This is how long to cook cube steak in frying pan to tender and delicious for dinner. Pan fried with a sauce can be made in under 15 minutes. If you loved our teriyaki frozen cube steak recipe, this one using fresh beef will be a family favorite meal too.

how long to cook cube steak in frying pan
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Cube steak in a skillet is a great way to make a quick and cheap meal. Pounded thin it takes very little time to keep every bite fork tender. If you are looking for a busy weeknight meal this is going to be on your next meal rotation for sure. (affiliate links present)

How long to cook steak in frying pan?

Not long. Whether you decide to make air fryer cube steak, in a cast iron skillet, pan, the oven or on a grill you really want at least a little bit of pink in the center so it doesn’t get chewy. I used to only like well done but as I got older I realized my husband was right (don’t tell him that), beef needs to be pink for ideal flavor and texture.

Cube Steak in a Frying Pan

Now if you are Cooking Frozen Steak you would need longer of course. In that case you want to steam it a bit to thaw and then you can get a bit of sear at the end. In this case we are using fresh or at least defrosted so they are pliable.

how to cook cube steak
how to cook cube steak on the stove

How long does it take cube steak to get tender?

You’re typically looking at 3 minutes or so on each side. If you cook in a thick sauce though like our Slow Cooker Cube Steak with Cream of Mushroom Soup does, you can let it sit for longer. Low and slow is surprisingly wonderful with gravy and all right in the same pot!

It is quite similar to How to Cook Round Steak on the Stove which is a different cut that isn’t pounded flatter like these but still by the same note doesn’t need much time either. You probably get the gist here that more is not better when it comes to cooking beef like this.

Yes with venison cube steak, poultry and pork you need to be very careful that there is no pink left in the center, or you could get sick. With cow products that isn’t the case. I mean you want to make sure you get it from a reputable source so you can undercook it and leave it pink so it stays tender but the less pink = the less moist and chewier it will become.

What are the best seasonings for cube steak? I mean you can go with simple, a dash of salt, pepper and garlic powder works. BUT if you use our Best Steak Dry Rub it will blow you away with all the sweet and savory flavors in there.

cast iron cube steak

Can you fry steak in a regular frying pan?

Yes! All different kinds can be made this way but each one will have a bit different timing. Like we show you How to Cook Chuck Steak here but that is thicker and I typically don’t add a sauce. The seasonings are up to you but in a pan they can add a lot of flavor to the outside. Pure comfort food if you ask us served with mashed potatoes.

Another idea is to slice this cut of beef into thick strips, dip into a bit of flour to make chicken fried steak pieces!! Yes, if you are a lover of fried cube steak you just add a bit of olive oil to a hot cast iron pan and 2 minutes on each side is all you need to get golden brown. Another budget friendly meal we love.

  • Season each steak with salt and pepper.
  • Heat frying pan over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon butter.
  • Stir until melted. Add cube steak and season each piece with 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.
  • Heat for 3-4 minutes.
  • Flip, add an additional 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce per steak and heat an additional 3-4 minutes on the other side.
  • Remove from pan and cover with a tent of foil.
  • Gently scrape the bits out of the bottom o the pan and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
  • Stir in water or broth and cook for 1-2 minutes cooking time until just boiling. Remove from heat and spoon sauce over the top of each one, served with your favorite side.

Take a peek at our What Temperature to Cook Steak Printable here if you like. These are so thin though that it is harder to insert and get a good measurement.

tender cube steak recipes on stove

How do you tenderize cube steak without a mallet?

No problem, you just need something heavy, some plastic wrap and your top round or top sirloin that you want to flatten. Score the top halfway thru with a knife or poke all over with a fork. Place between some saran wrap pieces and pound with a heavy skillet, or can from the pantry to make them thinned out.

These steps pertain to all cube styles, even How to Cook Pork Cube Steak. In that one we chose to make them breaded on the outside which is another nice touch and tweak to the “regular” style. Change it up over the weeks and see which your family loves the best.

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

  1. Pound it Thin to start, giving it an extra pound with a meat mallet can further tenderize it and break down any tough fibers.
  2. Marinate it if you have time for a few hours or overnight can add flavor and help tenderize the meat. Use a marinade with acidic ingredients like vinegar, citrus juice, or yogurt, which can help break down tough muscle fibers.
  3. Cook Quickly to avoid overcooking it. Searing it quickly on high heat helps to lock in juices and keep the meat tender. Use a hot skillet or grill for just a few minutes on each side until it’s browned on the outside and cooked to your desired level of doneness.
  4. Slice Against the Grain after cooking and be sure to slice it thinly too. This helps to further break down tough muscle fibers so it isn’t as chewy.

We have other easy Minute Steak Recipes you can try too after this one. Jump to recipe and let us know what you think!!

how to cook cube steak in frying pan
how long to cook cube steak in frying pan
5 from 1 vote

How Long to Cook Cube Steak in Frying Pan

By The Typical Mom
This is how long to cook cube steak in frying pan to tender and delicious for dinner. Pan fried with a sauce can be made in under 15 minutes.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 6 minutes
Servings: 4
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Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Ingredients 

  • 4 cube steak
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1/3 c worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 c beef broth, or water
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • Season each steak with salt and pepper. Heat frying pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. Stir until melted. Add cube steak and season each piece with 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.
  • Heat for 3-4 minutes. Flip steak, add an additional 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce per steak and heat an additional 3-4 minutes on the other side.
  • Remove steaks from pan and cover with a tent of foil. Gently scrape the bits out of the bottom o the pan and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in water or broth and cook for 1-2 minutes until just boiling. Remove from heat and spoon sauce over the top of each one.

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz, Calories: 413kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 145mg, Sodium: 579mg, Potassium: 772mg, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 281IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 68mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

About The Typical Mom

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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