Onion Gravy Smothered Steak - Old Fashioned Southern Recipe! (2024)

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Katerina

5 from 29 votes

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Onion Gravy Smothered Steak is a traditional Southern favorite—and for good reason! The steaks are seared to perfection and then topped with a creamy onion gravy. This inexpensive dinner idea will satisfy the entire family!

Onion Gravy Smothered Steak - Old Fashioned Southern Recipe! (2)

When I think of a good steak, my mind immediately goes to some pretty expensive cuts, like filet mignon or porterhouse. We don’t splurge on those steaks regularly, but sometimes we just crave steak—any steak! I love to find ways to make inexpensive cuts of beef into super tender and flavorful dinner favorites, and this gravy Smothered Steak is one of those recipes. There’s just something so comforting about beef simmered in a hearty, rich onion gravy.

What is Smothered Steak?

If you haven’t heard of smothered steak, I’m guessing you’re not from the South? Neither am I, but I love their food! Have YOU tried my Smothered Pork Chops!? This dish is a traditional Southern staple, typically featuring a cut of steak such as top or bottom round, served in or with a gravy poured over it. A smothered steak can also be breaded and “chicken fried” before being smothered. For this easy recipe, I use an onion gravy and sirloin steak. To keep things on the low-carb end, I do not use flour for the gravy; just some good ol’ heavy cream mixed into beef broth.

Ingredients

This recipe involves cooking the steak first and the onion gravy next. Here’s everything you’ll need to combine them into a delicious smothered steak.

  • Sirloin Steaks: Substitute with ribeye or strip steaks for a similar texture and flavor.
  • Garlic Salt: If not available, make your own and mix garlic powder with salt in a 1:3 ratio.
  • Fresh Cracked Black Pepper: Ground white pepper can be used for a milder taste.
  • Vegetable Oil: Canola or olive oil are good substitutes for frying.
  • Butter: Adds to the richness of the gravy.
  • Yellow Onions: White onions or shallots could be used for a slightly different flavor profile.
  • Garlic Cloves: Garlic powder or granulated garlic can be used, but try to stick with fresh garlic.
  • Italian Seasoning: If you don’t have any on hand, make your own with equal parts dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
  • Low Sodium Beef Broth: Chicken broth or vegetable broth can be used for a lighter taste.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Soy sauce mixed with a little sugar and lemon juice can be an alternative.
  • Heavy Cream or Half and Half: Milk thickened with a bit of flour or cornstarch can be used for a lighter version.
  • Chopped Fresh Parsley: Dried parsley or fresh cilantro can be used, although cilantro will change the flavor.
Onion Gravy Smothered Steak - Old Fashioned Southern Recipe! (3)
Onion Gravy Smothered Steak - Old Fashioned Southern Recipe! (4)

How to Make Smothered Steak

  1. Prep: You want to work with steaks that are at room temperature; I suggest keeping the steaks on your counter about 30 minutes before you are ready to cook. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. Then, season the steaks with garlic salt and pepper.
  2. Sear: Heat the oil and butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steaks to the hot skillet and cook them until cooked to your desired doneness—this should take about 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare steak. Do not crowd the skillet. Cook two steaks at a time if the skillet isn’t big enough. Remove them from the skillet, set them aside, and keep them covered.
  3. Make the Gravy: Set the skillet back over medium-heat and melt the remaining butter. Add in the sliced onions and season with a pinch of salt. Continue to cook for 10-12 minutes or until the onions are caramelized. Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning. Add in the broth and Worcestershire sauce. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Whisk in the heavy cream and cook for 1 more minute.
  4. Smother: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Return the steaks to the skillet and continue to cook for 2 more minutes, or until steaks are heated through, and the sauce has thickened.
  5. Serve: Remove pan from the heat. Garnish the steaks with parsley and serve.

Steak Doneness Chart

When you use an instant read meat thermometer, you can be sure your meat is cooked perfectly. These are the temperatures you’ll be looking for to reach your desired doneness. Keep in mind that the temperature of your steak will continue to rise for a few minutes after the steak is removed from the heat.

  • Rare – 120˚F to 125˚F
  • Medium Rare – 135˚F
  • Medium – 145˚F
  • Medium Well – 150˚F
  • Well Done – 160˚F
Onion Gravy Smothered Steak - Old Fashioned Southern Recipe! (5)

Serving Suggestions

Serve this steak recipe alongside mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes, or mashed cauliflower. Jeera rice or lemon rice also pair well with this steak. You can serve this Southern dish with some Southern veggie sides, like creamed corn and creamed spinach. air fryer corn on the cob and green beans are other great sides!

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Allow the leftovers to come to room temperature, and then pop them in an airtight container with the onion gravy. Store it in your fridge for 3-5 days or your freezer for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to reheat, simply place the steak and gravy in a pan and reheat it on the stove top until the steak is warm.

Favorite Steak Recipes

  • Oven Grilled Steak
  • Reverse Sear Steak
  • Skillet Bourbon Steak
  • Jack Daniel’s Grilled Steak
  • New York Strip Steak

Onion Gravy Smothered Steak - Old Fashioned Southern Recipe! (6)

Onion Gravy Smothered Steak

Katerina | Diethood

Onion Gravy Smothered Steak is a traditional Southern favorite! The steaks are seared to perfection and then topped with a creamy onion gravy.

5 from 29 votes

Servings : 4

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 4 sirloin steaks, at room temperature, steaks should be 1-inch thick, and between 4 and 6 ounces each
  • garlic salt, to taste
  • fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 2 yellow onions, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • ½ cup low sodium beef broth
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup heavy cream or half and half
  • chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Pat dry steaks with paper towels; season steaks with garlic salt and pepper.

  • Heat vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

  • Add steaks to the hot skillet and cook until browned and cooked to desired doneness; about 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare steak. DO NOT crowd the skillet; cook two steaks at a time if skillet isn’t big enough.

  • Remove cooked steaks from skillet; set aside and keep covered.

  • Set skillet back over medium-heat and melt remaining butter.

  • Add in sliced onions and season with a pinch of salt; continue to cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until onions are soft and caramelized. Stir frequently.

  • Stir in minced garlic and season with Italian seasoning; cook for 10 seconds.

  • Slowly add in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce; using a wooden spoon, scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring mixture to a boil.

  • Whisk in heavy cream and cook for 1 more minute.

  • Reduce heat to medium-low; return steaks to the skillet and continue to cook for 2 more minutes, or until steaks are heated through, and sauce has thickened.

  • Remove from heat.

  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Notes

  • Steaks: We are using Sirloin steaks for this recipe; it is a good, lean, tender, and juicy steak. Also, for best results, bring the steaks to room temperature before you start cooking.
  • Skillet: A cast iron skillet is my favorite skillet for cooking steaks, but if you don’t have one, you can use your favorite frying pan.
  • Use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer to check the steak for doneness.

Nutrition

Calories: 363 kcal | Carbohydrates: 7 g | Protein: 30 g | Fat: 24 g | Saturated Fat: 15 g | Cholesterol: 113 mg | Sodium: 216 mg | Potassium: 621 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 3 g | Vitamin A: 396 IU | Vitamin C: 5 mg | Calcium: 73 mg | Iron: 3 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American/Southern

Keyword: cheap easy dinner ideas, smothered steak recipe, southern steak recipe

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Categories:

  • Beef Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Freezer Friendly Meals
  • One Pot Meals
  • Recipes
Onion Gravy Smothered Steak - Old Fashioned Southern Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Does onion tenderize steak? ›

If you've already got a marinade in mind for your steak, try adding some raw onion to the mix as well. It will have the same effect as if you were just using onion by itself. "Adding raw onion to marinades not only adds flavor, but it also tenderizes the meat," says Taste's Amira Geory.

What is gravy steak? ›

Gravy beef is a cut that comes from three main areas; the hind leg and the front leg (also known as shin) plus the neck area. It is rich in flavour and is traditionally used with the bone in for excellent stews and soups.

How do you tenderize a round steak? ›

There are numerous ways to tenderize your round steak. You can pound it, slice it against the grain to break down the muscle fiber, marinate it, and cook it slowly on low heat.

What's the best way to cook sirloin? ›

Place sirloin steak on the area of the grill with the most heat. Sear for 2-3 minutes. Flip to the other side with tongs and sear for 2-3 minutes. Move steak to an area of the grill with lower heat for another 2-8 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness.

How do restaurants make their steaks so tender? ›

The Aging. Most fine restaurants age their beef to intensify the flavor and improve the tenderness of the cut. Aging is done by letting the meat sit (in very controlled conditions) for several days or weeks.

How do I make my steak super tender? ›

7 Ways to Tenderize Steak
  1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. ...
  3. Marinating. ...
  4. Velveting. ...
  5. Slow Cooking. ...
  6. Enzymatic Application. ...
  7. Scoring.
Oct 18, 2022

What is a Southern gravy called? ›

Other common names include country gravy, sawmill gravy, milk gravy, and sausage gravy.

What is another name for gravy steak? ›

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

What makes gravy gravy? ›

At the most basic level, gravy is a simple pan sauce that requires liquid and a thickener. Traditional turkey gravy usually has fat, flour, and stock. You can make excellent turkey gravy with just those ingredients, plus salt and pepper for seasoning.

What does Texas Roadhouse do to make their steaks so tender? ›

How does Texas Roadhouse tenderise their steaks? Season each side of the steak well with the seasoning and set aside to rest for about 40 minutes. This causes the salt to infiltrate the surface (through osmosis) and actually aids in the breakdown of muscle fibres, resulting in more tender meat.

Does Coca Cola tenderize steak? ›

If you're not from the south, it may not have occurred to you that you can cook with Coca-Cola. But the king of sodas has been used in southern cooking for years — particularly in marinades and sauces for beef and pork. Its sweet acidity can help to tenderize meat, making it an ideal addition for a long slow brine.

What is the secret ingredient to tenderize meat? ›

Whether hosting a holiday cookout, serving up some stir-fry or tackling game meats, baking soda is the go-to meat tenderizer to help make your steak, chicken or turkey silkier, juicier and yummier.

Does sirloin get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Both cuts lend themselves well to a marinade and are a lovely, tender cut when cooked correctly. Top sirloin is a little better for grilling, because it's naturally more tender than the sirloin tip. As always, don't overcook these steaks! The longer you cook them, the less tender they will be.

Is it better to grill or pan fry sirloin steak? ›

Grilled steak has a smoky flavour and is a healthier option, while pan seared steak has a rich, caramelized flavour and is convenient for indoor cooking. Ultimately, the method you choose will depend on your personal preference and cooking style. Try both methods and decide which one is right for you!

Why is my sirloin steak so tough? ›

The biggest factor is probably size. Top sirloin is often cut 1.5” to 1.75” inches thick. Any thinner and it's easier to overcook the meat. Go much thicker and you'll need to start thinking about low and slow cooking techniques like braising so you can break down the meat and produce a tender result.

What tenderizes steak the most? ›

As well as acid, enzymes found in fruits like pineapple, kiwi, mangoes, and papaya disrupt the molecular structure of meat's connective tissue. Adding puréed fruit to your marinade turns tough and chewy meat tender and juicy. Again, you want to soften the steak, not reduce it to an unappetizing mush.

What's the best seasoning to tenderize steak? ›

Musgrave says that a combination of vinegar, lemon juice, and soy sauce are all used to break down the proteins in the steak, thus making it more tender and, she assures us, "juicy and delicious" to boot. A hint of cayenne, she says, "adds just a pinch of spice to the marinade."

How do the Chinese people tenderize steak? ›

There are two popular velveting techniques in Chinese cooking: the baking soda method and the cornstarch method. Before making your favorite Chinese stir-fry, learn how to velvet thinly sliced beef with baking soda to ensure tender, juicy meat.

How long does it take for onions to get tender? ›

In a large skillet, melt 2 Tbsp. butter over medium-low heat. Add the onions. Cook, covered, for 13 to 15 minutes or until the onions are tender, stirring occasionally.

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