Skirt steak in crock pot recipe turns a cut of beef most people overlook into a fork-tender dinner with a rich, creamy mushroom gravy, and it only takes five minutes to get it into the crock pot. Add skirt steak, sliced mushrooms, cream of mushroom soup, and a packet of onion soup mix, then let it cook on low for about five hours or high for about four. What comes out is tender enough to fall apart under a fork, spooned over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes. It’s simple enough for a Tuesday and good enough that nobody at your table will guess how little went into it.
I started making this recipe when I had a dinner party coming up and wanted a cut of beef that wouldn’t blow the budget but still felt like something you’d order at a nice restaurant. Skirt steak worried me a little going in, it’s not exactly a cut anyone brags about, so I tested the gravy more than once to make sure it came out thick and rich instead of thin and forgettable. That beefy onion soup mix is what finally got it right, and the mushrooms are what made it feel special. Not one guest has ever guessed how little the beef actually cost.
Delicious. Followed recipe but added a little water. Also added carrots. So easy. Will definitely make again.
—Rainie
Main Ingredients Needed For Skirt Steak In Crock Pot Recipe
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, jump to the recipe card.
- Beef skirt steak: This is the star of the dish, and the crock pot is what turns a thinner, chewier cut into something fork-tender. If skirt steak isn’t available, flank steak works well too and is a bit leaner; just slice it thin against the grain after cooking.
- White mushrooms: These soak up the gravy and add an earthy bite that balances the richness. You can swap in baby bella, shiitake, portobello, or morel, either on their own or mixed together, for a deeper flavor. I like mixing two or three kinds together when I have them on hand.
- Cream of mushroom soup: This is the base of your gravy, and it’s what gives this dish that rich, creamy texture without needing to make a separate roux. If yours ever comes out thinner than you’d like, my tips on how to thicken sauce, gravy, and stews in a slow cooker cover some easy fixes.
- Dry onion soup mix: This is the ingredient that thickens the gravy and gives it that deep, beefy flavor I was after when I first tested this recipe, the same trick that makes my hamburger steaks with onion gravy so good too.
How To Make Skirt Steak In Crock Pot Recipe
This skirt steak in crock pot method comes together in just a few steps, then your crock pot does all the work.
Tip: Let the steak sit out for a bit to come to room temperature before it goes in the crock pot. I always do this because it helps everything cook more evenly instead of the middle staying cooler than the edges.
Skirt Steak Crock Pot Recipe Variations
- If you want to bulk up this crock pot skirt steak recipe, toss in some carrots or pearl onions right along with the mushrooms. I’ve done both, and they hold up well through the long cook time.
- A splash of Worcestershire sauce deepens the flavor of the gravy if you want a little more depth. And if you like extra sauce for spooning over rice or mashed potatoes, just double the soup mixture and mushrooms so every bite gets smothered.
- If you’re feeding a bigger crowd, this recipe doubles well; just make sure your slow cooker holds at least 6 quarts so everything fits. If you love this cream of mushroom gravy, my crock pot pork chops in cream of mushroom soup use the same trick with a different protein.
- For another creamy beef dinner in the same spirit, my creamy beef stroganoff with ground beef is a house favorite too.
Make Ahead Skirt Steak In Crock Pot
This is one of those recipes I actually plan around when I know guests are coming, because it’s so much easier when you prep ahead.
- Mix your soup and onion soup mix together the night before, slice your mushrooms, and keep both in separate containers in the fridge.
- The next morning, just add the steak, mushrooms, and soup mixture to your crock pot and you’re done before your day even starts.
- It also travels well if you’re taking it to a church potluck or a dinner party with friends, since it stays warm right in the crock pot, and it would fit right in with these crockpot ideas for potluck dinners if you’re planning ahead for one.
My Favorite Slow Cooker Tools
Questions When Making Skirt Steak In Crock Pot Recipe
No, this recipe does not call for searing the steak first. You simply place the skirt steak straight into the slow cooker with the mushrooms and soup mixture, and the long cook time takes care of the tenderness and flavor for you.
A 4-quart or larger slow cooker works best for this recipe. That gives the steak and mushrooms enough room to cook evenly without the gravy overflowing once everything is combined.
Skirt Steak In Crock Pot Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef skirt steak
- 8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
- 10.75 ounces cream of mushroom soup, canned
- 1 ounce dry onion soup mix, 1 packet
Instructions
- You will need a 4-quart or larger slow cooker for this recipe.
- Place the beef skirt steak into the slow cooker.2 pounds beef skirt steak
- Spread the sliced mushrooms evenly over the steak.8 ounces white mushrooms
- In a medium bowl, mix the cream of mushroom soup with the onion soup mix until smooth, with no lumps.10.75 ounces cream of mushroom soup, 1 ounce dry onion soup mix
- Pour the soup mixture over the mushrooms and steak, then cover with the lid.
- Cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until the steak is fork tender.
Gina’s Notes and Tips
- Make Ahead: Mix the soup and onion soup mix together the night before, and slice the mushrooms, keeping both in separate containers in the fridge. The next morning, add the steak, mushrooms, and soup mixture to your crock pot.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Warm gently in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit or in the microwave. Add a splash of broth if the gravy has thickened.
- Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Substitutions: Flank steak works in place of skirt steak if needed; it’s a bit leaner, so slice it thin against the grain after cooking. Baby bella, shiitake, portobello, or morel mushrooms can replace white mushrooms, on their own or mixed together.
- Variations: Add carrots or pearl onions along with the mushrooms. A splash of Worcestershire sauce deepens the gravy’s flavor. Double the soup mixture and mushrooms for extra sauce.
- Slow Cooker Times: HIGH: 4 hours LOW: 5 hours
Tried this recipe?
Please consider Leaving a Review!Hospitality with Skirt Steak In Crock Pot
Do you have a neighbor that you wave to but never really got to know through conversation? This skirt steak in crock pot recipe would be an easy dinner to make and ask them over for a relaxed, casual evening. Spoon the steak and gravy over mashed potatoes or noodles, set out a salad and some bread, and let the conversation carry the rest of the night. Hebrews reminds us not to neglect showing hospitality to strangers, because you never know who you are really welcoming to your table. Some of my best friendships started with exactly that kind of dinner, someone I barely knew turning into someone I cannot imagine my life without now. You do not need a fancy meal to open your home, just the door.
Not a fan of mushrooms. Any other suggestions?
Kathy, just a quick note. If you look at the photos, you’ll notice I didn’t use many mushrooms. My hubby isn’t a fan either. I sometimes swap the cream of mushroom soup for cream of celery, and I like to toss in some baby potatoes, the kind that come in a 1.5 pound bag at the grocery store. It’s a simple switch that works really well.
Delicious. Followed recipe but added.a little water. Also added carrots. So easy. Will definitely make again. ❤️
I love the idea of adding carrots!
In the directions it says to pour the soup mix over the mushrooms and steak , when I mixed the mushroom soup and onion mix together it does not pour out , your directions do not say mix the soup with any liquids at all , should I have done that ?
Bill, sorry for the late reply, I was on a cruise and could not get my internet to work so I could reply. I used the Walmart brand of cream of mushroom soup, which tends to be a bit thinner. If your soup brand is on the thicker side, you can either use a spatula to spread it evenly over the meat or stir in a splash of beef broth to thin it out slightly so it pours more easily. Keep in mind, the beef will release its own juices as it slow cooks, adding to the flavor and moisture.
What is skirt steak
Hi Margaret, Great question. Skirt steak is a long, thin cut of beef that comes from the diaphragm muscles of the cow. It has a rich, beefy flavor and a loose grain that makes it perfect for slow cooking, especially when you want that fork-tender texture in your crock pot recipes. I found this one at my local Kroger.
If you can’t find skirt steak at your grocery store, flank steak is the best substitute. It’s a little leaner but still works beautifully when cooked low and slow. You could also try flat iron steak or sirloin tip steak, both of which become tender and flavorful when simmered in gravy or sauces. Just remember to slice against the grain before serving to keep the meat tender.