Beef cubes, also known as stew meat are a versatile and affordable cut of beef that can be used in all sorts of delicious recipes. With the right cooking methods, beef cubes become tender and flavorful taking on the tastes of sauces, spices, and other ingredients. This article will explore 20 amazing ways to cook with beef cubes for dinner, including stew, skewers, stir fry, and more.
What are Beef Cubes?
Beef cubes are cuts of beef chuck or round that have been trimmed of fat and connective tissue, then cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces. This uniform sizing helps beef cubes cook evenly. Common names for beef cubes include stew meat kabob meat or stir fry beef.
Compared to pricier steaks or roasts beef cubes are an economical choice. Their moderate fat marbling provides great flavor without costing a premium. While not naturally tender beef cubes become succulent and delicious with the right cooking technique.
Benefits of Cooking with Beef Cubes
There are many advantages to using beef cubes in your cooking:
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Cost – Beef cubes offer an affordable way to add beef to meals. They usually cost $4-6 per pound.
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Versatility – Cubed beef can braise, grill, roast, sauté, or simmer. They work in everything from soups to skewers.
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Flavor – Moderate marbling gives beef cubes more flavor than extra lean cuts. When cooked properly, they are juicy and delicious.
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Nutrition – Beef is a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Cubes offer these benefits in a customizable portion.
With the right recipes, beef cubes can be transformed into restaurant-quality meals at home for a fraction of the cost. Keep reading for 20 amazing ways to cook beef cubes for dinner.
Tenderizing Methods for Beef Cubes
While affordable, beef cubes are not naturally tender. Connective tissue makes the meat tough if improperly cooked. Here are some of the best methods for turning beef cubes tender and flavorful:
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Marinating – Letting beef cubes soak overnight in an acidic marinade helps break down connective tissue. Try wine, vinegar, citrus, or yogurt.
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Braising – Slow, moist heat tenderizes beef cubes. Braise them in broth or sauce for 1-3 hours.
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Stewing – Simmering beef cubes in liquid delivers fall-apart tender meat. Add veggies too.
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Grilling – Quick grilling over high heat cooks beef cubes while keeping them juicy inside. Slice them first.
Now let’s look at 20 delicious recipes that use these techniques to transform beef cubes into amazing dinners.
1. Beef Stew
The quintessential comfort food, beef stew turns cubes fork-tender through slow simmering. Onions, carrots, potatoes, and red wine lend complex flavor. Serve with crusty bread.
2. Beef Skewers
Alternating beef cubes with veggies and marinating overnight makes flavorful kabobs. Grill them quickly over high heat for a weeknight dinner.
3. Beef Stroganoff
A comfort food classic, stroganoff combines tender beef with mushrooms and egg noodles in a creamy sauce. Braising delivers melt-in-your-mouth meat.
4. Shepherd’s Pie
Ground beef and veggies get baked under creamy mashed potatoes in this hearty dish. Beef cubes can sub for the ground meat.
5. Beef Chili
Chili is a great way to use up beef cubes. The long simmering breaks down connective tissue for succulent meat in a spicy tomato-beef sauce.
6. Beef Curry
Curry’s bold flavors pair perfectly with beef. Marinate cubes first, then simmer in the rich curry sauce with vegetables until tender. Serve over rice.
7. Beef and Broccoli
A Chinese food classic, beef and broccoli requires just a quick sauté. Cook the beef cubes in batches over high heat to sear while keeping them juicy.
8. Fajitas
For Mexican night, sauté beef cubes with bell peppers and onions. Wrap in warm tortillas with toppings like guacamole, salsa, and cheese.
9. Cheesesteak Sandwiches
Simmered in broth until tender, beef cubes make an affordable homemade cheesesteak filling. Top with cheese whiz, peppers, and onions.
10. Beef Kabobs
Skewering beef cubes with vegetables makes impressive kabobs. Marinate overnight before grilling them over high heat for delicious char.
11. Beef and Noodles
Wide egg noodles catch the rich gravy in this homey dish. Cook egg noodles per package instructions in the flavorful sauce with tender beef.
12. Beef Enchiladas
In the mood for Tex-Mex? Make shredded beef by braising cubes in salsa or enchilada sauce. Stuff into tortillas and bake with more sauce and cheese.
13. Beef Pot Pie
What better way to use beef cubes than in comforting pot pie? Just braise with veggies, thicken the gravy, and top with flaky crust.
14. Beef Tacos
Street tacos are an awesome way to enjoy beef cubes. Braise them in Mexican spices and beer until shredded. Stuff in warmed corn tortillas with onion and cilantro.
15. Beef with Mushrooms
Earthy mushrooms pair perfectly with beef. Cook cubes in a skillet with cremini or portobello mushrooms, garlic, and red wine.
16. Beef Barley Soup
Nutty barley makes a hearty addition to beef soup. Simmer cubes with vegetables, barley, parsley, and beef broth for a soothing bowl.
17. Beef Casserole
For an easy oven meal, combine braised beef cubes with mushrooms, tomatoes, herbs, and egg noodles in a casserole dish. Top with cheese and bake.
18. Beef Stir Fry
Get weeknight dinner on the table fast by stir frying beef cubes in a hot wok with colorful veggies. Serve over rice.
19. Beef Bourguignon
Fancy beef stew from France, boeuf bourguignon contains bacon, red wine, and mushrooms. Slow braising results in fork-tender cubes in rich sauce.
20. Beef and Potatoes
The simple combo of beef and potatoes makes a satisfying meal. Braise cubes in broth until tender, then add potatoes 20 minutes before serving.
With the right cooking methods, beef cubes can be turned into restaurant-worthy meals at home. Braise, grill, or simmer cubed chuck or round steak in flavorful sauces and seasonings for tender, juicy results. What’s your favorite way to cook with beef cubes?
How to Serve Steak Bites
These are an all-purpose meal. Having some people over to watch a game? Make these and serve them with toothpicks. Need dinner? Serve them with a starch (rice, potatoes) and a veggie or salad.
Bonus! I find that they naturally help with portion control. While I would have no problem eating an 8-ounce steak, I don’t have the same urge to eat, like, 25 steak bites.
How to Cook Steak Bites
As you might imagine, these cook much faster than a full steak. Here are some tips on how to make the best bites possible.
- Cook them mostly on one side—if you try to cook them evenly on all sides, you won’t get a nice crust on the bites.
- Toss them in a medium-high heat skillet and walk away! Let them cook, undisturbed for three to four minutes and they will develop a great crust on that side. Then you can stir and finish cooking the bites. (I’m not OCD enough to actually flip each and every bite. I just stir them and figure it’s good enough—which it is.)
- After the steak bites cook for another minute or two they are done. In my book, that means they are slightly medium in the center with a tiny bit of pink. If you want them cooked all the way through, then keep cooking them into submission.
- At the very end, add butter and parsley and stir to coat the bites!
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If you love garlic and you love steak, these Garlic Steak Bites will blow your mind!
FAQ
What are beef cubes good for?
These beef cubes are your secret weapon for creating those memorable meals that bring everyone to the table. Picture the possibilities: a rich burgundy beef stew for your next dinner party, a comforting beef and barley soup on a chilly evening, or a flavorful curry that’ll have your kids asking for seconds.
What can be made from diced beef?
- Beef stew in red wine sauce recipe. …
- Slow-cooked beetroot & beef curry (Chukandar Gosht) …
- Slow cooker beef curry. …
- Big beef in red wine pie. …
- Beef, potato & banana curry with cashew rice. …
- Lighter Cornish pasties. …
- Dad’s beef, mushroom & mustard pies. …
- Beef stew with horseradish dumplings.
What to do with beef cubes besides stew?
- 01 of 19. Egusi Soup. …
- 02 of 19. Mom Sykes’ Hungarian Goulash. …
- 03 of 19. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff I. …
- 04 of 19. Beef Tips. …
- 05 of 19. Alison’s Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup. …
- 06 of 19. Simple Slow-Cooked Korean Beef Soft Tacos. …
- 07 of 19. Beef, Mushroom and Guinness® Pie. …
- 08 of 19.
How to cook beef cubes so they are tender?
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1. Choose a suitable cut:Beef cuts with more connective tissue, like chuck, round, or silverside, are ideal for tenderizing as they contain more collagen that breaks down during cooking.
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Simply Recipeshttps://www.simplyrecipes.comThe Secret to Perfectly Tender Stew Meat Every Time, According to a …Oct 25, 2024 — Low and Slow Is (Really) the Key Some cooking phrases are well-worn for good reason, and “low and slow” is one of them. Lower temperatures for longe…
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Quorahttps://www.quora.comHow to make my meat soft? I want to make a beef stew. Can I boil the …Apr 13, 2022 — Just cooking it for a long time on a low temperature WILL make it soft. For a beef stew, it’ll need 2–3 hours gently bubbling away, The tough connec…
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Allrecipeshttps://www.allrecipes.comHow To Make Beef StewOct 20, 2020 — This cooking method breaks down the fibrous connective tissue (collagen) in the meat over time, making it literally fork-tender. So, the more collag…
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2. Sear the beef cubes:Sear the beef cubes in a hot pan with oil or butter to develop flavor and create a crust.
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Reddithttps://www.reddit.comhow to make stew meat tender? : r/Cooking – RedditJun 10, 2022 — * heat a dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. * add 1-2 tbs neutral cooking fat. * sear the cubes of meat until well browned on two sides…
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3. Simmer or braise:Add liquid (broth, water, or wine) to cover the beef, along with aromatics like onions, carrots, and garlic. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to a gentle simmer or braise in the oven.
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4. Cook slowly and thoroughly:Allow the beef to cook for several hours, until it is fork-tender. This process may take 2-4 hours or even longer depending on the size of the cubes and the cut of meat.
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Reddithttps://www.reddit.comHow to cook lean diced beef so it’s soft? : r/AskCulinary – RedditMay 31, 2024 — Bring to a simmer and then leave it on the stove on low, or even bring it to a simmer and then toss the whole pan in the oven at maybe ~300F for a f…
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5. Consider techniques for extra tenderness:
- Marinating: Marinating beef cubes in a solution containing vinegar or citrus juice can help tenderize them, but it’s best to avoid marinating for extended periods to prevent the meat from becoming mushy.
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RecipeTin Eatshttps://www.recipetineats.comTenderise beef for stir fries (Velveting Beef) – RecipeTin EatsFeb 23, 2019 — How to tenderise beef – easily! * Sprinkle 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate soda) on 250g / 8oz sliced economical beef cuts. * Toss with fingers,
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EatingWellhttps://www.eatingwell.comThe Secret to Making Cheap Meat Tender and TastyJul 10, 2023 — Not only does marinating infuse flavor, but it can tenderize too. A key ingredient in most marinades is acid (in the form of vinegar, citrus juice o…
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- Adding salt: Adding salt during cooking helps draw out excess moisture, preventing the meat from drying out and making it more tender.
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Seasoned Advicehttps://cooking.stackexchange.comCooking beef: how to make it tender? – Seasoned Advice – Stack ExchangeMar 21, 2011 — I found if you wish to tenderize cheap tough meat, gravy beef before you cube it, lay first layer in bowl, cover in lots of salt, place next layer a…
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YouTubehttps://www.youtube.comBBQ Cube Steak : Grilling OutAug 23, 2013 — Subscribe Now: http://www.youtube.com… Watch More: / cookingguide When barbecuing cubed steak it’s important to remember that it’s a very tough pi…
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Sobeyshttps://www.sobeys.comPrep Once, Cook PlentyTo keep meat tender, save salting for last. Adding salt early draws out too much liquid, making the meat dry.
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Facebookhttps://www.facebook.comBeef cooking tips | ∙Pat dry beef with a paper towel before cooking in a skillet. Liquid sizzles in the pan, creating steam that can prevent browning. ∙Put fajita beef in… | By Cloud’s MeatsSep 21, 2020 — ∙Salt your beef after cooking. Salting it before can draw the moisture and juices out of the meat. Most importantly, don’t forget to stop by Cloud’s…
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- Using a meat tenderizer: Some commercially available meat tenderizers can help break down tough fibers, but they should be used in moderation to avoid making the meat too soft or mushy.
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Quorahttps://www.quora.comHow to make my meat soft? I want to make a beef stew. Can I boil the …Apr 13, 2022 — Just cooking it for a long time on a low temperature WILL make it soft. For a beef stew, it’ll need 2–3 hours gently bubbling away, The tough connec…
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Facebookhttps://www.facebook.comBig Texan Beef Steak | The BBQ Pit Boys take an ordinary Top Round beef steak and make it moist and tender Big Texan style. #bbqpitboys | By BBQ Pit Boys | Welcome to Barbecue Pit Boys dot com. Today, we’re grilling up a big Texan steak. It’s a pit and it’s really easy to do. Alright. What we have here is a piece of London broil. Uh it’s also known as a top round, right? It’s a gorgeous piece of meat but it is tough. So, one of the ways to tenderize it is use a meat tenderizer. One with a lot of forks and needles at the end. You know about that, right? That breaks down the fiber and another way to do it is to marinate it and that’s what we’re gonna do as well today. Alright. So, for this recipe, you’re gonna need some beef broth. So, pour that in your plastic marinating bag or whatever you’re using for marinating, right? Now, here we have some olive oil. Yup, just a little bit of olive oil. We’ve got uh some soy sauce. Oh, man. This will help tenderize it. We’ve got some Worcestershire sauce. We’ve got some of our SPG, alright? Little salt, pepper, garlic, and here we’ve got some lemon juice, alright? Now, of course, the citrus acid in the lemon juice will help tenderize it. Now,Aug 22, 2021 — It’s a gorgeous piece of meat but it is tough. So, one of the ways to tenderize it is use a meat tenderizer. One with a lot of forks and needles at …
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- Marinating: Marinating beef cubes in a solution containing vinegar or citrus juice can help tenderize them, but it’s best to avoid marinating for extended periods to prevent the meat from becoming mushy.
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6. Optional: Use a meat thermometer:To ensure the beef cubes are cooked to the desired level of doneness, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
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YouTube · The Cooking Foodiehttps://www.youtube.comHow to Make Roasted Beef Cubes – YouTubeFeb 3, 2024 — Bake for 30 minutes at 400F (200C), then reduce the heat to 350F (180C) and bake for 3-4 hours, until the beef and veggies are very tender.
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shopcreamerycreek.comhttps://shopcreamerycreek.comOur Secret to Flavor: Preparing a Dry-Aged Midwest Tri-TipThis will allow the meat to cook more evenly without charring the outside. Use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature and cook until it reaches …
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J Bar S Ranchhttps://www.jbarsranch.comThe Basics of Bison Meat & How to Prepare Your MeatTo ensure precise cooking to your desired level of “doneness,” we recommend utilizing a meat thermometer.
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How to cook beef cubes?
It’s one of the best recipes to cook beef cubes. Preheat oven to 325°F. Place a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and enough beef to fit in a single layer with some space in between. Let the meat brown for 2 minutes, then flip the pieces to brown for another 2 minutes.
What to do with beef cubes?
This is one of those quick and easy beef cube recipes that you definitely want to keep handy because it makes a great-tasting dish in minutes! Seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika, beef cubes are seared and sautéed with a flavorful honey garlic sauce until they are nicely cooked.
What to eat with beef cubes?
Seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika, beef cubes are seared and sautéed with a flavorful honey garlic sauce until they are nicely cooked. Everything comes together really fast and it’s so tasty that you’ll want to slurp all that delicious sauce right up! It’s the perfect dish for a scrumptious weeknight dinner! 6. Asian Steak Bites And Potatoes
What are the best beef cube recipes?
Now that’s a winning combination for one of the best beef cube recipes in our list! Simply season your beef cubes with black pepper and wrap each one with prosciutto. Then cook it in your skillet until it’s crisp all over. Cook some shallots in the same pan after removing and make a sauce with chicken stock, mustard, and coconut milk.
Can you cook beef cubes in a crock pot?
Finally, anytime you can use a slow cooker (crock pot) to cook a beef chunk recipe on low heat with a long cook time, you will usually have some very tender beef cubes. Instant Pot cubed steak with sauce or gravy is another great way to make sure you have a tender cube steak recipe. Source: cdkitchen.com 1. Beef Cubes and Mushroom Gravy
What can I serve with cube steak?
Cube steaks are seasoned, fried, and slow-baked in beef broth until super tender. Serve with noodles or mashed potatoes and corn on the cob for a dinner the whole family will devour. Make a meal of it by serving with mounds of mashed potatoes and green beans topped with the delicious gravy.