Easy Alton Brown Cube Steak Recipe: Juicy & Flavorful Magic

Alton Brown’s cube steak transforms an often-overlooked cut into a mouthwatering masterpiece that promises rich, deep flavors and tender meat.

Tough beef cuts can become culinary magic when treated with skill and patience.

Professional chefs understand the art of transforming humble ingredients into extraordinary dishes through careful technique and strategic seasoning.

This classic preparation requires minimal ingredients but delivers maximum satisfaction with its rustic charm and comforting appeal.

Southern-style cooking embraces these humble cuts, turning simple meat into a hearty meal that connects generations through traditional cooking methods.

Slow cooking allows muscle fibers to break down gradually, creating a melt-in-your-mouth texture that surprises and delights.

You’ll appreciate how strategic preparation elevates an affordable protein into a restaurant-quality experience: get ready to transform your kitchen into a flavor destination.

Discover The Hearty Appeal Of Alton Brown Cube Steak

• Savor Tender Transformation: This recipe magically turns tough cube steak into melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness through slow cooking and precise tenderizing techniques.
• Flavor-Packed Simplicity: With just a few basic ingredients like salt, pepper, flour, and chicken broth, you'll create a deeply satisfying meal that feels like a restaurant-quality experience.
• Comfort Food Champion: Perfect for chilly evenings or when you crave a hearty, nostalgic dish that brings warmth and richness to your dinner table, this recipe delivers classic Southern-style comfort without complex preparation.
• Budget-Friendly Culinary Magic: Transforms an inexpensive cut of meat into a luxurious, fork-tender meal that feels indulgent while being incredibly wallet-friendly and economical.

Key Ingredients For Alton Brown Cube Steak

Main Ingredients:

• Cube Steak: A tough cut of beef that needs tenderizing and slow cooking for maximum tenderness.

• Flour: Creates a crispy exterior and helps thicken the sauce, best when all-purpose.
• Salt, Pepper: Basic seasonings that enhance the meat's natural flavor.

• Chicken Broth: Provides moisture and depth of flavor for braising the meat.
• Thyme: Adds an earthy, herbal note to complement the beef.

• Vegetable Oil, Bacon Grease: Provides fat for browning the meat and adding rich flavor, with bacon grease offering a more robust taste.

How To Cook Alton Brown Cube Steak

Step 1: Preheat Oven

Heat the oven to 300°F (149°C) to prepare for slow cooking.

Step 2: Prepare Meat

Season cube steak with salt and pepper on both sides. Slice meat against the grain into 1/2-inch thick pieces.

Step 3: Flour Coating

Spread flour in a shallow dish. Carefully coat each meat slice completely in flour, ensuring both sides are evenly covered.

Step 4: Tenderize Meat

Use a meat tenderizer or needle to flatten steaks to 1/4-inch thickness. Repeat flour dredging process after tenderizing.

Step 5: Prepare Cooking Pan

Select a 4-5 quart Dutch oven. Add vegetable oil or bacon grease to barely cover the bottom of the pan.

Step 6: Brown Steaks

Heat oil until it sizzles. Carefully place steaks in the pan, avoiding overcrowding. Cook each side for 2 minutes until golden brown.

Step 7: Remove Browned Steaks

Transfer each browned steak to a separate plate. Continue process until all steaks are golden.

Step 8: Create Cooking Liquid

• Chicken broth
• Thyme

Stir occasionally and heat until liquid is nearly boiling.

Step 9: Return Steaks to Liquid

Place all browned steaks back into the pan. Ensure steaks are completely covered by cooking liquid.

Step 10: Slow Cook

Place covered Dutch oven in middle oven rack. Cook for 1.5 to 2 hours until meat becomes extremely tender and almost falls apart.

Practical Advice For Alton Brown Cube Steak

• Maximize Flavor through Grain Orientation: Slicing against the meat's natural lines breaks down tough muscle fibers, delivering a melt-in-your-mouth texture that transforms cube steak from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Optimize Meat Thickness Strategically: Gentle pounding with a meat tenderizer creates uniform thickness, ensuring every bite cooks evenly and prevents dry or undercooked sections.
• Master Flour Coating Technique: A light, consistent dusting of flour provides a golden-brown crust that seals in juices and adds a delightful crunch to each bite.
• Control Pan Crowding Carefully: Leaving space between meat pieces allows proper heat circulation, preventing steaming and promoting perfect caramelization with crisp edges.
• Temperature Management Matters: Let meat rest at room temperature before cooking to guarantee even heating and more predictable cooking results.

Guidelines For Storing Alton Brown Cube Steak

• Vacuum Sealing: Lock in freshness by vacuum sealing individual cube steaks. Remove all air to prevent freezer burn and maintain optimal flavor and texture. This method extends storage life up to 6 months with minimal quality loss.
• Marinade Storage: Store marinated cube steaks in leak-proof glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Refrigerate immediately after marinating to preserve meat quality and prevent bacterial growth. Keep marinated steaks for no longer than 24 hours before cooking to ensure peak taste and safety.
• Portioning Strategy: Divide cube steaks into single-serving portions before freezing. Wrap each piece individually in butcher paper or freezer-grade plastic wrap. Label packages with date and contents to track freshness and prevent confusion during meal planning.

Creative Twists On Alton Brown Cube Steak

• Spicy Southern Kick: Add cayenne pepper and paprika to the flour coating for a bold, zesty flavor profile that brings heat to the classic cube steak recipe.
• Herb-Infused Classic: Mix dried rosemary, oregano, and sage into the flour for an aromatic herb-enhanced version that elevates the traditional preparation.
• Mushroom Gravy Upgrade: Replace chicken broth with beef stock and add sautéed fresh mushrooms during the braising process for a rich, earthy taste that complements the tender meat.
• Mediterranean Style: Incorporate garlic powder, dried basil, and a splash of red wine into the cooking liquid to create a Mediterranean-inspired cube steak with deeper, more complex flavors.

Parting Thoughts On Alton Brown Cube Steak

Classic southern comfort emerges through Alton Brown’s cube steak technique.

Meticulous preparation transforms humble ingredients into culinary magic.

Crisp flour coating seals rich flavors within tender meat morsels.

Slow-braised perfection requires patience and precise temperature control.

Kitchen enthusiasts discover southern hospitality through this hearty recipe.

Complex techniques create simple, soul-satisfying meals.

Passionate cooks: click that share button, spread deliciousness, spark conversation, and inspire kitchen creativity.

Alton Brown Cube Steak Recipe

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4.5 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Alton Brown’s cube steak brings Southern comfort to dinner tables with classic diner-style nostalgia. Perfectly tenderized beef coated in crispy seasoned flour creates a hearty meal that satisfies deep hunger and culinary memories.

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Ingredients

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Main Protein:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) beef bottom round, trimmed of excess fat

Seasonings and Spices:

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Cooking and Binding Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (94 grams) all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) vegetable oil or bacon drippings
• 2 cups (473 milliliters) chicken broth

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (149°C), ensuring the rack is positioned in the middle for even cooking.
2. Generously season both sides of the meat with salt and pepper, then slice against the grain into 1/2-inch (1.3 cm) thick pieces.
3. Spread flour evenly in a shallow dish, then meticulously coat each meat slice, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
4. Use a meat tenderizer to gently pound the meat until it reaches a quarter-inch (0.6 cm) thickness, creating a more tender texture.
5. Heat vegetable oil or bacon grease in a 4- to 5-quart (3.8 to 4.7 liters) Dutch oven, covering just the bottom of the pan.
6. Once the oil shimmers and begins to sizzle, carefully place the steaks in the pan, avoiding overcrowding to promote proper browning.
7. Sear each steak for approximately 2 minutes per side until a rich golden-brown crust develops, then transfer to a separate plate.
8. After browning all steaks, deglaze the pan by whisking in chicken broth and fresh thyme, scraping up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
9. Return the steaks to the pot, submerging them completely in the aromatic liquid to ensure even braising.
10. Cover the Dutch oven and transfer to the preheated oven, allowing the meat to slow-cook for 1.5 to 2 hours until exceptionally tender and nearly falling apart.

Notes

• Tenderizing breaks down tough muscle fibers, making meat more succulent and easy to chew.
• Pounding creates uniform thickness, helping the meat cook evenly without dry or undercooked spots.
• Flour coating forms a golden, crispy crust that seals in juices and adds delightful texture.
• Spacing proteins in the pan prevents steaming, allowing beautiful caramelization and rich flavor development.
• Room temperature meat browns more consistently and cooks more smoothly than cold cuts.
• Sharp knife helps achieve clean, precise cuts that enhance meat’s overall presentation and eating experience.
• Resting meat after cooking allows juices to redistribute, ensuring each bite remains moist and flavorful.

• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450 kcal
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 750 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 32 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg