You Need to Try This Great Swiss Steak Recipe

Swiss steak is one of those old fashioned staples that were popular with lots of families in days gone by. And there’s a good reason why it was so popular: it’s inexpensive, feeds the whole family, and isn’t hard to make.

We say that Swiss steak needs to make a comeback because it’s cheap and hearty. But did you know that it’s not from Switzerland, as the name would suggest? It’s actually an English dish that uses a method called “swissing” to pound the meat flat. Because cheaper cuts of meat are usually tougher, they become more tender as they cook if you tenderize them first.

Easy Swiss Steak Recipe

Often confused with Salisbury steak, the two recipes have little in common. Salisbury steak is generally made from ground beef and other fillings, covered with brown gravy. Swiss steak is made from actual steak and is simmered in a tomato-based sauce. Both Salisbury and Swiss steak can be served over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice.

Another reason Swiss steak needs to make a comeback is that it’s really easy to make. All you need to do is pound flour and seasonings into a 2-pound steak until it’s one inch thick. You briefly fry it in oil in a pan. Then, you bake it in the oven for nearly two hours, with tomatoes and onions.

The seasonings cook into the steak over the long cook time, leaving you with a hearty and savory dish. By the time the meat is done the cooking, it’s filled with flavor and falling apart.

Old Fashioned Swiss Steak

We have easy ways to make this dish. It’s pretty time consuming, but once you get the meat prepared, the rest is just cooking time. Swiss steak works really well in a slow cooker if you get a craving for this comfort food and don’t want to heat up the house.

If you prefer a thicker tomato gravy for the Swiss steak, you can add a little bit of corn starch to the juices when it is done cooking. There’s nothing more delicious than tender beef and that slow-simmered tomato gravy.

Maybe you haven’t tried Swiss steak before or you haven’t had it since you were a kid. We're a big fan of making family traditions because that’s one thing kids will remember about their childhoods. Why not start a new family tradition of making Swiss steak? Maybe you could do it on the same night each week, or even just the same night each month.

What matters most when creating memories and traditions with your kids is just being consistent. Maybe you can make the same meal on the first Sunday of the month. Swiss steak is great comfort food and it’s cheap. Why not give it a try and see what your family thinks of this old fashioned dish?

Can Kids Help With This Dinner?

When thinking about starting a new family tradition with this Swiss steak recipe, you may come up with the idea to have your kids help you make it. Cooking together is a great way to strengthen the bonds you have with your children, while making great memories together. But is this recipe ideal for kids?

Since you'll be using hot oil for this recipe, we encourage caution if you'll be involving children. Very young children should be left out of this cooking process, as they are very vulnerable to accidents with hot oil. Older children can safely help with steps that don't involve the oil.

It's okay for your kids to observe while you cook the meat. Explain why you're using oil in this process, and what it does to help the meat cook. Learning why certain steps are part of recipes will help kids understand how to cook on a deeper level.

So, you can definitely turn this recipe into a tradition by making it with your kids! Perhaps one Saturday out of every month, you and your children will cook a meal together. Regardless of the route you choose to take, let this be the next meal you make with your kids!

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