Swiss Steak Recipe
Ingredients
- cup all-purpose flour
- teaspoon salt
- teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 (2-pound) beef round steak, 1 inch thick
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- cup water, or as needed
- 1 (8-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, minced
- green bell pepper, chopped
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Directions
- Gather all ingredients before you begin cooking.
- In a bowl, mix together the flour, teaspoon salt, and teaspoon black pepper.
- Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over one side of the beef round steak. Use a mallet or the back of a spoon to pound the steak until the coating is absorbed. Flip the steak and coat the other side with the remaining flour mixture. Pound the steak again to ensure the flour is absorbed evenly.
- Cut the steak into 6 pieces, making it easier to cook and serve.
- In a large skillet, melt the vegetable shortening over medium heat. Once the shortening is hot, place the steak pieces into the skillet. Brown the steak on both sides, cooking for about 7-10 minutes per side.
- Once browned, cover the skillet and reduce the heat. Let the steak simmer for approximately 1 hour, adding water as needed to keep the steak from drying out. The steak should become tender during this time.
- After 1 hour, flip the steak pieces over. Add the diced tomatoes, minced onion, and chopped green bell pepper to the skillet. Season with additional salt and black pepper to taste.
- Cover the skillet again and continue to simmer for about 30 more minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded together.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
- Calories: 387
- Total Fat: 24g (31% Daily Value)
- Saturated Fat: 9g (44% Daily Value)
- Cholesterol: 95mg (32% Daily Value)
- Sodium: 330mg (14% Daily Value)
- Total Carbohydrate: 10g (3% Daily Value)
- Dietary Fiber: 1g (5% Daily Value)
- Total Sugars: 3g
- Protein: 32g (64% Daily Value)
- Vitamin C: 14mg (16% Daily Value)
- Calcium: 29mg (2% Daily Value)
- Iron: 4mg (21% Daily Value)
- Potassium: 661mg (14% Daily Value)
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Comments
Emily Collins
03/22/2023 03:05:35 AM
Had to double the amount of flour and added celery at the end. The dish turned out fantastic - very tender. My wife and I couldn't stop eating until we were completely stuffed.
Kelly Nelson
10/03/2024 10:27:46 PM
I made some modifications to the recipe - I coated the steak in chicken fry breading (which turned out great), then placed it in a 9x13 baking dish along with peppers, tomatoes, and onions. I covered it and baked it at 350 degrees for about an hour. The result was incredibly tender!
Jason Jones
05/30/2025 10:33:05 PM
This dish turned out amazing! I decided to bake it and included a cup of beef broth and a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. I will definitely be making this again.
Nathan Garcia
05/17/2023 02:18:55 PM
Fantastic recipe! After browning, I transferred it to the slow cooker and included celery and mushrooms, along with extra tomatoes. I also threw in some beef bouillon cubes for added flavor with the water. It cooked on low for 5 1/2 hours and the meat turned out incredibly tender! I will definitely be making this again. It's so simple and absolutely delicious!
Barbara Gomez
02/11/2024 02:56:35 PM
I used the ingredients I had available: thinly sliced round steak, one red and one orange bell pepper, sliced onions instead of chopped, 3 tablespoons of shortening and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil as needed. I browned the sliced meat a few pieces at a time and added 14.5 ounces of fire-roasted tomatoes and 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. The recipe turned out very good, everyone loved it, and I will definitely make it again. I served it over rice cooked with beef bouillon for extra flavor.
Mark Wilson
10/13/2024 10:44:09 AM
Wonderful recipe! This was my first attempt at making Swiss Steak, and I must say I was a bit nervous about it. After reading through several reviews, I decided to modify the recipe slightly by using more vegetable shortening than called for, and I added various seasonings to the flour without measuring. For a bit of extra kick, I included cayenne pepper since we enjoy spicy flavors. Coating the meat in the seasoned flour mixture and browning it in oil really enhanced the dish. After transferring the meat to a 9x13 casserole dish and adding bell peppers, onions, and celery, I covered it with foil and baked it at 350 degrees for about 1 1/2 hours until the meat was nice and tender. I paired this delicious dish with white buttered rice and mixed vegetables. Absolutely scrumptious!
Christine Gonzalez
09/28/2023 01:19:40 AM
I loved preparing and savoring this recipe even more! It is absolutely delicious!
Tyler Jones
04/03/2023 06:54:59 AM
This place is truly exceptional.
Emily Diaz
02/13/2025 03:12:45 AM
This recipe has been a family favorite since 1967, when my mother-in-law first made it. It was love at first bite!
Daniel Flores
03/28/2024 09:50:11 AM
I found this recipe to be intriguing, as it offers a unique twist on the traditional Swiss Steak recipe. I decided to customize it to suit my wife's preference for dishes with sauces by incorporating a 14.5oz can of tomatoes and a 10oz can of tomatoes with green chilies. We enjoyed it over white rice, and the end result was absolutely delicious. My wife loved it so much that she has already requested for me to prepare it again.
Michelle Nguyen
06/09/2024 05:06:13 PM
Wonderful recipe! I tried making Swiss Steak for the first time and was a bit nervous at first. After reading many reviews, I decided to modify the recipe slightly by browning the meat in extra vegetable shortening and using a variety of seasonings (I eyeballed the measurements) mixed with flour in a ziplock bag. For a spicy kick, I added cayenne pepper since we enjoy spicy food. I coated the meat in the seasoned flour, browned it, then transferred it to a 9X13 casserole dish, topped it with bell pepper, onions, and celery. Covered with foil, baked at 350 degrees for around 1 1/2 hours until the meat was tender. I served it with buttered white rice and mixed vegetables. Absolutely delicious!