13 Easy and Economical Steak Recipes

Enjoy Steak Without Breaking the Bank

Steak Pizzaiola

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Enjoy steak every day with our collection of easy steak recipes that are budget-friendly, too. We've rounded up the best steak recipes that any home cook can master, from steakhouse-style dinners to economical foil packet meals, steak sandwiches, crock pot cook-ups, and taco Tuesday mains. You'll find everything you need here to inspire you to cook steak on busy weeknights, for weekend family meals, and date night dinners at home.

  • 01 of 13

    Easy Steak Fajitas

    Easy Steak Fajitas

    The Spruce / Pete Scherer

    Bring your family running to the dinner table for these sizzling steak fajitas. They are fun to fix yourself by bundling seasoned and seared strips of steak, bell peppers, and onions into warmed flour tortillas. Plan to marinate the meat overnight, and top your fajitas to taste with chopped fresh cilantro, store-bought or homemade guacamole, or sour cream.

  • 02 of 13

    Air Fryer Steak

    Air Fryer Steak

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    You don't need to be a master chef to make perfectly cooked steaks. This genius air fryer recipe yields tender, juicy, well-seasoned beef that cooks in just 10 minutes. Top the steaks with the included compound butter, and serve with French fries and your choice of steamed green vegetable, for an effortless, steakhouse-style dinner at home. 

  • 03 of 13

    Budget Baked Chuck Steak Dinner in Foil

    Budget Baked Chuck Steak Dinner in Foil

    The Spruce / Emily Baker

    Cooking an entire steak dinner in a simple foil packet is a culinary magic trick every home cook should know. This method keeps everything moist and tender in the oven, and produces a complete family dinner of chuck steak and nicely-cooked root vegetables, with minimal clean-up afterwards.

  • 04 of 13

    Steak Pizzaiola

    Steak Pizzaiola

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

    Steak pizzaiola is a mouth-watering, Italian-American meal you can make in under 30 minutes on the stove-top. It consists of simply seasoned, grilled or pan-seared steaks, smothered in a garlicky Italian fresh tomato sauce. Serve it with polenta, your favorite pasta, or a lightly-dressed green salad for a flavorful steak dinner at any time of year.

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  • 05 of 13

    Sweet and Sour Steak Stir-Fry

    Sweet and Sour Steak Stir-Fry

    Cameron Whitman / Stocksy

    Save dough on delivery with this economical Chinese restaurant-style recipe. It's a colorful beef stir-fry loaded with protein and good nutrition from steak and vegetables. Chop everything up in advance for a delicious dinner that cooks in minutes in a single pan, and is a clever way to feed 6 people with one pound of meat.

  • 06 of 13

    Easy Minute Steak Meal for Two

    Easy Minute Steak Meal for Two

    The Spruce / Nita West

    Minute steaks are an affordable, thin-sliced cut of sirloin. These tender steaks make an ideal meal for busy winter weeknights or last-minute date nights, since they can be cooked up easily in just 15 minutes, using a grill pan or cast iron pan. Top the meat with a simple red wine pan sauce, or a side of remoulade, and serve with the included tossed salad, for a low-effort, special meal.

  • 07 of 13

    Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

    Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

    Daine Fowler / Getty Images

    Philly cheesesteaks are iconic for all the right reasons. This wildly popular, gooey, meaty sandwich has everything going for it, from a heaping mound of thinly-sliced steak to tangy, caramelized onions and loads of melting cheese. Make it with white cheddar cheese for the stepped-up version here, or use Cheez Whiz for a true Philadelphia-style sammie.

  • 08 of 13

    Grilled Skirt Steak Tacos

    Grilled Skirt Steak Tacos

    The Spruce / Regarding BBQ Inc

    Grilled steak tacos flavored with a zesty lime juice and chipotle marinade and topped with cilantro and corn salsa are great for Taco Tuesday or any day of the week. Grill them up on the barbecue or use your oven broiler for a yummy, Tex-Mex meal that comes together in minutes and tastes even more fantastic with an added scoop of guacamole.

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  • 09 of 13

    Crock Pot Steak and Gravy

    Crock Pot Steak and Gravy

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    On a cold or rainy day, use your slow cooker to cook up an ultra-satisfying dinner of steak and gravy. You need just a handful of ingredients including inexpensive cube steak or round steak, a can of condensed soup, and a few other pantry basics. It's a fantastic, warming meal to come home to after a day of sledding with the family or simply braving your normal commute.

  • 10 of 13

    Pressure Cooker Round Steak and Vegetables

    Pressure Cooker Round Steak and Vegetables

    The Spruce

    An Instant Pot (or any similar electric pressure cooker) is a home cook's secret weapon when it comes to transforming tougher cuts of beef into melt-in-your-mouth meat in a fraction of the time needed by traditional recipes. Use it for this delicious, satisfying, 30-minute family dinner of round steak cooked with bacon, potatoes, and mushrooms.

  • 11 of 13

    Copycat McDonalds Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel

    Copycat McDonalds Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Breakfast (or breakfast-for-dinner) doesn't get much heartier than a steak, egg, and cheese bagel. You don't need to venture out of the house to enjoy this fast food-favorite breakfast sandwich that makes a fun and easy meal any day of the week and takes only 20 minutes to assemble.

  • 12 of 13

    Crock Pot Teriyaki Steak

    Crock Pot Teriyaki Steak

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Mouth-watering Asian seasonings and sauces flavor this flavorful teriyaki steak. The slow cooker makes it a cinch to cook for a Japanese restaurant-style meal you can serve over rice or udon noodles. Use boneless round steak, chuck steak, or thinly-sliced London broil for this saucy beef entree, garnishing with green onions and sesame seeds.

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  • 13 of 13

    Creamy Crock Pot Swiss Steak

    Creamy Crock Pot Swiss Steak

    Andre Baranowski / Getty Images

    Swiss steak is an easy, nostalgic comfort food meal that cooks an inexpensive cut of beef with canned tomatoes, onions or celery, and simple seasonings. This slow cooker recipe adds a can of mushroom soup for an extra punch of creamy, umami flavor. Serve it over hot cooked rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.