This slow cooker recipe is my secret weapon for fork-tender crockpot sirloin steak slathered in homemade gravy served alongside with buttery mashed potatoes.
You might think that as a food blogger, there is nothing I can’t grill, fry, or poach. But I have always had a bone to pick with leaner cuts of meat like sirloin steak. One second too long on the pan, and it’s bone-dry and tough. Enter, the low cooker! It is my secret weapon in the kitchen, especially for cooking meat, from slow cooker roast to crock pot dumplings and chicken. Never worry about disappointing your mother-in-law at Sunday dinner with a chewy steak ever again!
It’s simple: toss everything in the slow cooker, then sit back and relax (maybe with my bourbon lemonade) while perfectly tender sirloin steak cooks itself. Serve crockpot steak with a side of instant pot mashed potatoes or bourbon glazed carrots. Next, drown it in my homemade gravy for an unforgettable (and stress-free) Sunday dinner.
Making Homemade Gravy
We are not talking about gravy from a packet either. We are talking about the real thing! The gravy is made with the natural flavors of the steak when it is seared and other seasonings.
Then the sirloin steak is slow cooked in the gravy for flavor and tenderness.
Suggested Sides
My favorite side is an easy side I can cook alongside the steak in the slow cooker. Try my instant pot broccoli. You can toss them in five minutes before you are finished with the steak, allowing them to soak up the flavor. You can also go with a classic like crock pot green beans and potatoes.
Top Tips For Fork-Tender Sirloin Steak Recipe
- It’s hard but not impossible to overcook steak in a slow cooker. So be vigilant! Cooking it too long on high heat can lead to dry, stringy meat instead of tender, juicy bites.
- Don’t lift the lid too often. Every sneak peek releases heat and can add 15–20 minutes to the total cook time.
- Avoid lumps in your gravy. Always whisk the flour mixture separately before adding to the hot liquid to avoid lumps in the gravy. If it starts clumping, reduce the heat and whisk vigorously.
- Optional Tip: For a pot roast-style meal, add large chunks of root vegetables around the steak to cook alongside it.
How to Make Crockpot Steak and Homemade Gravy
Prep and Sear the Steak
Before anything hits the slow cooker, season your sirloin steak generously with salt, pepper, and steak seasoning. Searing the meat in a hot pan helps develop rich, caramelized flavor.
Check out my homemade cheeseburger hamburger helper for why it’s so important to sear your meat properly.
Watch out for: Overcrowding the pan or using oil that isn’t hot enough. These will prevent a good sear. If your steak is large, cut it in half and sear in batches.
Build the Gravy
After searing, deglaze the hot pan with water and dissolve a beef bouillon cube, scraping up any brown bits left behind. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, additional water, and seasonings to make a slurry. Slowly whisk this into the pan and simmer until the gravy thickens.
Layer Ingredients in the Slow Cooker
Place the seared steak in the crockpot and pour the warm gravy over it. Add diced onions on top for sweetness and depth. Optionally, you can include vegetables like carrots, celery, or bell peppers for a one-pot meal.
Cook Low and Slow
Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 6–7 hours. Check around the 4-hour mark if cooking on High—if the steak shreds easily with a fork, it’s done. Otherwise, continue to cook in 30-minute increments.
How to Plate
Cut the slow-cooked sirloin steak up into equal servings. Place a heaping pile of mashed potatoes in the the center of a dinner plate. Place a serving of the sirloin steak over half of the mashed potatoes.
Use a fork to chop up the steak a little. This will allow the gravy to seep into all the crevasses. Ladle gravy over the top of the steak and mashed potatoes.
Add your choice of side dish opposite of the sirloin steak and potatoes.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerator: Store leftover sirloin steak and gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth to loosen the gravy.
Slow Cooker Sirloin Steak and Gravy
Slow Cooker Sirloin Steak and Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Sirloin Steak
- Salt, Pepper, and Steak Seasoning.
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 cups of water, divided
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ of a medium sweet onion, diced.
Instructions
- Season the sirloin steak with Salt, Pepper, and Steak Seasoning.
- Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat.
- When the oil is hot sear all sides of the sirloin steak. About 1 minute per side.
- Place sirloin steak in a slow cooker.
- Add 2 cups of water and the beef bouillon cube to the hot pan.
- Allow bouillon cube to dissolve and water to come to a boil.
- In a small mixing bowl whisk together 1 cup of water, flour, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper.
- Slowly pour flour mixture into the pan. Whisk in the flour mixture.
- Continue to whisk and let the gravy thicken and come to a slow boil.
- Remove from heat and carefully pour the gravy over the steak in the slow cooker.
- Add diced onions to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or until steak is tender.
Notes
If your sirloin steak is too long to fit in your pan or to handle cut it in half. You may also want to try my Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy Recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 521Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Recipe adapted from Southern Slow Cooked Steak also see another variation Slow Cooked Sirloin on Taste of Home.
Abby says
Can I do 8 hours on low?
Patricia says
I cooked this today and did around 9 hours on low. It tasted amazing!
Terri says
Love this recipe. I used 2lbs of small sirloin steaks. You don’t need a knife when eating this meal – meat is so tender. This recipe is a definite keeper.
Crissy says
This was delicious and super easy! I used a beef top round but will use a chuck roast next time! I cooked this for 6 hours on low!
Alexis Hinger says
Very tasty, will make again!
Maria Nieves says
Can it also be cooker on stove top or oven only because it’s to late for me to start cooking it in slow cooker but I made before in slow cooker and was delicious
Renee woods says
Omg I bought Chicken Bouillon cubes 🤦♀️
Kris Wines says
Used my pressure cooker, substituted water for beef broth (low sodium)! Worked great! I will use my crock pot when I have more time. Still the meat was super tender.
anthony e johnson says
can u cook this in an instapot, and for how long
Jessica says
Can I pressure cook this in my instant pot? If so, how long would you recommend?
Tiffany Schmidt says
This is my go to recipe now everytime! Thank you so very much. And my family thanks you, too lol
Austin says
Super delicious! I added mushrooms to mine last time and it was great this time I tried marinated sirloin. Well see how it is when its done. Love this recipe! Super easy to alter to my dinner moods.
Cassandra says
This recipe was a delicious surprise! We followed the recipe to a tee and it was great. We cooked on high for 4 hours and it was more than at temperature. I’ll definitely be trying this again. Also wondering what other meats could be used. Thanks for the recipe!