Instant Pot Cubed Steak and Gravy (+Video)
This Instant Pot Cubed Steak and Gravy comes out so tender thanks to the quick work of the pressure cooker and it makes its own gravy!
A FAST AND EASY INSTANT POT RECIPE
So, I thought I would start converting some of my crock pot (slow cooker) recipes to Instant Pot recipes. In my mind, I thought it would be so easy! Yeah, that’s what I get for thinking! Ha! Turns out, not as easy as I thought. I started converting my Crock Pot Cubed Steak and Gravy recipe to an Instant Pot Cube Steak and Gravy and learned that you definitely have to tweak some things to make recipes convert to pressure cooker recipes.
TIPS FOR MAKING INSTANT POT CUBE STEAK:
Cube (or cubed) steak is an inexpensive cut of meat that has been run through a meat tenderizer. Basically, little holes are punched into both sides of the meat to help break down the tendons in the meat which is what makes meat tough.
Cube steak if usually taken from the bottom or top round part of the cow. It’s the bit near the cow’s rump which is a tougher cut of meat.
You can do it a few ways. You can pan fry it like you’re making Chicken Fried Steak. Or you can cook it low and slow which really helps create a very fork tender meat. Or cook it under pressure as I do here. Cooking it in the slow cooker or in the instant pot will give you the most tender outcome.
I’ve made this dish a few times since creating the recipe. Occasionally I still get a burn message on my pressure cooker. When this happens, I just give it a few minutes. I don’t open the lid, I just wait. After a few minutes, it will begin the cooking countdown and the burn message goes away. So if this happens to you, just be patient.
Sometimes it’s possible to get a burn message if something is sticking to the bottom of the pot or if the liquid in the pot is too thick. You may need to scrape the bottom of the pot and possible add a bit more liquid to get it to come to pressure.
No. You can substitute it with Beef Consommé.
Just substitute it with a cream soup that you like – like cream of chicken.
We usually serve it with mashed potatoes, egg noodles or rice to take advantage of that yummy gravy!
Mix together all the sauce ingredients (minus the water and cornstarch) and pour over the cube steaks in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350F degrees for 2 hours.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- water
- French onion soup
- cream of chicken soup
- Au Jus Gravy mix
- cubed steaks
- cornstarch
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT CUBED STEAK:
Pour 1 1/2 cups water, French onion soup, cream of chicken soup and packet of au just gravy mix into bottom of the Instant Pot insert. Whisk together well.
Place cubed steaks into pot making sure to coat the pieces in the gravy.
Close lid, turn valve to “Sealing.” Cook on Manual High pressure for 20 minutes. If you get a “burn” message, just give it a few minutes, it will eventually start cooking.
After cooking, carefully turn valve to “Venting” (this is called a “Quick Release”). Be VERY careful of the steam that will quickly come out. Allow all of the steam to fully release before unlocking lid. Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting. Remove the cubed steaks. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix together 1/4 cup water and cornstarch (this is called a “slurry”).
Pour this slurry mixture into the gravy that is already in the Instant Pot. Whisk well to combine. Continue to whisk until gravy starts to thicken. Place cubed steaks back into the pot to warm them back up. Turn off Instant Pot. Serve cubed steak with gravy over Mashed Potatoes
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Originally published: January 2018
Updated & republished: April 2020
Instant Pot Cubed Steak and Gravy (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 can French onion soup
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 packet packet Au Jus Gravy mix
- 4 cubed steaks (about 2 pounds)
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Pour 1 1/2 cups water, 1 can French onion soup, 1 can cream of chicken soup and 1 packet packet Au Jus Gravy mix into instant pot. Whisk together well.
- Place 4 cubed steaks into pot making sure to coat the pieces in the gravy.
- Close lid, turn valve to "Sealing." Cook on Manual High pressure for 20 minutes. Note: It will take anywhere from 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure before cooking.
- If you get a "burn" message, just give it a few minutes, it will eventually start cooking. Or, open it back up, scrape the bottom really well to make sure there are no bits sticking to the bottom. Add a bit more water to thin it out a bit then try again.
- After cooking, carefully turn valve to “Venting” (this is called a “Quick Release”). Be VERY careful of the steam that will quickly come out. Allow all of the steam to fully release before unlocking lid.
- Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting. Remove the cubed steaks. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix together 1/4 cup water with 3 Tablespoons cornstarch (this is called a "slurry").
- Pour this slurry mixture into the gravy that is already in the Instant Pot. Whisk well to combine. Continue to whisk until gravy starts to thicken. Place cubed steaks back into the pot to warm them back up. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Serve cubed steak with gravy over mashed potatoes.
Video
Notes
- Low sodium beef consommé or beef broth can be substituted for the French Onion Soup.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Hello! Do you think it would be ok to substitute the Au ju packets for a brown gravy one?!?!?!?
Made it exactly like the recipe. It turned out perfect my son asked for seconds and said it was the best meal we’ve ever had at home. That’s saying a lot for him thanks for sharing your recipe.
Hi. I’m looking forward to trying this. Are you using condensed soup or regular soup?
Great flavorful recipe. The family couldn’t get enough!! Will add mushrooms next time.
Perfect comfort food! Very easy, quick meal with mashed potatoes and salad or vegetable of your choice. Be sure not to add extra salt. I followed the recipe exactly..
Hey… I want to try this… I have IP mini… will this work in that? I am looking into buying a 6 qt also.
Great recipe. Easy and husband loved it.
This was soooo yummy!! I had to substitute au jus for better than beef bouillon, as I didn’t have any au jus. Also I only had cream of chicken and mushroom in the same can. Was really delicious
Easy and sooooo delicious!!
Absolutely fantastic…
Thanks so much Ron!
Can I substitute beef broth for the French onion soup? Also, can I substitute sirloin steak for the cubed steak?
Not a big onion fan. Is there a substitute for the Lipton onion?
Hi Chuck – you mean the French Onion soup? You could substitute the can of French Onion Soup with Beef Broth or Beef Consomme. 🙂
I’m excited to try this. This sounds like comfort food. I’m curious, though. Do you think I could use ground beef and make patties?
Hi Mary Lou – I think you could. You’d want to put an egg in the mixture though as a binder to hold them together so they don’t totally fall apart. Maybe use my recipe on the site here for Hamburger Steaks: https://www.thecountrycook.net/hamburger-steaks-and-gravy/
I fixed this tonight. My husband and I loved it. The best gravy ever.
Yay! Thank you so very much Mickey! I love hearing that!
Can i use beef broth instead of au jus mix
Making this tonight! If I use condensed cans of soup (Campbell’s) do I need to add extra water?
Very tasty and very tender! Thanks for sharing
Can I double or triple the recipe in the instant pot. If so does the cooking time change?
Hi Marda – as long as you have an Instant Pot big enough to double the recipe. I wouldn’t think you’d have to add to the time. If you triple the recipe, just as an additional two minutes. I am just guessing here since I haven’t actually tested doubling or tripling the recipe. 🙂
Thanks for the part about the ‘burn’ indicator. It happened to me and I would have had NO idea what to do without your comments.
How would I sub Lipton onion soup mix instead of Campbell’s French onion soup? I bought wrong thing.
Thanks
I actually prefer it with the lipton onion soup mix. I just fill my cream of chicken can with water and add it & the lipton’s to the pot.
Would you adjust the time if the cubed steaks are frozen? We always buy our meat in bulk so I dont have any that are thawed! 🙁 Thank you.
I use cream of mushroom instead of cream of chicken. Do not add extra salt; there’s plenty in the prepared soup and mixes.
The best I have cooked.
Great taste, very tender.
Thank you so much Kelly!!
Hey Brandie! Wanting to try this out.. Cube steak is tough by nature, I usually use the Crock Pot to make it tender.. same results using the insta pot? Still going to try it. but curious!
Hey Craig! You are right and that is a good point. In this case, the pressure cooker acts as a tenderizer. Just don’t go with really thick cuts. Hope that helps!
Can you make this with chicken and if so how long would the cooking time be?
Hi Jessica! I am sure you could. I just haven’t tried it yet so I couldn’t give you an exact cooking time until I test it out. 🙂