Mastering the Perfect Crockpot Eye Round Steak: Tips, Tricks and Favorite Recipes

For affordable, flavorful and fork-tender meat, look no further than the humble eye round steak. This lean cut shines when prepared in a slow cooker, becoming meltingly tender after hours of gentle simmering. Follow this complete guide to preparing the ultimate crockpot eye round steak.

Benefits of Cooking Eye Round Steak in the Crockpot

Choosing to cook eye round steak in the crockpot offers several advantages:

• Infuses flavor – The long cook time allows seasonings and liquids to thoroughly penetrate the meat.

• Maximizes tenderness – Slow cooking tenderizes notoriously tough cuts like round steak.

• Convenience – Toss in ingredients, turn on crockpot enjoy tasty dinner later with minimal effort.

• Adds moisture – Wet crockpot environment prevents drying out the lean steak.

• Allows flexibility – Cook while away from home, Meal stays hot and ready to eat for hours,

Selecting the Best Eye Round Steak for the Crockpot

For your crockpot eye round steak to turn out moist and delicious choose your cut of meat wisely

• Uniform 1-inch thickness – Ensures even cooking. Avoid steaks withvarying thin and thick spots.

• Moderate marbling – Light marbling enhances flavor but avoid fatty pieces that may turn greasy.

• Bright red color – Indicates freshness. Dull, brown meat will likely be less tender.

• Firm, elastic texture – Meat should bounce back when pressed. Avoid product feeling overly stiff or mushy.

• Packaged steaks, not bulk – For food safety and portion control, opt for individually wrapped steaks.

With an ideal cut of eye round steak, you’re ready to start preparing it for the crockpot.

Prepping Eye Round Steak for Maximum Crockpot Flavor

Proper prep is easy but important for eye round steak so follow these tips:

• Pat steaks dry – Blot with paper towels to remove excess surface moisture that could hinder browning.

• Lightly score both sides – Use a sharp knife to make shallow cuts in a criss-cross pattern. Helps seasonings penetrate.

• Season generously – Coat all sides with salt, pepper and any other dry spices or herbs.

• Quick sear – Optional but highly recommended. Quickly brown steaks on stove in hot pan before crockpot. Locks in juices.

• Cut into chunks – For faster cooking, cut steaks into 1-2 inch pieces rather than cooking whole.

With prep complete, you’re ready to transform those steaks into a mouthwatering crockpot creation.

Choosing Complimentary Ingredients

Half the fun of crockpot meals is adding other ingredients that meld and tenderize along with the meat. Consider adding:

• Aromatic vegetables – Onion, carrots, celery, garlic. Build flavor and texture.

• Starchy vegetables – Potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips. Soak up juices and add body.

• Herbs and spices – Thyme, rosemary, oregano, chili powder, cumin. amp up the flavor.

• Acidic ingredients – Tomatoes, wine, vinegar, citrus. Help tenderize meat.

• Umami flavors – Soy sauce, Worcestershire, mushrooms. Enhance savory meatiness.

Mix and match based on preferences but avoid delicate ingredients like dairy or seafood, which may overcook or curdle.

Choosing the Best Liquid for Eye Round Steak

The right liquid is key to ensuring tender, juicy crockpot steak. Consider:

• Broth/stock – Chicken, beef or vegetable broth impart flavor. Can use low-sodium.

• Wine – Red wine adds depth of flavor. White brings brightness.

• Tomatoes – Crushed tomatoes boost flavor and moisture.

• Soup – Condensed soups like cream of mushroom easy flavor shortcut.

• Water/no liquid – Works but results in less complex flavor. Add extra seasoning.

Use broth, wine or a combo as a base then enhance with accents like Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce or hot sauce.

Sample Seasoning Blends for Eye Round Steak

To take your steak to the next level, try these savory seasoning combos:

• Italian – Oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, fennel seeds

• Southwest – Chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic

• Steakhouse – Salt, pepper, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, red wine

• Greek – Oregano, lemon zest, red wine vinegar, garlic, dried parsley

• Thai – Coriander, garlic, ginger, crushed red pepper, lime juice

Flavor profiles are endless so get creative with herbs, spices and other seasonings you enjoy.

Cook Time Considerations

Part of crockpot success is nailing the timing. For 1-inch thick eye round steak chunks, target:

• Low setting: 8-10 hours – Best for super tender meat. Ideal if cooking while away from home.

• High setting: 4-6 hours – Still yields tender meat if time is limited. Check sooner to avoid overcooking.

Consider the following factors:

• Steak thickness – Thinner pieces cook faster than thicker chunks.

• Crockpot model/power – Larger, newer models may run hotter. Check sooner.

• Quantity – Smaller amounts cook faster with proportionally less liquid.

• Altitude – Food cooks slower at higher elevations. Add time if needed.

Use cooking time ranges as a guideline but always verify doneness.

Testing Eye Round Steak for Doneness

With all that collagen-rich connective tissue, eye round steak cooked in a crockpot turns melt-in-your-mouth tender. Test for doneness by:

• Checking internal temp with meat thermometer – Target 195-205°F.

• Piercing with fork – Meat should be pull-apart tender and shred easily.

• Cutting open thickest pieces – Should be fork-tender all the way through.

• Noting color/texture – Well-done meat turns more grayish brown inside.

Pull steaks once fully tender and serve immediately for best texture and moisture.

Serving Suggestions

Now that you’ve mastered the perfect crockpot eye round steak, round out the meal. Consider:

• Serving steaks whole with sides – Carve at the table for a rustic presentation.

• Slicing or shredding meat – Makes it easy to pile high on sandwiches or over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, etc.

• Using juices as gravy – Drizzle, pour or serve alongside as a flavorful sauce.

• Adding finishing touches – Garnish with herbs, roasted veggies, cheese, etc.

However you serve it up, crockpot eye round steaks make an inexpensive yet satisfying main dish.

Top Crockpot Eye Round Steak Recipe Ideas

Ready to put your new expertise into action? Start with these tasty tried-and-true recipe ideas:

• Italian Eye Round Steak – Tomatoes, red wine, garlic, oregano, basil

• BBQ Eye Round Steak – BBQ sauce, chili powder, Worcestershire, onion

• Steak Fajitas – Onion, bell pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper, lime

• Beef Stroganoff – Mushrooms, onion, garlic, sour cream, paprika

• Thai Red Curry Steak – Coconut milk, red curry paste, ginger, garlic

The options are endless for crafting flavorful crockpot meals using economical eye round steak.

Final Takeaways for Crockpot Eye Round Steak

Following the tips in this guide, you can look forward to many satisfying meals using budget-friendly eye round steak cooked to tender perfection in the crockpot.

• Choose uniform, moderately marbled steaks for best results
• Prep steaks with dry blotting, light scoring and generous seasoning
• Include aromatic veggies, starches and umami flavors
• Use broth, wine or soup to provide enough braising liquid
• Cook 8-10 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high
• Test for shredded tenderness when done
• Serve whole, sliced, or shredded

With the right prep and cooking techniques, inexpensive eye round steak can become the star of any menu when made using your helpful crockpot.