• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
730 Sage Street
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Kitchen
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Onion Gravy Smothered Steak

    BY: Kimberly Grabinski PUBLISHED: 2 Jun, '22 UPDATED: 2 Jun, '22 2 Comments

    RecipePrintComments
    5 from 1 vote
    Onion gravy smothered steak with zucchinis

    Say hello to this delicious smothered steak and onion gravy recipe that is easy to make and perfect for a quick 30-minute midweek dinner. Whether you're cooking for a romantic meal for two or to feed a large family of 6, the irresistible combination of tender steak and rich onion gravy will impress everyone at your table and leave them licking their plates!

    Smothered steak and onion gravy
    This one pan smothered steak with onion gravy is perfect!
    Contents
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works 
    • 🍽 Key ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make
    • 💭 Cooking tips
    • 📖 Recipe Variations
    • 🥗 What to serve with
    • 🙋 Frequently asked questions
    • 🧊 Storage and ♨️ reheating
    • 🍳 Related Recipes
    • 👪 Serving size
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🌟 Why this recipe works 

    Who doesn't love a tender sirloin steak for dinner covered in a rich beef onion gravy! It's one of those comforting recipes that brings everyone to the table in a hurry and one that everyone has second helpings.

    The flavor of melt-in-your-mouth steak and onion gravy is a perfect combination. The smothered steak recipe only takes 30 minutes to make and uses the same skillet for both the onions and steak, which means less washing up!

    Smothered steak is a delicious meal you can eat any time of the year for lunch and dinner that's budget-friendly and made using pantry ingredients.

    It's a Southern favorite recipe that is also versatile and always comes with an onion or mushroom gravy that is smothered over steak, pork chops, or chicken breast.

    You don't need an expensive cut of beef to make it delicious unlike other steak recipes! You can use chuck or top or bottom round steak, and it will taste just as good with the creamy onion gravy!

    🍽 Key ingredients

    You don't need the best quality steak for this smothered steak and gravy recipe - any cheap beef cut will do.

    Steak - Top and bottom round steak are great options for this smothered steak recipe and for price and quality, but feel free to use any steak you have.

    For the gravy - The gravy is made using sliced onions and beef stock as the beef base and seasoned with herbs de Provence and mixed with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for a sweet acidic kick and a little heavy cream.

    Cheese - The last thing you will need is a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese to melt on top of the steak.

    Substitutions

    Steak

    You can substitute the steak for pork chops, turkey, or chicken breast.

    Cheese

    Use another type of melting cheese instead of mozzarella. A few good options are Colby jack, cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, or Monterrey Jack.

    Additions

    • Add a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce to give the gravy richness.
    • Add garlic to the gravy by finely dicing 1 garlic clove or use half a teaspoon of garlic powder.

    🔪 How to make

    This smothered steak recipe is truly the best way to enjoy a delicious steak. It's so easy to make in just 30-minutes using a large skillet, and you can learn how to make it with my simple step-by-step instructions and helpful top tips.

    Preparations

    • Peel and slice the onions in half, then slice the halves to make half-moon slices.

    Cooking instructions

    Step 1
    Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions to the hot skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.

    Onions cooking in a pan

    Step 2
    Add ½ cup beef broth and balsamic vinegar. Continue to cook the onion gravy for about 10 minutes until the onions absorb all liquid.

    Broth in a jar

    Step 3
    Meanwhile, season the steaks with salt and pepper and herbs de Provence. Remove onions from the skillet and add the remaining oil and butter.

    Step 4
    Cook steak pieces for 3-4 minutes per side on medium-high heat, until well browned, then add the onions back to the pan.

    Steak and onions cooking

    Step 5
    Stir in the heavy cream and remaining beef broth. Continue cooking until the liquid is reduced by half and turns into a thick gravy.

    Steak and onions cooking

    Step 6
    Reduce heat and add one slice of mozzarella cheese to each steak. Place the lid on top of the skillet and allow the cheese to melt. You could also put the skillet in the oven to broil for a minute or so to melt the cheese.

    Steak with mozzarella on top

    Step 7
    Remove the steak pieces from the skillet and pour the onion gravy over the top. Serve with chopped fresh parsley, and enjoy!

    Smothered steak and onion gravy

    💭 Cooking tips

    Use a meat basher

    If your steak is slightly thick and has lots of fatty veins, you may want to give it a good bashing with a meat basher to tenderize it before frying.

    Thickener

    Instead of heavy cream, you could use cornstarch or arrowroot to thicken the gravy. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot with 1 tablespoon of water and add it to the skillet.

    📖 Recipe Variations

    Thinking of upgrading your smothered steak? Here are a few delicious variations to the recipe that add extra texture and layers of flavor.

    Breaded steak

    Give your steak a crispy coating with breadcrumbs. Cover your steak pieces in flour, then beaten eggs, and finally in breadcrumbs or pork rinds. Fry them until they turn a lovely golden brown color.

    Mushroom gravy

    Adding half a cup of sliced mushrooms will give your gravy more depth in flavor. Use any mushrooms you have at home, slice them up, and fry them with the onions and beef stock to absorb the juices. For more gravy ideas check out my colelction of best brown gravy recipes.

    Surf and turf smothered steak

    If you love the combo of meat and fish on the same plate, cook half a cup of prawns with the steaks.

    Smothered steak and onion gravy

    🥗 What to serve with

    Smothered steak and gravy is the perfect recipe to serve with bread, fries, rice, or vegetables to soak up the creamy gravy. Here are some quick and easy side dishes that pair well with steak and gravy.

    Bacon-wrapped asparagus

    There are not many recipes that bacon-wrapped asparagus doesn't pair with! The delicious crispy bacon wrapped around asparagus is an irresistible side dish that takes 15 minutes to make.

    Creamy mashed potatoes

    Serve the tender steaks with creamy mashed potatoes. The delicious creamy gravy is a perfect match for this mashed potato recipe made with cream cheese and garlic.

    Steamed vegetables

    Keep the carbs to a minimum with a side dish of steamed veggies. They're the perfect low-carb side dish to serve with any main meal, and you can use whatever veggies you have in your pantry, from broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper, cabbage, zucchini, etc.

    🙋 Frequently asked questions

    What is the cheapest beef cut for smothered steak?

    The best steak to use that's inexpensive and lean is top round or bottom round that's full of flavor and great for your wallet. Other good options are sirloin steak, eye of round, or top blade.

    Why is my steak chewy?

    When using inexpensive steak, it is important to tenderize it before frying it in a hot skillet to prevent the muscles from tightening up and becoming chewy. The best way to tenderize steak is by bashing it with a meat tenderizer, using a salt and pepper rub, or marinating it for a few hours.

    🧊 Storage and ♨️ reheating

    Easily store smothered steak and gravy in the fridge or freezer and reheat it for later.

    Fridge - Transfer the leftover steak and gravy to an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Freezer - Wrap the steaks in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container and pour the gravy into a freezer-safe tub. Freeze them both for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before cooking.

    Reheating - The best way to reheat leftover smothered steak is to heat a skillet and fry the steak for 1 to 2 minutes with the gravy until bubbling. Alternatively, you can reheat the steak and gravy together in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl.

    🍳 Related Recipes

    If you like this steak with onion gravy recipe you should check my related delicious beef recipes.

    • Roast beef featured image 2
      How to Cook Roast Beef Perfectly
    • Eye of round roast 151
      Slow Roasted "Eye of Round Roast" with Chimichurri
    • Slicing the bottom round roast
      Amazing Bottom Round Roast

    👪 Serving size

    This smothered steak recipe will provide enough servings for 4 people with one steak per person. You can easily scale the recipe to cater to more guests and also store a few pieces for a quick midweek meal or packed lunch for work.

    Suppose you're looking for a quick and delicious comforting lunch or dinner recipe to add to your weekly meal plan. In that case, this irresistible smothered steak and gravy recipe is sure to become a household favorite after the first bite! Try it, and let me know what you think.

    Subscribe Now

    Never miss a recipe!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    Love this dinner recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Try one of my quick, easy, and affordable dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

    📋 Recipe

    Round steak smothered in onion gravy.

    Onion Gravy Smothered Steak (Easy 30-minute!)

    Course: dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine: American, French
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 647kcal
    Author: Kim Grabinski
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Save Saved! Share
    Say hello to this delicious smothered steak and onion gravy recipe that is easy to make and perfect for a quick 30-minute midweek dinner.

    Equipment

    • Large Skillet

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil - vegetable oil, coconut oil (keto)
    • 1 tbps butter
    • 2 onions - sliced
    • 2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
    • 4 round steak - 3-4 oz each
    • 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence - optional
    • 1 cup broth
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch - arrowroot (keto), heavy cream (¼ cup)
    • 4 slices mozzarella cheese - or similar

    Instructions

    • Place half of the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
    • Add onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent, then add ½ cup beef broth and the vinegar.
    • Continue cooking for about 10 minutes until onions absorb all liquid.
    • Meanwhile, season the steaks with salt, pepper and optional herbs de Provence.
    • Remove onions from skillet and add remaining oil and butter.
    • Cook steaks for 4 minutes per side, until well browned. Add the onions back to the pan.
    • Stir cornstarch (arrowroot powder or ¼ cup heavy cream) into remaining broth and add to pan.
    • Continue cooking until the liquid is reduced by half and turns into a thick gravy.
    • Add one slice of mozzarella cheese (or ¼ cup shredded) to each steak. (If it doesn't melt easily, place a lid on the skillet to assist.)

    Notes

    Use a meat basher
    If your steak is slightly thick and has lots of fatty veins, you may want to give it a good bashing with a meat basher to tenderize it before frying.
    Thickener
    Instead of heavy cream, you could use cornstarch or arrowroot to thicken the gravy. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot with 1 tablespoon of water and add it to the skillet.


    Calories: 647kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 168mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 708mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 443IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 4mg
    Information shown is an estimate and is for information only. 730 Sage Street is not responsible for the factual accuracy of any nutrition information, calculations or claims.
    Tried this Recipe? Save it to your board today! PIN RECIPE
    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Kimberly grabinski
    Kimberly Grabinski
    Kim brings experience and knowledge of recipe creation to 730 Sage Street. She is noted for developing iconic recipes by Huffpost, Buzzfeed, and Dr. Axe to name a few.
    Kimberly grabinski
    Latest posts by Kimberly Grabinski
    • Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole - June 26, 2022
    • Sheet Pan Shrimp - June 23, 2022
    • Chicken Brussels Sprouts Casserole - June 22, 2022

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Kathy

      December 05, 2019 at 9:24 pm

      Is the nutrition information for all four steaks or per serving?

      Reply
      • 730 Sage Street

        December 05, 2019 at 9:58 pm

        Hi Kathy, the nutritional data is for the recipe as presented. In this case just divide by 4 for an approximate per serving data. Hope this helps and thanks!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Kim @ 730 Sage Street

    Hi, I'm Kim!

    Creating easy recipes with everyday ingredients since 2008. I believe you can make quality homemade recipes even if you are short on time and budget-conscious. You just need to dive in and learn as you go!

    about →

    Feel free to share our recipes on your blog using a photo and link back to the original recipe.

    Iconic Recipes

    • Slicing the bottom round roast
      Amazing Bottom Round Roast
    • Eye of round roast 151
      Slow Roasted "Eye of Round Roast" with Chimichurri

    New Recipes!

    • Smoked pork ribs 11
      Smoked Pork Ribs
    • Pork ribs 1
      Easy Dry Rub for Ribs
    • Smoked tri tip 15
      Drool Worthy Smoked Tri-Tip
    • Pulled pork sandwich featured
      Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

    Quick Recipe Ideas

    • Easy ground beef recipes with few ingredients featured
      25 Easy Ground Beef Recipes with Few Ingredients
    • Low and slow roast beef
      25 Leftover Roast Beef Recipes
    • Featured ground sausage recipes
      36 Ground Sausage Recipes
    • Featured diced chicken
      30 Diced Chicken Recipes

    Cooking How-Tos

    • Low and slow roast beef
      How to Cook Low and Slow
    • Buying cheap beef with yellow tags
      Cheap Beef Cuts: Save money on Beef!
    • Beef doneness internal temperature of beef
      Beef Internal Temperature: Degree of Doneness
    • Standing rib roast prime rib
      Best Cuts for Roast Beef

    Footer

    Subscribe Now

    Never miss a recipe!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    About

    • Contact
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Accessibility

    Recipes

    • Dinners
    • Side Dishes
    • Appetizers
    • Snacks
    • Breakfasts
    • Desserts

    More

    • Kitchen Essentials
    • Christmas Ideas

    Favorites

    • Bottom Round Roast
    • Smoked Tri-tip
    • PG Movies on Netflix
    • Combine Gift Cards
    • Young living vs doTerra

    Copyright © 2022 730 Sage Street · All Rights Reserved · ↑ back to top
    730 Sage Street is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.