Swiss Steak – Immaculate Bites

What Is Swiss Steak?

As I said, this swiss steak recipe isn’t Swiss but 100% American. Its intriguing name comes from the swissing technique, which involves pounding or rolling meat to make it tender. Of course, you can take the easy route and use a mechanical tenderizer (swissing machine).

Recipe Ingredients

1. Beef – Top round or bottom steak works great for this recipe. It’s an economical cut, yet it turns out just as tender and delicious as prime rib when you know how to cook it.
2. Seasoning – Salt, pepper, and Creole seasoning to season our meat.
3. Flour – The flour coating aids in tenderizing the meat and gives our steak a beautiful crusty finish. And to make the steak more flavorful, we’ll also season the flour with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder.
4. Herbs and Spices – Aromatics, such as garlic, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, and paprika, will surely enhance the flavor of our beef and its sauce.
5. Tomatoes – You can use either pureed or diced tomatoes for this recipe. It will serve as the base of our swiss steak sauce.
6. Worcestershire Sauce – It’s a special sauce with a sweet and rich umami flavor, making our tomato gravy really delicious.
7. Bell Pepper – You’ll love the contrasting sweetness and bitterness for more flavor depth and color in the sauce.

How to Make Swiss Steak

Season and Fry the Steak

• Season the Steak – Pat dry the steak with a paper towel, then season with salt and Cajun seasoning.
• Combine Flour and Seasoning – In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder.
• Coat – Then coat with seasoned flour and shake off any excess.
• Fry – Heat oil in a cast iron or skillet over medium-high heat; then fry steak on both sides until golden brown — about 6-7 minutes per side.
• Set Aside – Remove beef from the skillet and place it on a plate.

Make the Sauce

• Saute – Add onions to the skillet, then saute for about 2-3 minutes. Follow with garlic, thyme, oregano, and bay leaf, and continue cooking for 3-5 more minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent burns.
• Cover and Simmer – Next, add tomatoes puree, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, beef, and about 1-2 cups water. Cover and simmer for about 45 minutes.
• Add Bell Pepper – Throw in bell pepper, and continue cooking until meat is tender.
• Serve – Remove and serve warm. Spoon the sauce over the steak.

Recipe Variations

1. More Veggies – You can add carrots and green peas to the sauce just like the old-fashioned swiss steak does. Potatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli are fantastic additions, too.
2. Spicy – Spice it up with habanero, serrano, or Scotch bonnet pepper for an added zesty oomph. Although a dash of pepper flakes, cayenne, or hot sauce work, too, if you don’t like it too overpowering.
3. Asian-Style Version – Shake things up with curry powder and coconut milk, and you’ll enjoy this swiss steak on a different level.
4. Red Wine Sauce – Infuse red wine into the tomato-based braising liquid for a more sophisticated finish perfect for an intimate date night.
5. Baked Swiss Steak – Sear the meat, add the rest of the ingredients, cover tightly with foil, and bake at 350℉/177℃ for an hour or two until the meat is tender. Remove it from the oven, and let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
6. Slow Cooker Swiss Steak – Maybe you’ll also like the slow cooker version, especially on a busy day. Brown the steaks, add them to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients, and let the slow cooker or crockpot do the rest. You can cook it for about 7-8 hours on low and 4-5 hours on high.

Tips and Tricks

1. For best results, thin your steak using a meat tenderizer to half-inch thickness. Cube steak works just fine here.
2. If desired, you may also add about a cup of sliced celery to the onion mixture OR some diced carrots for added texture.
3. If you don’t have a can of tomato puree, a can of diced tomatoes with juice works fine, too. Just stir in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch/flour and a tablespoon of water to thicken the sauce.
4. Add tomato paste instead of a cornstarch slurry if you want a flavorful thicker sauce. Or thin out the sauce with more broth or water if you find it too thick.

Make-Ahead Instructions

You can prep the meat and sauce ahead and assemble everything in a pot. Cover the pot with a lid and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. There’s something about tomatoes that even tastes better the next day. When you’re ready to make it, simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, and you’re done.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serving – This tender and juicy swiss steak are best served hot straight from the pot with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta. It’s just the perfect dinner meal combo for the whole family.

Storing – If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container for 4 days or freeze them for 6 months.

Reheating – Reheat on a stove on medium heat until warmed through, occasionally stirring to prevent scorching at the bottom. You may add water or broth as needed. Or reheat in a 350℉/177℃ oven, covered with foil, for 25-35 minutes. Or microwave on high for 1-2 minutes if reheating a single serving.

FAQs

What to Serve With Swiss Steak

This swiss steak recipe makes a regular family weeknight meal or a main course on special occasions. And best served with fantabulous side dishes below for a total package.

1. Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes
2. Southern Green Beans and Potatoes
3. Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob
4. Spicy Roast Garlic Broccoli
5. Rice Pilaf

More Mouthwatering Steak Recipes to Try

Conclusion

Steak can be super expensive. But with this swiss steak recipe, you can save money and still have a drool-worthy beef dinner. Would you love some more family-budget-friendly beef dinner ideas? Sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date!❤️

Watch How to Make It

This blog post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.