A New Spin on Pot Roast: Cider Braised Flat Iron Steak Recipe
A delicious, flavorful slow roasted protein dish, best served on a bed of hot garlicky parmesan mashed potatoes and steamed green beans.
I’ve always been a huge fan of pot roast, but unfortunately, my family doesn’t share the same enthusiasm. However, I found a way to achieve a similar, hearty dish using flat iron steaks from Good Ranchers. When I slow-roast these steaks in the oven, my family can’t get enough! They say it’s even better than traditional pot roast because the flavors are deeper and more robust.
The secret lies in the combination of tender flat iron steak, a vinegar reduction, and plenty of onions and spices. Serve it over a bed of creamy garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, and you’ve got yourself a meal that’s both satisfying and simple to prepare. What’s even better? This recipe only requires three dishes, making cleanup a breeze. For the last 30 minutes of roasting, I use my Instant Pot to whip up mashed potatoes and perfectly steamed green beans—a complete meal with minimal hassle. Let’s dive into the details!
Flat Iron Steak Ingredients:
2-3 lbs flat iron steak
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp salted butter
2 yellow onions, sliced thin
½ cup apple cider vinegar
2 cups chicken broth
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1-2 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
Handful of spinach (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Prep the steaks: Place the flat iron steaks in a casserole dish and lightly coat them with flour, salt, and pepper.
Sear the steaks: Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a Dutch oven over high heat. Sear each side of the steaks until browned, then transfer them to a clean casserole dish.
Cook the onions: In the same Dutch oven, scrape up the fond (those flavorful brown bits) with a wooden spoon. Add the remaining 1 tbsp of butter and cook the onions until soft and translucent.
Make the vinegar reduction: Pour the apple cider vinegar over the onions. Cook over medium-high heat until the liquid evaporates and the onions caramelize slightly (but don’t let them get crispy). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Build the braising liquid: Add the thyme, crushed garlic, chicken broth, and bay leaves to the onions. Stir to combine, then return the seared steaks to the Dutch oven.
Roast: Cover the Dutch oven and roast in the oven for about 2 hours, or until the steak is tender enough to cut with a fork.
Add spinach (optional): Once the steak is done, toss in a handful of spinach leaves. Cover for a few minutes to allow the spinach to wilt—it adds a nice pop of color without altering the flavor.
Instant Pot Veggie Sides Ingredients:
4-5 large red potatoes, peeled and sliced
4-6 cloves garlic
½ cup heavy cream or Greek yogurt (adjust to taste)
Chicken broth and water (enough to cover potatoes in the Instant Pot)
¼ cup parmesan, shaved
2-4 tbsp butter
2 bay leaves
Green beans
Salt, pepper, and garlic powder
Olive oil
Directions:
Prepare the Instant Pot: About 30-40 minutes before the steak is done, add the peeled, sliced potatoes and garlic cloves to the Instant Pot. Cover them with chicken broth and water, then add the bay leaves.
Steam the green beans: Place the trivet over the potatoes and add a layer of folded foil on top. Arrange the green beans on the foil. Season the beans with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Cook: Set the Instant Pot to manual for 20 minutes. Once the timer is up, quick-release the steam.
Finish the green beans: Remove the trivet and transfer the green beans to a serving bowl.
Mash the potatoes: Drain most of the liquid from the potatoes, leaving about ½ cup in the pot. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes, gradually adding heavy cream (or Greek yogurt), butter, parmesan, salt, and pepper until creamy.
Adjusting for Your Family Size
This recipe was designed to serve two adults and three young kids. If your family has bigger appetites or more members, I recommend doubling the recipe to ensure there’s plenty to go around!
Bringing It All Together
Serve the tender flat iron steak on a bed of garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, with a side of green beans. For an extra touch, garnish the dish with a few shavings of parmesan. This meal is comforting, flavorful, and elegant enough to impress, yet simple enough for a cozy family dinner. Enjoy!
Let me know if you try this recipe—I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Yum!! I don’t have an insta-pot, but will try another way. Sounds amazing!!