Baked Steak is the ultimate comfort food. Cubed steak, seasoned and fried to a light brown on each side. Steaks are arranged in a baking dish and smothered with gravy then baked slowly until tender and full of flavor.
My family always requests this at our family Christmas dinner, along with the other meats that we serve. It is a simple, hearty dish that has been loved for generations.
A Classic Old -Fashioned Dinner Recipe
This baked steak in gravy is a true old-fashioned recipe that has been served in home kitchens for generations, and was a top menu choice served at diners in the 1950’s through the 1970’s. We still have a homestyle diner where I live that serves this. Slow baking allows the steak to become tender while soaking up all the rich flavor of the gravy.
HOW TO MAKE BAKED STEAK:
Baked steak can be made with pieces of round steak, but I have never been able to get it as tender as using cubed steak.
INGREDIENTS
Cubed steak
Flour
Salt
Black pepper
Vegetable oil
Water
Gravy packets or jars
INSTRUCTIONS
Cut the steak into desired size pieces.
Place flour into a dish or plate. I actually used a disposable pan, because on this day, I was making 25 pieces.
Place each piece of steak in the flour and pat it onto both sides.
Season both sides with salt and pepper. Place the pieces onto a pan.
Spray a large skillet with no stick cooking spray. Heat oil in the skillet over medium heat. If you are making a large amount of the baked steak, it can be done in a large Dutch oven.
Place 2 or 3 pieces of meat in the oil and brown about 2 minutes on each side. Continue with the remaining steaks.
Arrange steak in a baking dish that was sprayed with no stick cooking spray.
Prepare the gravy….whisk a small amount of flour into the pan drippings, stirring constantly, until smooth. Cook about 3 minutes, or until mixture becomes a caramel colored brown. Add water and whisk until combined.
As an option, a packaged gravy mix can be used. If using only packages, it would take about 3 packages with the water to cover this much meat.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the steak with gravy. Spray a piece of aluminum foil with no stick cooking spray, and cover the meat.
Bake for about 2-1/2 hours, or until meat is fork tender.
Why Everyone Loves Baked Steak in Gravy
- It is an old-fashioned comfort food meal that is full of flavor.
- Budget friendly because slow cooking a less tender piece of meat slowly, in gravy makes it so tender.
- Nostalgic by reminding us of home-cooked meals and diners of the past.
Helpful Tips for Making This Baked Steak
*Use cubed steaks, for more tender results.
*Season both sides of the meat.
*Brown the meat on both sides before putting it in to bake.
*Use a good gravy base. I alike to have a lot of extra gravy in the pan. You will want it for your mashed potatoes too!
*Bake it for about 2 1/2 hours with aluminum foil wrapped tightly on it. I like to start checking it after this time. We want it to be fork tender. If the gravy is starting to dry up, add a little more or even stir in a little water.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
* Can I make this baked steak ahead of time?
YES! I always prepare it a day ahead of time.
Prepare the steaks, cover with gravy, cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate. Set pan out of refrigerator about 20 minutes, then bake as directed.
*CAN I USE PACKAGED GRAVY MIX?
YES! Be sure to make enough packages to cover the meat well.
*What Can I Serve with This?
This steak is perfect to serve with mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce and hot rolls for a true old-fashioned meal.
Other popular old-fashioned diner style meals that my family loves: Creamed Chicken and Biscuits.
Homestyle Chicken and Noodles
This recipe was shared on Sweet Little Bluebird Weekend Potluck.
RECIPE WAS REVIEWED WITH NO CHANGES MADE 4/21/26
BAKED STEAK IN GRAVY
Ingredients
- no stick cooking spray
- 6 pieces (about 1 1/2 lbs) cubed steak
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper (or to taste)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4-5 cups water
- 2-3 packages gravy mix optional)
Instructions
- Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with no stick cooking spray.
- Cut the cubed steaks into desired size pieces.
- Place flour into a dish or plate. Place each piece of steak in the flour and pat it onto both sides. Season both sides with salt and pepper and set aside onto a plate.
- Spray a large skillet with no stick cooking spray. Heat oil in the skillet over medium heat. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place 2 or 3 pieces of meat in the oil and brown about 2 minutes on each side. Continue with the remaining steaks. Place the steaks into baking dish.
- Prepare the gravy....whisk small amount (1/4-1/3 cup) of flour into the oil, whisk constantly, until smooth. The amount of flour will depend on the oil remaining in pan. **Use the flour the steaks were rolled in. Cook about 3 minutes, or until mixture becomes a caramel- colored brown. Add water slowly and whisk until mixture is smooth. Continue to whisk another 3-4 minutes. Add more water if gravy seems too thick.
- Pour the gravy over the steaks, Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 2 1/2 hours. Check meat after 2 hours. Meat will be fork tender, do not over bake.
- May use packages of gravy mix if not making gravy from scratch.
Notes
Helpful Tips for Making This Baked Steak
*Use cubed steaks, they get more tender than the round steak.*Season both sides of the meat.
*Brown the meat on both sides before putting it in to bake.
*Use a good gravy base. I alike to have a lot of extra gravy in the pan. You will want it for your mashed potatoes too!
*Bake it for about 2 1/2 hours with aluminum foil wrapped tightly on it. I like to start checking it after this time. We want it to be fork tender. If the gravy is starting to dry up, add a little more or even stir in a little water.
* Can I make this baked steak ahead of time?
YES! I always prepare it a day ahead of time.Prepare the steaks, cover with gravy, cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate. Set the pan out of refrigerator about 20 minutes, then bake as directed.
The perfect comfort food from years gone by. I grew up on this and my family love it, family of all ages. I tried to make this step by step recipe easy to follow.