Round steak and gravy is a budget-friendly dinner that turns an inexpensive cut of beef into a rich, comforting meal with tender meat and savory homemade brown gravy.👇👇
If you've ever stood in your kitchen wondering how to turn a tougher cut of beef into something the whole family actually enjoys, this recipe is the answer. Slow braising transforms round steak into fork-tender slices coated in a rich homemade brown gravy with onions, mushrooms, and garlic.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Budget-friendly beef dinner - Round steak is one of the most affordable cuts of beef, making it a smart option when planning grocery budgets.
- Simple ingredients - Butter, flour, broth, onions, and garlic are everyday pantry staples that build a rich homemade gravy
- Hands-off cooking - Once everything goes into the oven, it slowly braises until tender without much attention.
- Great for meal prep - The leftovers reheat beautifully, making it a great option for next-day lunches or another quick dinner later in the week.
- Comfort food that feeds a family - With mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice, this meal stretches easily for four servings or more.
What Is Round Steak?
Round steak comes from the rear leg of the cow, which means it's naturally lean and a little tougher than other cuts. That's why slow cooking methods like braising in the oven work so well.
When cooked slowly in gravy, the connective tissue breaks down, and the meat becomes tender and flavorful.
At the grocery store, round steak may also be labeled as inside round steak, top round steak, marinating steak, or bottom round steak.
Recipe Ingredients 👇👇
- 2 lbs round steak - inside round, top round, or bottom round
- 2 Tbsp salted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion - roughly chopped
- 2 cups mushrooms - chopped (about 8 oz / 227 g)
- 3 garlic cloves - smashed or diced
Homemade Brown Gravy:
- 4 Tbsp beef drippings - or salted butter
- 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Optional Shortcut
You can skip the homemade gravy and use this instead; just follow the brown gravy packet instructions.
- 2 packets brown gravy mix
- 2 cups hot water
KITCHEN EQUIPMENT: You can cook this recipe in a braiser, Dutch oven, or oven-safe skillet, which makes this a great one-pan dinner with easy cleanup. I used a Staub braising pan.
How To Make Round Steak and Gravy 👇👇
STEP 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
TIP: This low oven temperature will allow the steak to braise gently, which is what helps tenderize the meat.
STEP 2: Sear the Steak
Heat a large skillet or braising pan over medium-high heat and melt 2 Tbsp butter.
Add the 2 lbs round steak and sear for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly browned. The steak does not need to cook through.
Remove the steaks from the skillet and place them in an oven-safe roasting dish, braiser, or Dutch oven. Leave the drippings in the skillet.
NOTE: Searing builds flavor and creates the base for the gravy.
STEP 3: Cook the Vegetables
Now add the chopped onion, 2 cups diced mushrooms, and 3 smashed garlic cloves to the same skillet.
Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and the mushrooms begin to turn golden.
STEP 4: Make the Homemade Brown Gravy
Eyeball the drippings left in the skillet. If there is less than 4 Tbsp, add salted butter until you reach 4 Tbsp total.
Lower the temperature and sprinkle in 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly browned.
Slowly whisk in 2 cups beef broth, stirring the whole time. Then add 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.
Continue stirring until the gravy thickens and becomes smooth. If the gravy is too thick, stir in a splash of broth or water until you reach the desired consistency.
STEP 5: Bake Until Tender
Now pour the gravy, onions, mushrooms, and garlic over the round steak in the oven-safe roasting dish.
The gravy should surround the meat and partially cover it.
Cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil and bake in the oven for about 2 hours, or until the steak becomes fork-tender.
NOTE: This slow braising process allows the meat to soften and soak up the rich beef gravy.
STEP 6: Serve
Serve the steaks whole or shred them into the gravy.
We paired this with garlic mashed potatoes and frozen green beans for a simple dinner.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Sear the 2 lbs round steak in 2 Tbsp butter in a skillet until lightly browned.
- Transfer the steak to a slow cooker. Cook the onion, mushrooms, and garlic in the same skillet, then prepare the gravy with the 4 Tbsp flour and 2 cups beef broth.
- Pour the gravy over the steak.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or until the meat becomes fork-tender.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Use the Sauté setting of the Instant Pot to melt 2 Tbsp butter and sear the 2 lbs round steak for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove the steak and cook the onion, mushrooms, and garlic in the same pot.
- Add 4 Tbsp flour, cook briefly, then whisk in 2 cups beef broth, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper.
- Return the steak to the pot and spoon the gravy over the top.
- Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes, then allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes before opening.
Shortcut Brown Gravy Option
- If you want an even faster version, whisk 2 packets of brown gravy mix with 2 cups of hot water.
- Pour the mixture over the steak along with the cooked onions and mushrooms before baking.
- This shortcut is helpful on busy nights when you need a quick dinner solution.
If you're looking for more simple meal ideas like this one, you can browse my collection of easy dinners for more family-friendly recipes, or explore my one-pot dinners, where you'll find practical meals designed to make busy weeknight cooking easier.
Recipe Tips
- Round steak is a lean cut, so slow cooking helps make it tender.
- Inside round, top round, or marinating steak all work well in this recipe.
- Do not skip the searing step, it adds flavor to the gravy.
- If the gravy thickens too much while baking, stir in a little beef broth or water before serving.
- This recipe works best in an oven-safe skillet, braiser, or Dutch oven that can handle slow braising.
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooled steak and gravy for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
Watch How I Make It 👇👇
Round steak with gravy is easy to make - watch how in this quick video.
What To Serve With Round Steak and Gravy
- This is especially delicious served over creamy garlic mashed potatoes, or alongside fluffy garlic butter rice if you prefer a simple rice dish to soak up the extra sauce.
- My roasted brown sugar carrots and sautéed green beans also make great vegetable sides.
- For bread on the side, soft homemade dinner rolls or crispy homemade garlic bread are perfect for dipping into the savory gravy.
And if you enjoy hearty beef dinners like this one, you might also like my sirloin tip roast for another budget-friendly oven dinner, or a quick pan-seared ribeye steak when you want a simple skillet steak for an easy weeknight meal. For slow-cooked comfort food, both slow cooker pot roast and slow cooker Mississippi pot roast are reader favorites that cook low and slow until tender.
Round steak and gravy is one of those dependable homemade recipes that proves simple ingredients and classic cooking methods still work beautifully for family dinners.
This is the kind of reliable family-friendly dinner that works for busy weeknights, Sunday suppers, or when you want a budget-friendly meal that stretches a package of beef into something filling. Serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles so every drop of gravy gets used.
Round Steak and Gravy
Tap Stars To Rate!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs round steak - inside round or top round
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 medium yellow onion - sliced
- 2 cups mushrooms - diced (about 8 oz)
- 3 garlic cloves - smashed
Homemade Brown Gravy
- 4 Tbsp beef drippings - or butter
- 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Optional Shortcut Gravy
- 2 packets brown gravy mix
- 2 cups hot water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add the 2 lbs round steak and sear for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly browned. The steak does not need to cook through. Remove the steaks and place them in a covered roasting dish, braiser, or Dutch oven, leaving the drippings in the skillet.
- Add the 1 sliced yellow onion, 2 cups diced mushrooms, and 3 smashed garlic cloves to the same skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften and the mushrooms begin to turn golden.
- Measure the drippings in the skillet. If there is less than 4 tablespoons, add enough butter to equal 4 tablespoons total. Sprinkle in 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly browned.
- Slowly whisk in 2 cups beef broth, then add 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Continue stirring until the gravy thickens and becomes smooth.
- Pour the gravy, onions, mushrooms, and garlic over the round steak in the roasting dish.
- Cover the dish with a lid or foil and bake for 2 to 2½ hours, or until the round steak becomes fork-tender.
Notes
- Round steak is a lean cut, so slow cooking helps break down the meat fibers and make it tender.
- Inside round, top round, or marinating steak all work well for this recipe and may be labeled differently depending on the butcher.
- Do not skip the searing step, as browning the steak helps build flavor for the gravy.
- If the gravy thickens too much while baking, stir in a splash of beef broth or water before serving.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-calculated and meant to be an approximation only.
Leave a Reply