When you’re cooking on a budget, this poor man’s steak dinner is just the thing! Inexpensive cuts of meat turn into fork tender steaks. Feed a family of four for under $10!
These fork tender steaks with green beans and gravy are just about perfect for dinner if you ask me. If you are not new to The Weary Chef, you know that I love the following (in no particular order):
Beef
Rice and gravy
One-dish meals
Recipes that only require one pot
Anything involving the word “easy”
Saving money on meat
This skillet dinner delivers on all of those! (I didn’t include wine and chocolate in the list of things I love because those really don’t come into play here, although wine is certainly a welcome guest at dinner). I know it might look a tad, you know… gray. These tender, savory steaks simmer for a couple hours, and what they lack in color they more than make up for in flavor and texture.
What’s great about this recipe is that you can use inexpensive cuts of meat that you might not want to grill and turn them into something special. I used four boneless chuck steaks that I bought for $6 total. Add in the other few ingredients, and this dinner for four cost under $10! I hope you enjoy this tasty, frugal dinner!
Pour worcestershire sauce evenly over the steaks, and lightly sprinkle all sides with salt and pepper.
Stir beef broth, sour cream, and garlic powder together with a fork, and set aside.
Heat a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, and heat until shimmery. Add onion, and cook until starting to brown, 3-5 minutes.
Push onion to one side of the pan, and place steaks in. Cook steaks about 2 minutes per side, just until browned. Reduce heat to medium. Shift steaks to center of pan, and arrange onions over the top.
Spread green beans over the meat, and pour beef broth mixture over the top. Bring to a simmer. Cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 2 hours, until steaks are fork tender. (Check on the pan occasionally to make sure it stays at a low simmer.)
About 10 minutes before serving, stir cornstarch into 1/4 c. cold water until dissolved. Pour cornstarch slurry into skillet and gently stir. This step will thicken the gravy a bit.
Author:Andi
Prep Time:10
Cook Time:120
Category:Main
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Andi Gleeson
14 comments
Lura
1 year ago
Just add a little kitchen bouquet to the sauce and it makes a nice brown gravy.
Rosie
1 year ago
Wow! I guess that’s a better idea, let me try that one also hahaha! Did you also try that one? Did the taste change?
Susan L Krall
4 years ago
This is delicious – I used cube steaks and it was perfect. Thank you!
emma
5 years ago
Isn’t this basically a stroganoff recipe? Anyway, it is good and can be made with all cuts of beef.
jennifer
9 years ago
Ive made this and it my family LOVED it!! My mom would like to make it but only has beef round steaks. Will that be ok?
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Hi, Jennifer. I’m sorry, I was sure I responded to this yesterday. I hope I’m not too late. Round steaks should work fine too. Thank you!
Courtney S
10 years ago
I made this tonight and it was really, really good. But, it was also really watery. Maybe I need to add more corn starch next time….
Andi
10 years ago
Hi, Courtney! I’m really glad you liked the recipe, but I’m sorry to hear the gravy was too watery. Did you use fresh green beans? You could up the cornstarch or sour cream a little or just add about 3/4 of the can of broth and add more later if there’s not enough liquid. Thanks for your comment!
Courtney S
10 years ago
Oh! I used canned grean beans and I was pouring them in, I was noticing how much liquid was being poured in, too. I will make your suggested changes next time. Thank you for responding!!
Andi
10 years ago
Hi, Courtney! I’m glad it tasted good anyway! Try fresh green beans next time, and you’ll like it even more! I’ll update the recipe to make that more clear. Thank you!
Angelina
6 years ago
Just drain your canned green beans next time, and it will turn out fine.
foodyschmoody
10 years ago
Thanks for sharing this steak dish at The Ugly Duckling Link Party. We weren’t sure how the theme would go over, but I’m thrilled that some have embraced it!
tanya
11 years ago
This dish really is made up of all your favorites! I can’t resist an easy one pot wonder!
The Weary Chef
11 years ago
I just wish it was a little better looking ;) I was tempted to make this with cream of mushroom soup, but I chickened out when I looked at the ingredients on the can. This version was just as easy and has ingredients I can pronounce!
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14 comments
Just add a little kitchen bouquet to the sauce and it makes a nice brown gravy.
Wow! I guess that’s a better idea, let me try that one also hahaha! Did you also try that one? Did the taste change?
This is delicious – I used cube steaks and it was perfect. Thank you!
Isn’t this basically a stroganoff recipe? Anyway, it is good and can be made with all cuts of beef.
Ive made this and it my family LOVED it!! My mom would like to make it but only has beef round steaks. Will that be ok?
Hi, Jennifer. I’m sorry, I was sure I responded to this yesterday. I hope I’m not too late. Round steaks should work fine too. Thank you!
I made this tonight and it was really, really good. But, it was also really watery. Maybe I need to add more corn starch next time….
Hi, Courtney! I’m really glad you liked the recipe, but I’m sorry to hear the gravy was too watery. Did you use fresh green beans? You could up the cornstarch or sour cream a little or just add about 3/4 of the can of broth and add more later if there’s not enough liquid. Thanks for your comment!
Oh! I used canned grean beans and I was pouring them in, I was noticing how much liquid was being poured in, too. I will make your suggested changes next time. Thank you for responding!!
Hi, Courtney! I’m glad it tasted good anyway! Try fresh green beans next time, and you’ll like it even more! I’ll update the recipe to make that more clear. Thank you!
Just drain your canned green beans next time, and it will turn out fine.
Thanks for sharing this steak dish at The Ugly Duckling Link Party. We weren’t sure how the theme would go over, but I’m thrilled that some have embraced it!
This dish really is made up of all your favorites! I can’t resist an easy one pot wonder!
I just wish it was a little better looking ;) I was tempted to make this with cream of mushroom soup, but I chickened out when I looked at the ingredients on the can. This version was just as easy and has ingredients I can pronounce!