How to Cook Fork-Tender Beef Eye Round Steak in Your Crockpot

Beef eye round steak can be a budget-friendly cut of meat, but it needs some special attention to turn out tender and delicious. With the right prep and cooking technique, your crockpot can transform inexpensive eye round steak into a melt-in-your-mouth meal.

In this detailed guide, I’ll explain how to prep and cook eye round steak in a crockpot or slow cooker so it turns out perfectly tender every time. You’ll learn tips for choosing the best steaks how long to cook them seasoning ideas, and some of my favorite crockpot eye round steak recipes to try. Let’s get started!

What is Eye Round Steak?

Eye round steak comes from the round primal cut which is located in the back leg or rump of the cow. It is an extra-lean cut, meaning it has little marbling or intramuscular fat running through it.

While affordable, eye round steak can be tougher than fattier cuts of beef. But cooked right in the moist environment of a crockpot, it can become incredibly tender and delicious. The key is low and slow cooking to properly break down the meat’s tough muscle fibers.

When shopping, choose eye round steaks that are evenly sized at around 1-inch thick. Thinner cuts can dry out and get overcooked in the crockpot. Having some marbling is also beneficial for flavor and moisture.

Tips for Crockpot Eye Round Steak Success

Follow these tips when cooking eye round steak in the crockpot for guaranteed tender results:

• Choose the right thickness – 1-inch steaks hold up best. Pound thinner steaks.

• Trim off excess fat – Too much fat can make the broth greasy.

• Marinate overnight – Marinades tenderize and add flavor.

• Brown the steak first – Quickly searing the steaks gives added flavor.

• Use plenty of moisture – The crockpot environment should be very moist.

• Cook on low – Low and slow cooking ensures tender meat.

• Allow time to rest – Letting the steak rest ensures juicy results.

How Long to Cook Eye Round Steak in a Crockpot

Cooking times can vary based on the size and thickness of your eye round steaks. The average times are:

• 1-inch thick steaks:

• Low: 8-10 hours

• High: 4-5 hours

• 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick steaks:

• Low: 6-8 hours

• High: 3-4 hours

Check for doneness after the minimum cook time by poking the steaks with a fork. When they are fork-tender, they are ready. Bumping up to the max cook time gives you more wiggle room.

Flavorful Seasonings for Crockpot Eye Round

Eye round steak benefits from bold, robust seasonings that add lots of flavor. Consider rubbing or marinating the meat with these seasoning combinations:

• Italian – oregano, basil, garlic, parsley

• Tex Mex – cumin, chili powder, garlic, cilantro

• Mediterranean – rosemary, garlic, paprika, oregano

• Asian – ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil

• BBQ – chili powder, brown sugar, garlic, paprika

• Herbs de Provence – rosemary, thyme, oregano, fennel

Satisfying Crockpot Eye Round Steak Recipes

Now let’s get to some tasty recipe ideas that turn inexpensive eye round steak into delicious crockpot meals.

Italian Eye Round Steak

• 1 1/2 lbs eye round steaks
• 1 jar pasta sauce
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup water or broth

1. Place onion in crockpot then top with steaks.
2. Mix garlic, Italian seasoning and sauce then pour over steaks.
3. Cook on low 8-10 hours.
4. Serve over pasta or zucchini noodles.

Chipotle Lime Eye Round Steak

• 1 1/2 lbs eye round steak
• 1/3 cup lime juice
• 1 tbsp chipotle chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 cup chicken or beef broth

1. Combine lime juice, chili powder, garlic and rub over steaks. Refrigerate 1 hour.
2. Add onion to crockpot then top with steaks.
3. Pour broth over and cook on low 8-10 hours.
4. Shred or slice steak and serve in tortillas or over rice.

Eye Round Steak and Gravy

• 1 1/2 eye round steaks
• 1 pkg brown gravy mix
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 bay leaf

1. Sprinkle steaks with garlic powder and onion powder.
2. Add steaks and bay leaf to crockpot.
3. Whisk together gravy mix and water then pour over steaks.
4. Cook on low 8-10 hours.
5. Discard bay leaf before serving steaks and gravy.

Crockpot BBQ Eye Round Steak

• 1 1/2 lbs eye round steaks
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp mustard
• 1 onion, sliced

1. Combine BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire and mustard.
2. Place onion in crockpot then top with steaks.
3. Pour sauce all over steaks.
4. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
5. Shred or slice steak and serve on buns.

Time to Enjoy Tender Crockpot Eye Round Steak

Now you have all the information you need to turn affordable eye round steak into a delicious crockpot meal. The right size, thickness and cooking time along with flavorful seasonings or sauces make all the difference.