This easy Instant Pot Swiss Steak recipe is made in the pressure cooker with round steak in a peppery tomato beef sauce. Enjoy this updated vintage recipe!
This pressure cooker Swiss steak recipe is a delicious way to turn a tough, inexpensive cut of meat into an amazingly delicious dinner. In fact, the Hubs says this is probably the best Swiss steak recipe ever!
It's not one of those Instant Pot recipes where you can dump everything into the pressure cooker and walk away. Swiss steak takes a little more effort, but the results are so worth it. Just think of it as an easy Instant Pot recipe that takes a little more prep work!
Growing up, my mom made Swiss steak in the electric skillet, and it was so good. I recreated her recipe, but I made it on the stove, instead. It was an awesome dinner, but it took about 2 hours to cook.
But, when you make Swiss steak in the Instant Pot, you can have it on the table in about an hour. Not only is it a huge time saver, but it's also easier since you don't have to tenderize the meat or stir it during the cooking process.
How to make Swiss Steak in the Instant Pot
What is a Swiss steak cut of meat?
I used bottom round for Swiss steak since that's what my mom always used. You can also use cube steak or any inexpensive, aka cheap, cut of beef here.
Just trim the extra fat off of the steak, then season both sides. Next, dredge the meat with a little corn starch or flour. I use cornstarch, but traditionally, you would use flour.
You have to brown the meat in the Instant Pot using the Saute setting. It's easier to brown meat when it's not crowded, so you'll have to brown 2 or 3 pieces at a time.
After you brown a couple of steaks on both sides, put them on a plate and cover with foil, until you finish browning the remaining meat.
Next, add the onions and peppers, and cook until they're slightly soft. Stir them to make sure they cook evenly.
There will probably be some browned bits stuck to the bottom of the Instant Pot, so you'll have to deglaze the pot with a little beef broth. Just pour the broth in, and use a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape those lovely bits flavor off of the pot!
Next, add the meat back into the pressure cooker. Then, pour in the remaining broth and top with some crushed tomato puree.
Pressure cook it, and in about 30 minutes, the steak is done! You can use the sauce as is, or you can saute to reduce and thicken the sauce. For even thicker sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry.
I like to serve Instant Pot Swiss steak over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. But, you can serve it over rice or even eat it just as it is.
If you want to make steak in the Instant Pot, this is the recipe to use! It's tender, filled with flavor and so good!
Can you cook Swiss steak on the stove?
Definitely! I have an easy Swiss steak recipe for the stove right here. You can also use an electric skillet if you have one.
Recipe for Instant Pot Swiss Steak
Recipe
Instant Pot Swiss Steak
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bottom round steak, trimmed and sliced into large squares
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium white or yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 2 bell peppers, seeded and diced
- 1 cup low sodium beef broth
- ½ cup crushed tomatoes
Instructions
- Season the sliced round steak on both sides with garlic powder, sea salt and black pepper
- Lightly dredge the meat on both sides with the corn starch
- Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot, and when it reads Hot, add the oil. Working in batches, brown the round steak on both sides, then place on a plate, and cover with foil until all of the steak in browned
- Add the diced onions and peppers to the pot, and cook until slightly soft, stirring frequently
- Add some of the beef broth, and stir with spatula or wooden spoon to deglaze the pot and release any browned bits on the bottom of the pot
- Hit CANCEL, then add the round steak back to the pot. Pour remaining beef broth over and around steak, and top with the crushed tomatoes. Don't stir!
- Place lid on pot, turn valve to Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 30 minutes. After 30 minute cook time, allow a 10 minute natural release, then hit CANCEL and turn valve to Venting position to release remaining pressure
- When pin drops, open lid, and remove steak to a large casserole dish or platter. For thicker gravy, hit SAUTE and boil to reduce sauce. Or, mix 1 tablespoon corn starch with 1 tablespoon cold water until smooth, then stir boiling sauce to thicken even more
- Pour sauce over steak, and serve
Video
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy this easy Instant Pot Swiss Steak recipe as much as we do!
Peggy London says
This is great as is!! But I added fresh jalapeños and used my home canned stewed tomatoes. Yummmy, Yummy!!! And did I mention quick! Thumbs up on both hands!! Thanks for the homerun!
Dee says
So glad you liked the steak, Peggy. I'll bet it was even tastier your way. Thanks so much!
Susan says
Thank you very much for sharing such a delightful recipe! For anyone who asked for Instant Pot accessories, check out this Amazon store
Suzanne says
Love this recipe, I have used this recipe before . This time I have made a couple of changes, instead of crushed tomatoes, I used diced tomatoes with peppers and onions, added sliced mushrooms, and drained both and will use this a my thickener. Hope it turns out as good.
Beth says
I made this in my 6.5 qt Ninja with Venison Round Steak, fabulous!!! OMW this was one of the best venison dishes I've made in 36+ years! The pressure cook method turns out so much better than Crock-Pot. Added celery, splash of wine, whole can diced tomatoes, 2T tomato paste. Thickened with mash of 2T @ butter & flour. Served over rice/quinoa mix cooked with jalapeno, butter, Mrs Dash (off brand) beside green beans.
Barb says
I have a 3qt pot. Do I need to adjust the cooking time? (I’m new to the Instant Pot)
Dee says
Hi! The cooking time remains the same for all sizes. Just make sure the liquid does not go over the max fill line. Enjoy!
Lucy says
This was so good. I followed the recipe exactly and it's definitely a keeper!
Sammi says
This Swiss Steak is just like my mom used to make, but so much faster. We loved it, thanks so much for the recipe!
Terrence says
This worked so well! It was delicious and tasted just as my mom used to make it.
Eva says
This was delicious! I will definately make this again. Thank you.😀
Greg T. says
I just made this in my Instant Pot. Super easy and very delicious. The bottom round steak at my grocery store was sold out, so I bought a chuck roast (also a cheap cut), cut it horizontally to make to nice sized steaks, and then just followed the well written recipe. I'll definitely add this to my monthly repertoire!
Dee says
Thanks for the wonderful review and for sharing your tip about using chuck roast! I'll definitely keep this in mind.
Laura says
Agree using Chuck. That's what I always use.
Kerry Watson says
on a whim, I bought an instant pot and in the parking lot of the grocery store found your recipe. Made it when I got home and it's delicious! Tastes just like my mom used to make. Will definitely be making again. Thanks!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Kerry! I'm so happy to hear this!
Bonnie says
Loved it, came out prefect.
Dee says
Awesome! I'm so glad you liked it, Bonnie!
Laurie Malphrus says
This is a great recipe and I make it just like the recipe says every time I make it and my family always loves it! I really hate how people change the recipe and then leave a comment with what they changed in the comments.If you make changes fine but just keep it to yourself please.This is a perfect recipe so just say it was good and move on.
Dee says
I'm so glad you like the recipe, Laurie. Thank you so much for your kind words!
Dawn says
Just made this and the sauce was great and meat was very tender. I only had some very, very thin slices of round steak that was a mistake by my grocery pick up, so I didn’t love the meat but will definitely try again with round or cube steak. Overall the recipie was so close to what I remember my grandma making
Dee says
Thanks, Dawn. I hope you get a chance to make it again. 🙂
Karen says
Second time I’ve made this delicious dish with just a few minor changes. I leave the peppers & onion in thick slices & used a can of stewed tomatoes because we like the veggies. The Instant Pot really cooks them down otherwise. I used more cornstarch than stated cause I always run out. And I use 2 cups of beef broth and thicken it at the end so we can have plenty to put over the long grain brown rice. Thank you for the recipe! It’s a keeper! Looking forward to trying other recipes from your site😍
Dee says
Thank you so much for the sweet comment and for sharing your tips!
Michelle says
I have been looking for a recipe like this one. My grandma and grandpa used to make something like this. I have been trying to figure out what it could be. I am sure this is it. Thank you for posting.
Dee says
I hope you like it, Michelle. Let me know how it goes. 🙂
Bethany says
wonderful recipe
Dee says
Thanks, Bethany! Glad you enjoyed it!
Jen says
Honestly we had never heard of Swiss steak, but decided to give this recipe a whirl. We were out of bell peppers, so I added a whole can of tomatoes. And boy oh boy this was delicious! We’ll definitely be making this again!
Dee says
Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Jen. I'm glad you liked it!
Jane says
This was really good. I couldn’t find round steak at my store, so I subbed tenderized flank steak - really tender. Good flavor, might leave veggies n strips rather than chopped in the future and low pressure. I’m still experimenting with my InstaPot.
Dee says
I'm so glad you liked it, Jane. Thanks!
Sarah says
Thank you so much for this recipe. Such simple ingredients and truly delicious. The entire family, including three teen boys, raved!
Dee says
That's awesome, Sarah. Thank you so much!
Kimberly says
I threw everything in the pot without browning or sauteing and it was great - tender meat and veggies. Thanks for the recipe!
Dee says
That's good to know, Kimberly! Thanks for sharing!