3 Ingredient Crock Pot Steak and Gravy

Name: 3 Ingredient Crockpot Steak and Gravy
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 (10.75 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup (I used 98% fat free); 1 packet of dry onion soup mix; 2 pounds of stew meat; 3/4 C of water

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This crock pot steak and gravy is a simple dump and cook recipe for perfectly tender meat that develops its own flavorful onion and mushroom gravy in the crock pot. It takes only 5 minutes to prepare and has only 250 calories per serving!

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Why Make This Recipe?
Ingredient Notes
Step by Step Photos
FAQs and Expert Tips
Related Recipes
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Why Make This Recipe?

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It's easy: As with many of my favorite dinner recipes, this crock pot steak and gravy is easy-EASY. You simply dump the ingredients into the crock pot and come home 8 hours later to a house that smells just like an Amish kitchen!
It feeds a crowd: This recipe makes 6 servings so it is enough for the whole family. (Or can be stored and even frozen for simple meal prep).
It has only three ingredients: As the name would imply, you only need 3 ingredients for this steak and gravy dinner (plus a little water) and they are all relatively cheap and require no prep work!
It's a blank slate for sides: This steak and gravy is flavored perfectly with the cream of mushroom soup and dry onion mix, yet still basic enough that you can pair it with any sides you'd like. I prefer it with mashed cauliflower and a veggie, but you could pair it with these rosemary and blue cheese mashed potatoes or serve it over rice or noodles.

Ingredient Notes

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Stew meat: Stew meat can be found at your local butcher or grocery store and is basically small cuts of beef that are ideal for slow cooking. If you're unable to find it, you can use a different type of beef, but I recommend using one with a lot of tough connective tissue, such as chuck or round. This connective tissue breaks down during slow cooking and results in incredibly tender meat. You'll need 2 pounds for this recipe which makes 6 servings.
Cream of mushroom soup: You'll need two 10.5 oz cans of cream of mushroom soup. I prefer using Campbell's 98% fat free.
Dry onion soup mix: My favorite mix is from Lipton's. You should be able to find it in a blue box at your local grocery store in the same aisle as the canned soup.

Step by Step Photos

collage of images showing how to make crockpot steak and gravy

Add your 2 lbs of stew meat to your crockpot.
Top with two cans of cream of mushroom soup.
Dump in 1 packet of dry onion soup mix. Top with ¾ C of water.
Stir to combine then cook on low for 8 hours.

FAQs and Expert Tips

overhead shot of steak and gravy in white dish with side dishes

Shopping: Dry onion soup mix can be typically be found in a box in the soup aisle. (I prefer Lipton's brand which is in a blue box). Stew meat can be found at your local butcher or in most grocery stores.
Substitutions: If you are unable to find stew meat, you can substitute it for another cut of beef such as chuck or round. If you are not a fan of mushroom soup you can sub the two cans in this recipe for one can of French onion soup and one can of cream of chicken instead.
Prep: None! (The joys of dump and cook crock pot recipes!)
Cooking: You will cook the steak and gravy in the crock pot for 8 hours on low (or 4 hours on high, but I prefer a lower, slower cook).
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Freezing: To freeze your leftovers, allow to cool completely first, then store servings in individual containers for up to 2 months. You can also freeze any leftover gravy in an ice cube tray.
Reheating:
- If fresh: Fresh leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop in a small pot over low heat.
- If frozen: Frozen leftovers should be placed in the refrigerator to thaw overnight and then reheated using the directions above.

Can I make this in the instant pot?

I don't recommend making this steak and gravy recipe in the instant pot. Soups like cream of mushroom have a tendency to burn on the bottom of an instant pot as it comes to pressure. Also, using the crock pot allows for a lower, slower cook, resulting in more tender meat.

What can I use if I can't find stew meat?

If stew meat is not readily available in your area for any reason, you can use a different cut of beef and slice it into cubes before cooking. Ideally, you want to use a cut of beef with a lot of tough connective tissue such as chuck or round, as this connective tissue will break down and create the tender meat you want for this steak and gravy recipe.

I don't like cream of mushroom. What else could I use?

If you aren't a fan of mushroom soup, you can substitute the two cans in this recipe for one can of French onion soup and one can of cream of chicken soup.

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