the freezer because they all slid down to one side.
Somedays I feel like these cubed steaks must’ve felt when that was happening.
Am I going to put these in there frozen?
Yes, I sure am!
This up close shot of the price is so we can reminisce about the good old days when cubed steak was “only” $5.58 a pound.
Miss Merry Sunshine I am today, right? Well, actually I am. I am optimistic about things that merit optimism. The state of our economy is not one of those things. But it is a good example of why we should work on our own personal economies and it does make it easier to do – basically do the opposite of everything the government does and we’ll end up in pretty good shape!
That’s my plan at least 🙂
My grandparents taught me that trials can knock you down or they can motivate you. Which it is is entirely up to you.
Place tomatoes, tomato sauce, and all seasonings in a bowl.
Give that a good stir.
Slice those onions up however you feel like slicing them up.
Uses her Bubba Gump voice, “you got chopped onions, sliced onions, diced onions, julienned onions…”
Speaking of Forrest Gump, my husband and I were reminiscing about it recently and thinking about buying a copy of it to watch on family movie night – and then fortunately we remembered that it isn’t a movie you really want to watch with your nine year old, or 14 year old for that matter. We got the new Lego movie instead. Speaking of the Lego movie, wow! If you don’t have A.D.D. when you start watching that thing, you will when you’re done! 😉 But it is a fun movie. It is just very fast paced and all over the place. I’m actually the Queen of Attention Deficit Disorder (although it is NOT a disorder, it is a super power actually, click here to read a post on that) and I had a hard time keeping up. Worth watching, though, just to get the EVERYTHING IS AWESOME song in your head.
Place your cubed steaks in the slow cooker.
I’m only putting in four of mine. I’ll save the other two in my freezer, packaged individually, and make myself steak and gravy for lunch one day when I’m here by myself.
Sometimes I surprise myself and do nice things like that for me 🙂
Toss your onions on top.
If you feel that they have experienced enough violence from the chopping process, you can place them gently.
And pour the tomato mixture over it all.
Cover and cook on low, 7-9 hours (9-10 hours is fine, too, if you have a newer slow cooker)
or high, 4-5 hours.
If you end up cooking it for an extra hour or so it will be just fine, even more tender, provided you have a newer slow cooker. The older ones (7-10 years old), at this point in the game, generally don’t cook evenly anymore and you can end up with scorched food. I use a Hamilton Beach Set N Forget Programmable slow cooker most of the time. I have a few slow cookers, all of them are Hamilton Beach and they cook really well (and are affordable).
When it is ready, that cube steak will be so tender you can cut it with a fork.
I like to serve mine over rice. Since I buy rice in bulk, I like to incorporate it into a few meals each week to help give a little boost to our grocery budget.
ENJOY!
“The people around your dining room table are your best friends.
So be kind.”
~Karen Kingsbury
~Submitted by Tammy N (thanks, Tammy!). Click here to submit your own.
Yum 
My mom is famous in our family for Swiss Steak. It is so good.
She uses round steak and cooks it in a big pressure cooker.
She turned 90 this week and although she does great to be 90, I’m not sure if
she will ever be able to make it again.
But just about every family dinner, someone brings up Swiss Steak and we sit around
and talk about how good it was.
So if you’ve never eaten Swiss Steak, you’re in for a treat! I love it with mashed potatoes.
Just brings back the “good ‘ol days” for me…Sunday dinners at home.
Hi, I love using my pressure cooker and I would appreciate it is you could email me your moms recipe for the swiss steak . Thanking you in advance.
I have a shiny, new red dutch oven that I haven’t used yet, so I think I’ll try this in that. I assume it needs about 2 hours on top of the stove???
If you simmer it, I’d give it an hour and a half. Also you can bake it in the oven in your Dutch oven for same time (hour and a half) at 350. That’s how my ain’t does it.
thanks!
Make sure the knob on top is oven proof! most of them are 🙂
Christy, I have it cooking in my crock pot as we speak! I happened to have some top round steak (not cubed) needing to be used and all other ingredients, so I didn’t even have to go to the store. I am sure the steak will be tender, even without being cubed. Can’t wait until supper! Thanks so much for this easy recipe.
I just put everything together myself, Can’t wait for tonight’s diner!
I also added green peppers, 1 shake of hot pepper & a little bit of beef stock!
That sounds wonderful!
I bought ground round on sale yesterday. Can I form this into patties and use it instead of cubed steak or will it fall apart?
I used to make this in the pressure pan when all my children were little. I took round steak and cut in portions and pounded it till quite thin. It was always so good but the crockpot will be a great way to fix it. I have 4 of them all different sizes and use them a lot! All mine are Crockpot Brand. I remember the deepwell on the first kitchen range I had after getting married, it worked on the same principle as a crockpot/slow cooker. Wonder why they quit putting them on ranges…
I had not thought of a deep well in years and years. When I was a child our stove had one. It was in place of one of the “eyes” (surface units!) And went below the surface. Bet not too many people remember them!
My first home ( 45 years ago !) came with a stove with a deep well replacing one of the burners. I used it all the time as a new bride.
I do remember those!… my friend’s mama’s stove had one (but I never saw her use it).
I remember growing up with one. The left back burner could be lowered into the stove. We fried donuts in ours.
The picture looks so good! I can’t wait to make it! Can you also share how you made the vegetables in the picture? I love your site and have made so many of your dishes. I have your newest cook book and love that too!
I was just going to ask the same thing. Those summer veggies look delicious!
Sounds so good! I might wait and make this with some fresh summer tomatoes! Also will add this to my “fall hunting club recipes” when our four boys w/families come home to hunt….nothing better:)
I love this recipe and the best part my husband does too!
I buy what ever steak cut is on sale, cube, bottom round, top round, and even chuck. The chuck does cook to little pieces though. Great recipe for the crock pot…thank you
The droughts all over the country have decimated the beef herds and they say its going to be years before it gets back on its feet (if ever) so remember fondly the days when meat was affordable! A lot of cattle ranchers have had to just give up the business sadly. How I wish I could handle being a vegetarian but I like my meat too well. I have never tried Swiss Steak with cubed steaks but I’m going to give this a try because it looks really good!
I hope you enjoy the recipe Lana!!
Thanks Christy, I’m going to make this with our tomatoes, onion, and garlic. We grow a huge garden and can or freeze for “later”. I love recipes that make good use of our supplies.
Sounds delicious Kathy, hope you enjoy!!
Your Aunt Kathy has a winner here………give her a BIG Thank You!
So glad you like it Mary!!
You’re welcome!
This is very similar to the swiss steak I make. Most of the time I also add bell pepper too and cook in my pressure cooker which takes no more time than cooking potatoes or rice. Also use round steak or whatever is on sale. My son likes me to use venison also for this.
Excellent recipe.
Great idea as well Winnie!!
I love this. I usually make this in my electric skillet and use green peppers too. Will try the crock pot. Back in the day, the early 80’s when I was first married, I always used round steak and pounded it with the tenderizer mallet and it works great too but is easier to buy cubed steak these days. Thanks for several great meal ideas today. I think we like/need to talk about cooking so we get new ideas as sometimes I just get burned out on meal ideas. Yay for the internet!
I agree Susan, talking about food and seeing how other make things does help pull us out of the dinner rut!
I loved the story you shared about your grandparents. They seem like wonderful people who lived a full and good life. Thank you for sharing it, as well as this gorgeous steak recipe.
Mother used a thick round steak–Daddy always raised a calf to butcher and she had the beef cut to her taste (miss that good beef). She dredged in flour and browned before putting in the big, heavy pan she used. She cut her onion in slices and also added carrots, cut on the bias. It was sure good. By the way, the beef, onions and tomatoes (she’d canned) made it extra special. We have had that dish almost since I married 47 years ago! I serve mashed potatoes with mine at times. I, too, use the crockpot now more often than the over! Love your recipes and comments. Our worship leader at choir last night left us with this: “Satan knows you by name, but calls you by your sin. God knows your sin, but calls you by your name.” Isn’t God good to us!
He is so good indeed Sarah!!!
I am looking at those brussel sprouts and squash…I know a recipe is coming, right????
I will try to get to them soon Sandra!
I think this recipe would probably work out even better if you put them into the crock pot frozen — Particularly since you will be cooking them for as long as the recipe calls for. I have a horror of overcooked meat dishes in the crock, and it seems as though unless i use a slow cooker with a timer, that’s what I always end up with.
You could certainly do that if you wanted to Tracey, either way it works great!
So glad to see this post. I haven’t made swiss steak for years. When my hubby was in the military I made it at least once a week …one of his favorites. I too floured and browned mine first then into the oven with everything… I also used bell peppers in mine. Such a comfort food. We served ours over anything….mashed potatoes, noodles, rice…it’s just so yummy any way you do it.
Thanks for bringing back great memories !
Aww, so glad it brought such fond memories Adeline!! I hope you get the chance to make it soon and enjoy those memories even more!
Was a hit at dinner tonight! Thanks 🙂
So glad to hear it was a hit Katrina!!
What temperature do u suggest if cooking in the oven in a Dutch oven?
Would love your input, advice on the purchase of a new slow cooker/crock pots. I am in the process of purchasing a new one, prefer one that you can program due to my working. I ve read review after review and still confused. I would like a 6 quart. Any suggestions ?
My personal favorite is the Set and Forget by Hamilton Beach. Hope this helps!
I personally love my nesco cooker. I can fast cook and my meat is always so tender but u can also use it as a slow cooker so it’s a two for one deal. Mine is only a 6 qt I hear they make an 8. Lord knows with my family I need about a 12 qt to make these wonderful crock pot meals I have found here.
I made this and had to tell you how delicious it was! Never had I enjoyed cubed steaks more. They really were fork tender. My family and I have never been disappointed by any of your recipes. Thanks for getting me out of the same ol’ things for dinner week after week.
I am so glad you enjoyed it Cindy!!
I LOVED this recipe, except I won’t use cubed steak next time as I didn’t like the texture. I will probably use a round steak or something like that. Now my question: have you tried this with pork or chicken? I expect it would be wonderful as well. For such simple ingredients, the sauce was sooo delicious. I would love to hear any comments.
I haven’t tried it with chicken or pork, but would love to hear back if you try it.
I have it in the slow cooker with pork sirloin steaks right now. Will let you know how it turns out.
This recipe was absolutely wonderful using the pork sirloin steaks. Will have to try chicken next.
Had this for supper tonight and we LOVED it! The cubed steak was so tender and the sauce was so good mixed with the rice….will definitely be making this one again! Thanks!
So glad to hear that you liked it Tracy!
I love your recipes, Christy!
Christy, I always love the way you start off by saying and having a picture of what you will need in a recipe. I always copy and paste this at the top of each recipe. This is most helpful when I are planning my meals. Also if my husband is going to the grocery store for me, he can always see what I need and what the ingredient looks like. The pictures really helps the sales clerk. At times you mention something and I am wondering what is that. The picture helps so much. Your recipes are wonderful and I will (and my husband) always be your most devoted fan.
I make a version of this, well not sure whY u’d call it. I used cheap steaks seared then throw them in my nesco cooker I then add about 6 cans of stewed tomatoes and I buy these mushroom gravy packets. So I add about 4 of those and each packet calls for 1 cup cold water. So I add the amt for each packet and then I use about 1/3-1/2 a bottle of whirhestershire sause. This gives it a little zing. So use as much to ur personal taste. I let that cook on high for a couple hours and the meat falls into little pieces and is so tender. Serve over white rice. My kids can’t get enough of it. Rarely are there any leftovers. I have found a steak with some fat on it seems to work the best. Gee I’m making myself hungry..lol.
In the crock pot now. Smells great!
I can almost smell it here Rachael!! One of my favorites!!
I am going to try it in a pressure cooker tonight. I don’t have time after work to use my dutch oven.
It’s the perfect recipe for two working people.
Let me know how it turns out Tom!!
If you changed out your sauce from tomato based to a beef gravy with mushrooms; that would be the version of Salisbury steak that I grew up with instead of the meatloaf style that is now served. In the mom and pop diners that used to be up here in Mich (east side) it would be a popular dish on Sat.
You are so right MaryAnn! Our Salisbury steak has a beef gravy as well, but Swiss steak has a tomato based gravy 🙂
Hello, I will try this look wonderful, I have always had it with brown gravy. Shelia
This looks sooo good, I just have to try it. Hope you and your family had a lovely Easter. Thankyou for all the “YUM” recipes…lol
We did Linda, I hope that you had a blessed Easter as well!! Enjoy the recipe!!
Hello Christy, Swiss Steak was one of my mother-in-law’s favorite dishes. She has passed on now, but ,this dish reminds me of her. Keep Cooking up Those Good Dishes Christy! Thanks So Much.
I made this today following the recipe. To me it needs a little sweetness. It was just missing something. A little sugar usually rounds out the flavor of tomato dishes.
I am giggling now because I always tell my husband the same thing about tomatoes!!! I’m not sure why I didn’t think to add a little sugar in this recipe, maybe its because there is always one or two people who fuss at me in the comments when I do, lol. But you’re right!
Hi Christy. I finally tried this recipe tonight and it was excellent! I did add a sliced yellow and red bell pepper on top of the onions, but it would have been great without that addition. I just wanted to use them up, lol.
I love knowing all your recipes are tried and true and always turn out to be winners for us. Thanks again! You’re the best!!
Edible but …
love this one Christy! have made for years, just different spices and looking forward to trying yours. have you tried this with bone in pork chops? works just as well!
I hope you enjoy my version just as much Sandy!!!
I am gathering the items to make this for supper tonight. Thank you for all your recipes and cookbook. Since I retired I have learned to cook and my husband has really enjoyed it. I am so grateful for all of your posts. Thanks for giving me such great ideas.
How fun!! I hope you are enjoying the journey of cooking!! I am so glad you have found some recipes you like and I am honored to have been a part of it!
Followed this recipe to the letter. Sorry to say that my wife and I both could not eat this. It had an off putting grainy texture and a nasty bitter taste. Fed it to the garbage disposal. Will NOT be making this one again!
Why bring politics into your posts. I was so disappointed as I love your website. Everyone does not think like you do and it and it just made me sad to read your post.
I am sorry you are so easily saddened. Hope things get better for you soon.
I absolutely loved the background on your grandparents. I so admire people like them, and I aspire to have more of those qualities that they clearly had in abundance. My parents, who are no longer with us, worked from sunup to sundown seven days a week as well. And here’s the key: They never complained. How is that even possible? I am embarrassed to admit that I am a complainer. If I had a hard day at work (most of them?), you’ll hear plenty about it as I rub my aching feet and play the pity card. But my parents ? Never. I imagine that they thought that only ungrateful “wusses” complained about their lot in life. I have to laugh though, because you know how there are many women out there who have low self-esteem because they feel that they are not thin enough, pretty enough, a good-enough wife and mother, etc. ? Well, I get low-esteem too, but not related to those things. Mine is that I am not “stoic” enough. My husband always says (when I start to complain)–“For heaven’s sake, Alicia, man up!”, to which I reply, “I’m trying, I’m trying” 🙂
I can understand Alicia, our forefathers sure set a high standard!! You just keep on keeping on, I have faith in you, you’ve got this!!
I am on a low carb diet. I notice none of you recipes have nutritional count Are you able to provide one?
Hey Sheila! I have an entire low carb section on the site you might want to check out here: https://www.southernplate.com/category/lowcarb/
I do not provide nutritional information as it varies based on serving sizes, ingredient substitutions, and other factors on your end. I suggest myfitnesspal.com for calculations. It’s free and really easy to use. It is what I use for my personal calculations. You’ve picked a wonderful way of eating!