Instant Pot Cubed Steak and Gravy
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 & 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.
I have made this recipe several times. It was quick and easy and tasted delicious. Matter of fact I’m cooking it today.
– Lillian
Frequently Asked Questions
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 with my Crock Pot Cubed Steak recipe 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 my Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes, Cafeteria 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 – you can use low or no sodium options if you feel this will be too salty for your tastes.
- cream of chicken soup – again, please use low or no sodium options if you need to reduce the salt or you are worried about this being too salty for your tastes. You can always add salt later but you can’t take it out once it is in there. You can use other cream soups that you prefer. A lot of folks like cream of mushroom with this as well. I even have a homemade cream of chicken soup recipe if you really want to control the ingredients.
- Au Jus Gravy mix – As I have said with the other ingredients, please grab low or no sodium ingredients if you are worried about the amount of sodium. I also have a homemade au jus gravy mix recipe.
- cubed steaks – this recipe is for 4 cubed steaks (about 2 pounds) but would work with less. You do not want to overcrowd the instant pot or you will get a burn message so don’t try to cram more in here.
- cornstarch – this is used to thicken the gravy. You need to use cornstarch, not flour. It won’t blend as well and it will get lumpy.
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?
- Instant Pot Meatloaf
- Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops
- Instant Pot Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Sausage Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Crack Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Scampi
- Instant Pot Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Meatballs
- Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Instant Pot American Goulash
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
- Instant Pot Mac & Cheese
- Crock Pot Cubed Steak and Gravy
- Steak Tips With Peppers
- Chicken Fried Steak Fingers
- Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites
- Chicken Fried Steak & Gravy
- Stovetop Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Cubed Steak and Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 ½ 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)
- ¼ 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 and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: January 2018
Updated & republished: April 2020
