Nothing beats a steak dinner at home, and it doesn’t get any easier than flank steak in the slow cooker! With just minutes of prep, the steak cooks low and slow and turns out super tender. Serve steak strips with simple home-cooked sides and enjoy the leftovers for tacos, bowls, salads, and more.

Sliced flank steak and mashed potatoes on a plate with green beans and a slow cooker

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What’s To Love About This Recipe

The slow cooker, combined with just a few ingredients, is the easiest way to cook a lean cut like flank steak until it is juicy and tender.
This recipe includes minimal ingredients and no prep beyond seasoning. It’s a great set-it-and-forget-it option before a busy day. Just come back and enjoy it for supper!
Flank steak is very versatile and reheats well. Once you cook the meat, you can serve it sliced with homestyle sides or repurpose the steak strips for tacos, salads, or bowls. Serve the strips warm or cold in lots of different ways!
Slow cooking helps break down the meat fibers for easier slicing and better texture. You won’t need to worry about temperatures, ovens, or grilling to get the most tender, delicious slices of steak.

Ingredients Needed

Flank steak – Flank steak is a beef cut from the lower stomach of the cow and is very lean and naturally tough. It is best prepared with a marinade and either high-heat flash cooking or low and slow cooking to tenderize it. The slow cooker, along with added liquid and seasonings, prepares it beautifully!
Homemade Steak Seasoning – This homemade steak seasoning blend is peppery and slightly sweet with the addition of brown sugar. I like to use this for simple beef recipes because it adds plenty of flavor, all-in-one! You can also use your preferred steak seasoning brand.
Beef broth – Beef broth infuses extra flavor into the flank steak and keeps it juicy and moist, tenderizing it while cooking.

Raw flank steak on a baking sheet with spices and seasoning

How To Make Flank Steak In The Slow Cooker

Use an oval or rectangular slow cooker if possible (avoid a round slow cooker so that the beef can spread out flat).
Pour broth into the bottom of the slow cooker.

Add beef to the slow cooker.
Sprinkle the top of the beef evenly with seasoning.

A large piece of flank steak in a white slow cooker

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Remove the steak and place it on a cutting board to rest for 15 minutes.
Slice steak against the grain into ¼ – ½ inch thick slices and serve.

A piece of sliced steak on a cutting board with spices

Pro Tips

Cooking on low for 6-8 hours is preferred since it gives the best texture and tenderness. The high heat setting works in a pinch (about 3-4 hours), but it may result in a firmer texture.
If the flank steak is chewy after cooking, it might still be undercooked. Try cooking it longer and test in 30-minute increments. Flank steak needs time to tenderize in a moist environment, so be sure to keep the lid closed tightly, too!
Don’t skip this key step! Let the steak rest for 15 minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute.
Always slice against the grain into ¼–½ inch slices for the best texture. A sharp knife and slicing correctly are essential to a clean cut and tender, easily chewable texture.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Sometimes you can find similar beef cuts on sale at the grocery store. This method would also produce excellent results with skirt steak, flat iron steak, or flap steak.
If you’d like to flavor your beef for different meals, try adding soy sauce, Worcestershire, balsamic vinegar, or garlic to the broth for a deeper taste. For an alternative flank steak recipe packed with flavor, try Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Recipe with rice and veggies!
Fresh herbs are also an option to infuse aromatics into the steak. Add rosemary, thyme, or parsley either during cooking or as a garnish.
Veggies are another great addition! Add sliced onions, peppers, or mushrooms to cook alongside the steak.
Spice it up with crushed red pepper, chipotle powder, or use a spicier steak rub.

How To Serve Slow Cooker Flank Steak

Sliced flank steak and its simple seasonings are easy to pair with many different sides. Simple dishes will only enhance the rich, beefy flavor!

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes (or a dairy-free mashed potato version), oven roasted carrots, rice, and baked potatoes with butter are fantastic options.

To use strips of flank steak in other meals, try slicing thinly and adding to tacos, fajitas, steak sandwiches, burrito bowls, or serving over a salad. Pair the steak in any of these dishes with chimichurri, garlic butter, or BBQ sauce.

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover sliced steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezer

Freeze strips of steak in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat steak slices gently in a stovetop skillet with a splash of broth or water, or microwave in short intervals and cover them with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.