Learn How to Cook Cube Steak in a few simple steps. Combine with fried onions and parsley for an easy and naturally gluten-free dinner!
Let’s talk about Cube Steak or as I like to call it, “what to make for dinner when you only have 10 minutes”. A while back, I purchased a grass-fed meat bundle from a local farmer and got 5 pounds of cube steak.I tried a bunch of different cooking methods and found myself repeating this easy method over and over again. It’s minutes of cook time, so much flavor, and no added junk! I knew I had to share it with you ASAP.
WHAT IS CUBE STEAK?
It is a cut of beef, usually from the top sirloin or top round, that is tenderized through an electric tenderizer. The cuts are thin and resemble a cutlet of some sort but have a “cubed” surface appearance from the tenderizer machine.
Here is the official Wiki for Cube Steak if you want to learn more. Cube steak can look similar to ground beef in the package, but it’s an entirely different cut of meat and a formed “steak” ready to be cooked.
HOW DO YOU COOK CUBE STEAK?
When I first started cooking cube steak, I searched “How To Cook Cube Steak” on Google and Pinterest and found the same couple of recipes over and over (dump in a slow cooker with onion soup mix or bread and fry) and a few variations on a sandwich using crappy ingredients. I wanted something lighter, easier and made in minutes that was also gluten-free.
After reading way too many cube steak recipes, the consensus is that you either cook it low and slow or very quickly over high heat. The most common cooking methods are:
- Fried (either deep-fried or pan-fried)
- Sauteed
- Braised
After endless experimentation with all of these methods, IÂ have found that pan-frying cube steak is the tastiest, the quickest, and the easiest!
CUBE STEAK RECIPE TIPS
- Make your onions FIRST:Â Here is a quick tutorial on how to make either Fried (aka quick) or Caramelized (aka slow) Onions. Both are great on top of this steak – make what you have time for!
- Make sure to pat the cube steaks dry with paper towels to remove moisture. This will help the meat sear and get a good crust. Moisture is the enemy of searing!
- Season well with salt and pepper.
- Ideally, take the steaks out of the fridge 15 to 30 minutes before cooking as meat that is not ice-cold sears better and more evenly.
- I usually use Ghee but any high-heat cooking fat works. Readers have commented that they have used Avocado Oil, Peanut Oil, and some even use Olive Oil.
- Cube Steak (even grass-fed) is pretty cheap so stock up. Once you cook this recipe, it will quickly become a family favorite!
- To Reheat: Gently warm in a skillet on medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes per side OR microwave for 30 to 45 seconds.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH CUBE STEAK?
We love to serve it alongside a vegetable and starch or starch imposter like mashed cauli. Here are some ideas:
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower with Ghee
Arugula Salad with Lemon Balsamic Dressing
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Learn How to Cook Cube Steak in a few simple steps. Combine with fried onions and parsley for an easy and naturally glute-free dinner!
- 2 Tablespoons butter or Ghee, Avocado Oil, or Peanut Oil (high-heat fat)
- 2 pounds cube steaks (approx 8 cutlets)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper divided
- 1 cup caramelized onions (or fried onions) (approx 1 pound raw onion - see Notes)
- 1/4 cup parsley leaves chopped
-
Make sure to make your fried or caramelized onions first and set aside as those can take some time. See NOTES below for instructions.
-
Pat dry each cube steak with paper towels to remove moisture.
Sprinkle both sides of each Cube Steak cutlet with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
-
Heat a large frying pan - large enough to hold 2 of the Cube Steaks with some room between them (a 12" frying pan worked perfectly for me) over high heat.Â
Once very hot, add 1/2 Tablespoon of cooking fat to frying pan. Add 2 of the Steaks to the pan and cook, undisturbed, for 3Â minutes.
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Turn and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with the butter and steaks until all are cooked.
Serve topped with fried (or caramelized) onions and chopped parsley and Enjoy!
- Make your onions FIRST:Â Here is a quick tutorial on how to make either Fried (aka quick) or Caramelized (aka slow) Onions. Both are great on top of this steak - make what you have time for!
- Make sure to pat the cube steaks dry with paper towels to remove moisture. This will help the meat sear and get a good crust. Moisture is the enemy of searing!
- Season well with salt and pepper.
- Ideally, take the steaks out of the fridge 15 to 30 minutes before cooking as meat that is not ice-cold sears better and more evenly.
- I usually use Ghee but any high-heat cooking fat works. Readers have commented that they have used Avocado Oil, Peanut Oil, and some even use Olive Oil.
- Cube Steak (even grass-fed) is pretty cheap so stock up. Once you cook this recipe, it will quickly become a family favorite!
- To Reheat: Gently warm in a skillet on medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes per side OR microwave for 30 to 45 seconds.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
UPDATE NOTES: Please note that this recipe was originally published in February 2014, but was updated in December 2019 with updated photos, in-process photos, cooking tips, and updated nutritional information.
Jackie Martin says
Cut some of those cubed steaks into thin slices and use them to make either stroganoff or goulash. I like to braise mine in a skillet, add some water and then cook them for a while. I then use them on a sandwich with toasted English muffins and top with a home made Dijonaisse, and a tomato. Good stuff.
The pork cutlets, I pound out a bit thinner and then treat them as you would for a pork tenderloin sandwich, which I love but cannot find here in Utah, so I make my own.
Christina Tatiana Eaton says
That sounds like a great idea! I also just got some in a meat package and have never had it before lol
ashley - baker by nature says
I love me some cube steak! What a great post on how to cook it 🙂 Now I’m hungry!
Norma Chang says
I too do not know much about cubed steak but I like your treatment of it, looking forward to reading about what you do with the other cubed steaks.
John@Kitchen Riffs says
I’m with Judy — I always use this to make chicken-fried steak! But it’s good stuff in any recipe. Good post — thanks.
Judy Baumann says
Debbie, the cubed pork steak is called a pork cutlet here in Texas, and I buy them and make like a chicken fried steak, with mashed potatoes and creamed gravy, and oh, sooooo delicious.
Debbie says
Cube steak is one of r regulars – even got cubed PORK steak the other day (first time I saw that)… Low & slow I simmer with onions/mushrooms… The other day I dipped in egg & dredged in Almond Flour/seasoning mix – kinda like a chicken fried “steak”…
EverydayMaven says
Wow Debbie, I bet the Cubed Pork Steak was really flavorful. My husband wants me to make a Paleo Chicken Fried Steak with it so that is probably next!
Joanne says
Good to know! I’ve heard of cube steak but have never had a good sense of what it was!
Jennifer says
My mom used to prepare them this way but always added a couple dashes of worchestershire sauce to the butter during the steak frying. I am so new to gluten free and paleo, I don’t know what to substitute for the worchestershire sauce or if we can continue to use that. Thanks. Jennifer
EverydayMaven says
Hi Jennifer,
Edward & Son’s make an Organic, Gluten Free Worcestershire Sauce. I have seen smaller bottles (than what I linked to) in the grocery store and also on Amazon – just not today.
Judy Baumann says
Your recipe sounds good, but I use these mostly to make chicken fried steak with.
BarbaraHesterIrwin says
Do you fry it on oil or grease? Then so you bake it in the oven for 60 min in water or is that necessary? Im t rt yin it for the first time. ms.barbie13.bh@gmail.com
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says
Looks like pure comfort food on a plate Alyssa!
EverydayMaven says
Yes! It felt like a cold winter night meal. I can’t wait to experiment more – I think Cube Steak has a lot of possibilities.