How to Cook Cube Steak in a Cast Iron Skillet

4.6 from 65 votes
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This easy Worcestershire Sauce Cube Steak recipe makes a flavor-packed meal with only two main ingredients! You can make this easy dinner recipe in under 10 minutes on any busy weeknight. Plus since this beef recipe is made without flour or breading, it is also gluten free and low carb.

What is Cube Steak?

Maybe you’ve seen cube steak at the grocery store and had no idea what it was. But since this is a readily-available, budget-friendly cut of beef that can be the start of quick and easy dinner recipes like this one, let’s talk about what it actually is.

Cube steak is also known as a cubed steak. It is usually a cut of top round or top sirloin. These are lean cuts, so they can be a bit tough, which is why cube steaks sometimes get a reputation for being lower-end or inferior cuts of beef.

But it gets its name because it has been tenderized by your butcher by pounding with a meat tenderizer or using an electric tenderizer. This process is called “cubing”. In some places, it is also called minute steak because it is a thin cut that cooks quickly.

Is it the Same as Ground Beef?

If you’ve ever accidentally picked up a package of cubed steak at the grocery store when you meant to get ground beef, you know that they are not the same. Though they come from the same cut of beef and look similar in the packaging, they are entirely different things.

The characteristic marks left on a cube steak from the tenderizing process do make it look similar to ground beef, which has been fully ground to break down while cooking or form into burgers, meatballs, meatloaf, and more. 

A closeup of a pan seared Cubed Steak on a plete.

How to Cook Cube Steak

These lean cuts of beef can end up chewy if not cooked properly. So most cubed steak recipes use certain techniques that help to lock in the moisture and keep them juicy and tender.

  • Pan-frying – this is probably the most common cooking technique, such as when making chicken fried steak. Breading and frying help keep this lean cut moist and tender.
  • Braising – it can also be tenderized by simmering low and slow for an extended period of time, like when you make Swiss Steak.
  • Pan-searing or sauteeing – I opt for a quick sear in a super hot cast iron pan to keep it juicy. Keep reading for more on that technique. Some people also use this technique when they want to make a cube steak recipe with pan gravy, like this Pan Fried Cube Steak with Onion Mushroom Gravy

Whether you are pan-frying cube steaks to make chicken fried steak or making a gravy, oftentimes you dredge the meat in flour. Some of the other techniques and recipes call for tossing it in a crockpot with a lot of heavy ingredients that might not be gluten free. That is not the case with this simple cube steak recipe.

In this case, the meat is simply seasoned and seared. Then they get a serious umami flavor kick from Worcestershire sauce. The cuts in the meat from the tenderizing allow the flavor of the Worcestershire to really infuse the meat so that you end up with a juicy and delicious dinner every time.

Cube steak recipes without flour or breading can be hard to come by. That’s why you’ll love this easy gluten free comfort food dish.

Three cubed steaks in a cast iron skillet with a set of metal tongs.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients

  • Oil – I used to always use olive oil. However, I have started using avocado oil for high-temperature cooking like this as it has a higher smoke point than olive oil. Either will work.
  • Cube steaks
  • Salt and pepper
  • Worcestershire sauce – one word of caution, though, is that not all Worcestershire Sauce is gluten free. In the United States, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is gluten free. But if you have concerns, you may want to make your own. 

Equipment

  • Cast iron skillet – I truly consider this an ingredient in this recipe. The sear you get from screaming hot adds flavor from the nice browning you will achieve.
  • Tongs – for flipping the cubed steak
A cast iron skillet, uncooked cubed steaks, and other ingredients to make pan-seared cube steaks.

How to Cook Cube Steak in a Cast Iron Pan

Get your cast iron pan searing hot to make this quick and easy, 10-minute cube steak recipe. In fact, it’s so easy, it’s one of those recipes that’s not even really a recipe. It’s more of a little idea and a quick technique, but it’s something I’ve been making for years.

  1. Preheat your cast-iron skillet over high heat, then add oil.
  2. Season both sides of the meat with salt and pepper.
  3. Place the steak in the pan and cook for about three minutes per side. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your skillet.
  4. Pour Worcestershire Sauce over the cube steaks and let it reduce just a minute or two more.

And that’s it! 

Three cube steaks in a cast iron skillet with a set of tongs.

What to Serve with Cube Steak

A simple baked potato or sweet potato and some steamed or roasted broccoli round out this healthy meal perfect for the busiest of days. But you can also try these side dishes:

Loving this recipe?

Use the same method and just change up the sauce to make Chili Lime Cube Steaks!

Cast iron pan with four cube steaks with a red-colored chili sauce and lime slices

Tips for Success

Use Cast Iron. It’s the best material to withstand high temperatures and give the cubed steaks that nice crust from searing. I truly think it adds to the flavor too!

Get the Pan Very Hot. Before you add the oil, place your cast iron skillet over high heat on the stove and give it several minutes to heat up. The oil should shimmer and the meat start to sizzle as soon as you add it to the pan.

Do Not Overcook the Meat. It really only needs minutes to cook. Otherwise, it will become tough and chewy.

Store Leftovers. Any extras can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days. You can warm it for just a few seconds in the refrigerator, or cut thin slices of the cold cube steak to put on salads.

A plated dinner of cube steak, a baked sweet potato, and steamed broccoli.

More easy beef recipes

Pan seared cube steak on a plate with side dishes.
4.6 from 65 votes

Pan-Seared Cube Steak with Worcestershire Sauce

Learn how to cook cube steak in a cast iron skillet to make delicious Worcestershire Sauce Cube Steaks. An easy gluten free recipe for dinner tonight, or any weeknight!
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat.
  • While it is heating, season both sides of the steaks with salt and pepper.
  • Carefully place steaks in the pan. Depending on the size of your pan and steak, you may need to do this in two batches. Sear for about 3-4 minutes, or until browned, then flip over and sear the other side for another 3-4 minutes.
  • If you seared the steaks in batches, return all steaks to the pan and pour the Worcestershire sauce over the steaks. Reduce for a minute or two, turning the steaks to coat them completely in the sauce.
  • Remove from the pan and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Pan-Seared Cube Steak with Worcestershire Sauce
Amount Per Serving (5 oz)
Calories 309 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Value*
Fat 18g28%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Cholesterol 102mg34%
Sodium 253mg11%
Potassium 612mg17%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 15IU0%
Vitamin C 2.2mg3%
Calcium 51mg5%
Iron 3.2mg18%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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32 Comments
  1. Roni

    3 stars
    Cooked this recipe for a friend who has a list a mile long of ingredients she can’t have. Followed the recipe exactly the first time I made it for her. The cook time is waaaayyyy too long for such a thin piece of meat, the steak came out very tough. The second time, I marinated the cube steak in the Worcestershire (it is an excellent marinade since it contains vinegar) and cooked the steaks for just two minutes a side. It came out much more tender and flavorful. Next time, I will marinate it even longer. My friend really enjoyed it the second time around!

      1. Rosie

        Oh, yum. As a beekeeper I am always looking for ways to use the honey. Had never thought of this before. Looking forward to trying it.

  2. mrs.dowler

    5 stars
    easy and tasty! i didnt realize until 15 minutes before all my sides were about to be done cooking that i had pulled out cube steaks when i meant to pull out round steaks. i had just made country fried steaks the night before and was almost debating just doing it again but didn’t want to go through all that extra work. these worked out well and my kids enjoyed them, too. so simple but honestly the worcestershire makes a world of difference in terms of flavor.

  3. Darryl Morgan

    5 stars
    Just made this and WOW it tastes wonderful…Fast Making it….the clean up is kind of tuff, but worth it. Thanks for the Recipe!!!!!!

  4. Gail Tinsley

    5 stars
    Trying to eat healthier and had cube steaks, so wanted a no gravy recipe. This was quick and easy, tasted great. I cooked them a little too long, my fault! These only take a few minutes on each side. Thanks for this healthier version!

  5. Sparky Warner

    5 stars
    I wanted a different recipe for cube steak. OH MY! THIS IS IT! I cheated and made a gravy, adding some milk, a little bit of flour and butter. I made caramelized onions, roasted potatoes and a mixed green salad. What a wonderful dinner. Thank you!

  6. Noel

    Flavor was great. Three minutes per side was too long. The first side was black and crispy. Two minutes on the second side was great. Some black lots of brown and mmmmmm good. Easy chew!

  7. Deb

    The flavor was amazing! The steaks were still a little tough but Ii’m pretty sure with a little more practice I’ll get that part. My cube steaks were not very uniform in cut. I love my cast iron pan and the flavor you get from them.

    1. Cory, do you have an ad blocker on? This had been a sponsored post, and some ad blockers suppress the content when it has language about being sponsored. Try looking for a setting that says something like “hide placeholders of blocked elements” and Uncheck it.

  8. Tanya Rey

    5 stars
    Never had it without gravy but let me tell you it is Delicious!! My daughter is on a keto diet and this is a Awsome meal for someone on a low carb diet. She asked for seconds. So tender!!

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      Absolutely, Bethany. I like to use a cast iron skillet because it holds high heat much better than a stainless steel pan, which creates a better sear. Just be sure to use stainless steel and not anything with a non-stick finish.

  9. Ok, you made me a little teary-eyed remembering all the fun of that trip. It was so much fun and I’m so glad you had a wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing the story of these hard-working and determined folks. Also? Thanks for giving me a dinner idea – seriously! This recipe looks delicious! 🙂

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