Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (2024)

Do you have a pack of beef cubes and wonder if there are any easy beef chunks recipes out there? If so, you’re in luck because we’ve rounded up the best 12 beef chuck cubes recipes we could find.

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Beef cubes are made from the chuck portion of the cow, so they’re super flavorful. However, sometimes beef cubes are made from other cuts of meat (see below). Traditionally, beef cubes have been used to make beef stew, but there’s so much you can do with these tender little nuggets.

What are beef cubes? Beef cubes are also known by several other terms, including steak bites, steak cubes, stew beef, beef tips, cubed steak (or cube steak), or beef chunks. This cut of beef is usually made from top sirloin steak, flank steak, or top round steak. Beef cubes are made by flattening and tenderizing the steak with a meat tenderizer.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (1)

Maybe you associate cube steak with the ubiquitous chicken fried steak, but there are so many other things you can do with cube steak.

Are you ready for some of the best cube steak dinner ideas? Read on for some great ideas for what to make with beef cubes and some excellent beef cube recipes.

Beef cubes, a versatile and flavorful ingredient, can be transformed into a wide variety of delicious dishes for any occasion. From hearty stews to spicy stir-fries, beef cubes add a substantial and satisfying element to meals. Exploring various beef cube recipes will delight both experienced and novice cooks, as well as the people they feed.

The tender and juicy texture of beef cubes pairs exceptionally well with a range of sauces, seasonings, and cooking techniques. Browsing through different recipes will reveal the seemingly endless possibilities for creating exquisite entrees from this humble ingredient. Whether preparing for a weeknight family dinner or a special celebration, beef cubes can be the star of the show.

How to Make Beef Cubes Super Tender

If you’re curious about how to cook beef cubes tender, we have a few tips for you for how to cook beef cubes that will melt in your mouth.

To make sure your cube steak recipes are full of juicy tenderness, there are a couple of things you can do. First, you can tenderize the beef cubes physically with a meat mallet.

Another great way to make sure you have nice and tender beef cubes is to let them marinate.

Finally, anytime you can use a slow cooker (crock pot) to cook a beef chunk recipe on low heat with a long cook time, you will usually have some very tender beef cubes. Instant Pot cubed steak with sauce or gravy is another great way to make sure you have a tender cube steak recipe.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (2)

Source: cdkitchen.com

1. Beef Cubes and Mushroom Gravy

We’ll start our list of cube steak recipes with one of the most beloved recipes for cooking beef cubes: beef tips and gravy with rice.

There are tons of ways to make beef tips and rice with gravy, but we love a recipe that uses cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, or dry gravy mix to make the succulent gravy (or onion gravy) for this dish.

This beef tips recipe that we found online is also a favorite, and it doesn’t require any soup or gravy mixes to make. All you need is a nice flour mixture, black pepper, smoked paprika, chopped onion, garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, beef broth (or beef stock), tomato paste, and dry red wine.

You can make this cube steak dish with its delicious sauce in a skillet, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.

Serve your beef tips and gravy over basmati rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice. You can also serve this savory dish with a baked potato, mashed potatoes, or even pasta (we like egg noodles with this recipe).

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (3)

Source: dinnerthendessert.com

2. Mongolian Beef

Tender Mongolian beef is one of the most beloved meat recipes, and we love serving this delicious meat dish over rice.

This particular cube steak recipe is full of ginger and garlic, so you know it’s so delicious.

You can make this Mongolian steak with any type of beef cubes, including flank steak cubes.

Other ingredients are fresh ginger, minced garlic, canola oil, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, and green onions (scallions).

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (4)

Source: kitchengidget.com

3. Mexican Carne Guisada

Another great cube steak recipe you can make is a savory Mexican stew called carne guisada.

To create this flavorful stew, you need beef chunks or cube steak chunks that are simmered in a delicious brown gravy until they’re so tender they fall apart.

Other ingredients that make this stew so wonderful are green bell pepper, onion, lard (or bacon grease), tomato sauce, garlic powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and chicken stock (chicken broth or beef broth also work).

Serve this tasty and comforting stew with rice, mashed potatoes, or flour tortillas.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (5)

Source: thewickednoodle.com

4. Beef Wellington Bites

We adore a tender and flavorful beef wellington, so we think these beef wellington cube steak bites are absolutely perfect (and lots of fun!).

To create these tiny meat masterpieces, you need cubed beef tenderloin so that the meat is full of tenderness and flavor.

This meat recipe comes with instructions for making two types of sauce: creamy Dijon mustard sauce and a horseradish sauce.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (6)

Source: cafedelites.com

5. Cajun Butter Steak Bites

These Louisiana-flavored Cajun butter steak bites don’t even need a marinade, so they’re ready to cook in just 10 minutes.

You need a Cajun seasoning to make these steak bites, and you can use your favorite pre-mixed version from the grocery store or make your own.

To create your own Cajun seasoning recipe, you need paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, thyme, oregano, brown sugar (or a substitute), cayenne pepper, and black pepper.

Serve your Cajun steak bites with mashed potatoes or red beans and rice.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (7)

Source: dinneratthezoo.com

6. Garlic Butter Steak Bites

No list of beef cube recipes would be complete without a recipe for garlic steak bites or garlic butter steak.

This garlic butter steak recipe is one of the most popular recipes to make with beef cubes.

The ingredients list is deceptively simple. All you need to make these tender little chunks of meat is olive oil, butter, garlic, salt, black pepper, and minced parsley for garnish and color.

You can serve these steak bites as an appetizer (provide toothpicks) or as a main dish meat.

If you serve these meat bites for dinner, serve them with mashed potatoes, rice, or baked potatoes, plus a green veggie.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (8)

Source: tornadoughalli.com

7. Beef Cubes and Potatoes

Does it get any better than simple meat and potatoes? We think a recipe like this will please nearly anyone!

You need a large skillet to prepare this meat and potatoes recipe. We like to use a heavy cast-iron skillet for this type of recipe.

The best thing about this recipe is that the list of ingredients is incredibly short. Besides the meat (cubed sirloin steak), all you need are Yukon gold potatoes, sea salt, black pepper, olive oil, butter, garlic cloves, steak seasoning, fresh rosemary, and fresh parsley.

Of course, you can also use dried herbs for this recipe.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (9)

Source: therecipecritic.com

8. Air Fryer Beef Steak Bites

Who’s ready for some crispy fried steak bites?

When you air fry your steak bites, you have steak that is positively heavenly in both texture and flavor. In fact, some people believe that the best way to cook a steak is in the air fryer because it’s easy and gives the meat so much flavor.

For this recipe, you need cubed steak (sirloin steak or New York strip are both great), olive oil, sea salt (or kosher salt), black pepper, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic.

To make the herb butter for this steak recipe, you need melted butter, dried or fresh thyme, rosemary, and parsley. You can also use gravy.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (10)

Source: eatingonadime.com

9. Crockpot Teriyaki Steak Bites

How does a three-ingredient teriyaki sauce steak dinner made in the slow cooker sound to you? Well, we’ve got you covered!

To make this slow cooker steak recipe with gravy, you just need flank steak cubes, onions, and teriyaki sauce.

Cook these ingredients in your slow cooker for 6-8 hours on low (or 3-4 hours if you want to cook your steak on high).

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (11)

Source: mysugarfreekitchen.com

10. Masala Curry Beef Cubes

We love a wonderful curry sauce gravy, and this skillet recipe delivers everything you crave.

To create this chuck steak recipe, you need crushed garlic, grated ginger, tomato paste, onion, beef stock, crushed tomatoes, coconut oil, green chiles, sea salt, black pepper, turmeric, garam masala, cumin, coriander, and two types of paprika: smoked paprika and hot paprika.

For garnish, we love the idea of sliced cherry tomatoes, sauteed mushroom, a dollop of Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and fresh cilantro leaves.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (12)

Source: cookingclassy.com

11. Honey Garlic Beef Bites

Anytime we can have steak bites, we’re all about it. And when you add in the contrasting flavors of garlic and honey? Sublime!

This recipe calls for just five ingredients and takes only minutes to prepare and cook.

The meat is put into a simple marinade that’s made with honey, soy sauce, and garlic. You need to let the meat marinate in the fridge for between one and two hours.

The other ingredients you need to make these yummy steak bites are garlic cloves, green onions, olive oil, and sesame seeds.

Serve your skillet steak bites with rice with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, or a baked potato.

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (13)

Source: damndelicious.net

12. Best Ever Beef Stews

One of the most popular recipe ideas for a tender beef cubes recipe is a traditional beef stew.

To make beef stew, we like to keep it simple sometimes. After all, a beef stew should be comfort food, and sometimes we want a good old down-to-earth hearty soup.

This beef stew recipe calls for olive oil, your favorite cut of cubed meat or cube steak, onion (or green onion), carrots, celery, garlic, mushrooms, all-purpose flour, beef stock (or beef broth), tomato paste, dry red wine, fresh thyme (or dried thyme), bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, chopped potato chunks, and fresh parsley leaves.

Do you want a bonus beef cubes recipe and another great idea for how to cook cube steak? Check out this step-by-step video that shows you how to make delicious beef tips and gravy. Be sure to serve yours over rice!

Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (14)

12 Tender Beef Cube Recipes (+Garlic Butter Steak Bites)

These recipes are sure to please. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Total Time 42 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 275 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 pounds beef cubes
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp. parsley
  • 2 tsp. minced garlic
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper.

  • Cook the meat in the olive oil for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.

  • Add the garlic and butter to the pan and cook about 2 more minutes.

Notes

Select your favorite recipe.
Organize all the required ingredients.
Enjoy the food.

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal

Keyword beef cube recipes, garlic butter steak bites

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Cassie Marshall

Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.

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Our Best Beef Cube Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make beef cubes really tender? ›

Slow cooking methods, such as braising or stewing, are ideal for cooking beef cubes tender. These methods allow the connective tissues in the beef to break down slowly, resulting in a tender and flavorful dish. You can use a slow cooker, Dutch oven, or pressure cooker for these cooking techniques.

How do you cook cube steak so it's not tough? ›

The best way to cook cube steak for tenderness is slowly and evenly, so a slow cooker can do the trick when you have ample time to spare. However, braising, pan-frying, and sauteing also work. Just be sure to cook with enough liquid to keep the steak moist.

Does cube steak get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Cook the cube steak in oil for about 1 or 2 minutes on each side. After you've browned the meat: Move it into the slow cooker. Let it cook on low for 6 to 8 hours to end up with perfectly tender cube steak.

What is the secret to cooking tender beef? ›

Cook It Slowly

This is certainly true when it comes to notoriously tough cuts of meat like beef brisket and pork shoulder. Cooking these cuts of meat slowly, either by braising, stewing or grill roasting, is the best way to get these tasty cuts of meat meltingly tender.

How do you make beef so soft and tender? ›

There are a few methods, but this is the easiest way: Sprinkle 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate soda) on 250g / 8oz sliced economical beef cuts. Toss with fingers, leave for 30 minutes. Rinse, pat off excess water.

Why do you soak cube steak in milk? ›

A steak that marinates in an acidic or enzymatic liquid too long, such as citrus juice or cola, becomes tough or mushy. But the acid in milk is so mild that you can soak beef in it long enough to tenderize it effectively, without damaging the proteins on the surface.

How do you keep cube steak from falling apart? ›

Cooking Cube steak in the crockpot with plenty of flavorful liquid turns out a tender and juicy cut of beef. As long as you don't leave the meat cooking all day long, you won't have to worry about it getting too soft and falling apart.

What can I use to tenderize cube steak? ›

Marinades containing acidic ingredients (like vinegar, lemon juice, or wine) can help break down the tough fibers in cube steak. Soak the meat in the marinade for several hours or overnight for maximum effectiveness.

What is cube steak best for? ›

Cube steak is also famously breaded or battered and pan-fried for the comfort-food favorites chicken-fried steak or country-fried steak. Saucy accompaniments like brown or white gravy, mushrooms and caramelized onions are traditionally paired with cube steak to complement its firm texture.

How do you know when cube steak is done? ›

Transfer the dish to the middle oven rack and cook for 30-45 minutes until a meat thermometer reads 120 degrees for medium rare. Let rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. If desired, place cube steaks atop rice or mashed potatoes, and drizzle beef or mushroom gravy over the top just before serving.

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 to make beef cubes very tender? ›

The key to tender beef cubes is letting them cook and simmer on the stove for over an hour. On the other hand, if you want to take it one step further, you can always let it cook inside the slow cooker. So, if you choose this method, you must leave the beef for six to eight hours.

What is the best thickening agent for beef stew? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

What are the best potatoes for beef stew? ›

There is no real wrong answer for your beef stew potatoes — russets or red potatoes will work fine — but Yukon Gold potatoes have the best balance of texture and flavor to complement a meaty stew.

How do I cook diced beef so it's tender? ›

Brown meat in a pan, add root vegetables (celeriac, onions, carrots, etc.) Add stock, wine, herbs, bay leaves and cover. Cook slowly on the hob, on a low heat until tender.

Does diced beef get softer the longer you cook it? ›

That actually depends on the cooking method. Braising will make the meat more tender, the longer it cooks. Dry cooking will generally have the opposite effect… in the extreme, think jerky.

Why is my beef cubes tough? ›

The collagen, a connective tissue, is in high supply in these tougher cuts of meat. When cooked in moisture, the collagen dissolves into a gelatin and the meat fibers separate more easily. The higher the cooking temperature, the tougher the meat fibers become; a boil produces rubbery, chewy stewing beef.

How to make diced beef tender without slow cooker? ›

Otherwise a low, SLOW simmer in a dutch oven with beef broth is all you can do. Brown the meat first on high heat, then add broth and simmer for as long as you have time (4–6 hrs?). I do mine in an Insta-Pot then add to beef stew or chili after they're tender.

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