Round steaks can sometimes be difficult to cook due to their tough texture.
Fortunately, there are plenty of simple tenderized round steak recipes that can turn this inexpensive cut of meat into something delicious.
Most of them utilize simple kitchen appliances such as the Crock Pot in order to cook the meat slowly.
However, there are a few that can also be made in the oven without any noticeable difference in taste.
In this post, you’ll find some of the best recipe ideas for tenderized round steak and a few helpful tips.
12 Best tenderized round steaks recipes
Last weekend, I decided to make a list of the easiest round steak recipes I’ve used over the years.
And even though I love to experiment, most of the recipes on this list were actually created by fellow bloggers.
Anyways, here are some of the most simple recipes for tenderized round steaks:
Crock Pot Melt in Your Mouth Round Steak
This crock pot recipe will make your round steak fall apart and melt in your mouth.
And it requires nothing more than a handful of ingredients.
Simply cut the steak into pieces and cover it in equal amounts of water and broth in your crock pot.
Then season the meat with some salt, pepper and garlic powder and cook until tender.
It really can’t get any more simple than this.
Easy Keto Cube Steak
If you’re on a ketogenic diet, then you’ll love this easy cube steak recipe!
It features tenderized beef that’s simmered in a rich creamy mushroom gravy.
To make it, you’ll need to season the steak with salt and pepper and sear it on both sides.
After this, you add the meat to a slow cooker along with some chopped mushrooms and onions.
Then you cover the steak and vegetables in a creamy gravy and simmer until the meat becomes tender.
Get the recipe: Easy Keto Cube Steak
(Not My) Mom’s Oven Baked Round Steak
If you’re looking for a more traditional approach, then this oven baked round steak recipe has got you covered.
The recipe starts with the meat being dredged in flour and seared in a pan over medium-high heat.
The meat is then transferred into a baking pan and roasted along with some sauteed mushrooms and onion soup for 1 1/2 hours.
Even though this dish is quite simple to make, it packs an amazing bouquet of flavors and aromas.
Air Fryer London Broil
This recipe for tenderized round steaks takes time out of the equation and is ready in less than 20 minutes.
The secret behind it is a special marinade of balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon, Dijon mustard, minced garlic and spices.
After it gets marinated, the meat is cooked in an air fryer for roughly 8 minutes on both sides.
Once done, it receives a ten minute rest and is cut into quarter inch strips.
Instant Pot Onion Gravy Round Steak
This tenderized round steak recipe utilizes the pressure cook functionality of the Instant Pot to reduce cooking time.
The recipe features 3 – 4 slices of round steak that are browned on both sides and pressure cooked for 30 minutes.
The slices are then covered in a rich gravy with sauteed onions and garlic.
The simplicity of this dish makes it perfect for busy weekdays or special occasions.
Crock Pot Swiss Steak
Crock Pot Swiss Steak is a classic heartwarming recipe that you can enjoy on a cold winter evening.
It’s made with tenderized round steak that’s dredged in flour and seared in a skillet over medium-high heat.
The meat is then cooked in a crock pot along with some carrots, celery, onion and garlic for 6-8 hours.
This dish tastes amazing especially when it’s served with mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
Best Oven Baked Round Steak
This oven baked round steak recipe is extremely easy to make and takes only 15 minutes of prep time.
The recipe starts with the meat getting coated in flour and browned on both sides in a skillet.
Then, the meat gets transferred into a baking dish, while carrots, celery, tomatoes and Worcestershire sauce cook in the skillet.
When the vegetables are done they’re placed over the steak and roasted for 2 hours in the oven.
Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
This air fryer chicken fried steak has an amazing taste and can be made with a round steak according the the person who’s sharing it!
It’s tender and juicy on the inside and crisp and delicious on the outside.
After the steak is dredged in flour, it gets dumped in an egg wash and coated with flour once more.
Then it gets air fried for roughly 14 minutes and is topped off with a delicious creamy gravy. This dish is best enjoyed with some coleslaw, hash browns or mashed potatoes.
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
This slow cooker beef and broccoli is one of my go-to dishes for weekends and family gatherings.
It’s full of amazing flavors, requires minimal effort and gives the meat a delightfully tender texture.
Simply slice the steak, add it to your slow cooker and simmer with the ingredients listed in the recipe.
When the meat is done, add the broccoli and some cornstarch and then cook for another 20 minutes.
Easy Pepper Steak
If there’s one dish I simply can’t get enough of, it’s this easy pepper steak.
It’s made with a special marinade that infuses the meat with a rich umami flavor.
After the meat gets marinated, it is cooked along with sauteed onions and bell peppers.
Once done, the meat and vegetables get transferred to a plate.
The marinade is then turned into a sauce and used to cook the meat and vegetables for 2 minutes.
The dish gets finished with a topping of sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Simply amazing!
Steak Fingers
These steak fingers are best enjoyed as a snack over a few cold ones with some family and friends.
They can be combined with country gravy, ranch dressing or your favorite sauce for a richer taste.
The recipe starts with the meat getting cut into slices and seasoned with some lemon pepper and salt.
It then gets dipped in buttermilk and dredged in flour and fried in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Easy Steak and Cheese Sandwiches
This easy steak and cheese sandwich recipe is great for busy weekdays and late evenings.
It cooks fast and you can serve it without any side dishes or garnishes.
It’s made with tenderized round steak that’s sliced and browned in a skillet and combined with sauteed onions and peppers.
The meat and vegetables are placed on bread rolls, topped off with cheese and broiled in the oven for 3 minutes.
What is the best cooking method for round steak?
Round steaks are made from the top or bottom round of a cow.
These areas receive little exercise and are rich in connective tissues.
As a result, round steaks typically have a tough texture and need to be cooked for a longer period of time to become tender.
This is why the best cooking method for round steak is braising.
Braising is a low and slow cooking technique which breaks down the collagen in round steaks into gelatin.
This gives them a nice tender texture that is hard to achieve with other cooking methods.
Having said that, you can tenderize round steaks with a meat mallet and make Chicken Fried Steak.
This technique takes significantly less time, but is just as delicious.
You can also marinade the meat with some soy sauce and vinegar and broil it in the oven for a few minutes.
The acidity of the vinegar will break down some of the proteins and help the meat cook faster.
My short recap
Even though round steaks are a tough cut of meat, there are more than a few ways to make them tender and tasty.
You can bake them in the oven, braise them in your slow cooker or cook them under your oven broiler.
I hope the recipes on this list have piqued your curiosity and you’ll give them a try in the near future.
And if you do, I’d love to hear your thoughts down in the comments.