Grilled Cube Steak Rollups: An Easy Recipe for Tender, Flavorful Beef

For those who appreciate a hearty, satisfying beef dish, cube steak often stands out as an unsung hero. It’s a remarkably budget-friendly cut that, with the right preparation, can transform into an incredibly tender and flavorful meal. As a regular reader of my blog, you might already know that I often source my beef directly from local farmers, buying it by the side. This practice not only supports local agriculture but also provides me with a diverse array of cuts, including a generous supply of cube steaks.

While classic chicken fried steak is undeniably delicious and a staple for many (and yes, I have a fantastic Chicken Fried Steak recipe you should definitely try!), I’m always keen to explore new culinary avenues. The kitchen, for me, is a place of creative exploration, and the monotony of everyday dishes can sometimes feel, well, a little dull! So, armed with a fresh batch of cube steaks, I embarked on a quest to discover a recipe that would offer a delightful twist on this versatile cut.

My culinary expedition led me to an exciting discovery on Recipezaar (now widely known as Food.com): Grilled Cube Steak Rollups. One of the many reasons I value recipe platforms like Recipezaar is the invaluable feedback provided by other home cooks. Taking the time to read through user reviews is incredibly beneficial; I usually scan at least the first 20 or so. This particular recipe boasted a solid rating of just over 4 stars from 17 reviews, which I considered a strong recommendation. The original recipe suggested using a bottled marinade, but I decided to put a personal spin on it by using a special marinade recipe given to me by a friend ages ago. I had never tried her marinade, but she swore by it. After using it for these rollups, I can wholeheartedly agree—the results were absolutely delicious! This dish truly transforms a simple cut of meat into something extraordinary, showcasing how a homemade touch can make all the difference.

Since I adapted the original Recipezaar recipe with my friend’s special marinade and incorporated a few other modifications, I’m delighted to share my rewritten and enhanced version with you below. While the original provided an excellent foundation, my adaptations truly elevate the flavors and ensure a tender, succulent outcome every time. Prepare to impress your taste buds with this simple yet sophisticated dish!

The Versatility of Cube Steak: An Unsung Kitchen Hero

Cube steak, often referred to as cubed beef or minute steak, is typically derived from tougher cuts of beef like the top round or sirloin. Its distinctive “cubed” texture comes from a mechanical tenderization process that breaks down tough muscle fibers. These small indentations not only make the meat more tender but also create more surface area for marinades to penetrate, ensuring maximum flavor absorption and quick cooking times.

Despite its humble reputation, cube steak is incredibly versatile. It’s a fantastic canvas for various flavors and cooking methods. While it’s famously used in comfort foods like chicken fried steak and Salisbury steak, its thin profile and readiness to absorb flavor make it perfect for quick grilling and, as you’ll discover, these delicious rollups. It’s an ideal choice for busy weeknights when you want a flavorful, satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Crafting the Perfect Marinade: A Symphony of Savory Flavors

The marinade is the cornerstone of this grilled cube steak rollup recipe. It plays a dual role: infusing the beef with deep, complex flavors and further tenderizing the meat to achieve that desirable melt-in-your-mouth texture. My friend’s marinade recipe is a carefully balanced blend that hits all the right notes—savory, tangy, aromatic, and slightly sweet.

Key Marinade Ingredients and Their Role:

• Olive Oil: Serves as the base of the marinade, helping to emulsify other ingredients and transfer fat-soluble flavors directly into the meat. It also helps keep the steak moist during grilling.
• Worcestershire Sauce: A powerhouse of umami, this sauce adds a deep, savory, and slightly tangy complexity that perfectly complements beef.
• Soy Sauce: Contributes a crucial salty, savory depth that enhances the beef’s natural richness and helps create a beautiful caramelized crust.
• Minced Garlic & Chopped Onion: These essential aromatics provide a pungent, savory, and subtly sweet foundation, building a robust flavor profile.
• Pepper: A fundamental seasoning that adds a gentle warmth and classic spice.
• Crushed Dried Rosemary: Infuses an earthy, slightly piney aroma and flavor that pairs exceptionally well with beef, adding a gourmet touch.
• Steak Dust or Favorite Steak Seasoning: This is where you can truly personalize your marinade. A quality steak rub typically contains a unique blend of spices (like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, etc.) that will further enhance the beef.
• A1 Steak Sauce: Adds another layer of classic steakhouse flavor, along with a hint of sweetness and tang that rounds out the marinade beautifully.

Blending all these ingredients ensures a smooth, homogeneous marinade that completely coats every surface of the cube steak, allowing for maximum flavor penetration. Marinating for at least 2 hours, and ideally up to 24 hours, makes a significant difference in the final tenderness and robust taste of the rollups. For exceptionally tough cuts, extending the marination time up to three days can yield even more remarkable results.

Assembling Your Delicious Rollups: The Creamy, Crispy Core

The filling for these rollups is deceptively simple yet incredibly effective. Softened cream cheese provides a rich, creamy contrast to the robust beef, offering a luscious interior. Fresh minced parsley introduces a bright, herbaceous note, cutting through the richness and adding a pop of freshness. Finally, wrapping each rollup in bacon is the ultimate touch – as it grills, the bacon crisps beautifully, lending a smoky, salty flavor and helping to keep the steak moist while adding an appealing texture.

Detailed Tips for Perfect Assembly:

• Achieving Cream Cheese Consistency: Ensure your cream cheese is thoroughly softened. A brief zap in the microwave for a few seconds can help achieve a very soft, easily spreadable consistency, similar to a runny cake frosting. This makes it effortless to spread a thin, even layer without tearing the delicate cube steak.
• The Importance of Fresh Parsley: While dried parsley can be used, fresh parsley is highly recommended. Its vibrant, clean flavor is crucial for balancing the richness of the cream cheese and bacon. Chop it finely, including the tender stems, for maximum flavor and distribution.
• Mastering the Rolling Technique: Lay each cube steak flat. Spread the cream cheese and parsley mixture thinly over one side. Begin rolling from a shorter end of the steak. Roll it up tightly and evenly to create a compact rollup that will hold its shape beautifully during grilling.
• Securing with Bacon: Take a piece of raw bacon and spiral-wrap it tightly around the rolled steak, ensuring it covers the seam and ends of the rollup. Secure the bacon and the entire rollup with one or two sturdy wooden toothpicks. I highly recommend using toothpicks for each individual rollup, as this allows you to turn them independently on the grill for even cooking. If you find yourself short on toothpicks, longer metal skewers can be used to hold multiple rollups, but be aware that turning them will require flipping several at once.

Grilling to Perfection: Achieving That Irresistible Smoky Char

Grilling these rollups imparts an irreplaceable smoky flavor and creates a beautiful sear that elevates the entire dish. The secret to perfect grilling lies in a two-stage heat approach: start with high heat for searing to lock in juices and develop a crust, then reduce the heat to cook through evenly without burning the bacon or drying out the steak.

Step-by-Step Grilling Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Grill: Begin by preheating your grill to high heat, ensuring the lid is closed. This step is crucial for achieving a very hot cooking surface, essential for a quick and effective initial sear.
2. Drain and Pat Dry Steaks: Before placing the rollups on the grill, remove the marinated steaks from their bag or dish. Gently pat them dry with paper towels to remove any excess marinade. This aids in creating a superior sear and preventing steaming.
3. Initial Sear: Place the prepared rollups directly on the hot grill grates. Sear each side for several minutes. You’re looking for a beautiful brown crust to form and the bacon to begin crisping. This searing step locks in the rich flavors and juices.
4. Reduce Heat and Cook Through: After searing both sides, reduce the grill burners to low heat. Close the lid and continue to grill, turning the rollups approximately every five minutes. This lower, more controlled heat allows the bacon to cook thoroughly and become delightfully crispy, while the steak cooks to your desired doneness without getting tough or burnt. In my experience, this process typically takes about 25 minutes in total, but always remember that actual cooking times can vary depending on your specific grill and the thickness of your cube steaks.
5. Check for Doneness: For safe beef consumption, an internal temperature of at least 145°F (63°C) is recommended for medium-rare, with higher temperatures for medium to well-done. Always ensure the bacon is fully cooked and crispy.
6. Rest the Meat: Once the rollups are cooked to perfection, remove them from the grill and allow them to rest for 5-10 minutes. This critical step allows the juices within the meat to redistribute, resulting in a significantly more tender and flavorful rollup.

Delicious!

Serving Suggestions & Creative Variations

These Grilled Cube Steak Rollups are incredibly versatile and pair beautifully with a wide array of side dishes, making them perfect for any meal, from a casual family dinner to an impressive outdoor gathering. For a complete and satisfying meal, consider serving them with:

• Creamy mashed potatoes or a rich potato gratin to soak up all the delicious juices.
• Crisp steamed green beans, tender asparagus, or broccoli for a healthy green component.
• A refreshing garden salad with a light vinaigrette to provide a fresh contrast.
• Sweet grilled corn on the cob, a perfect complement to any grilled meal.
• Hearty roasted root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, or sweet potatoes for a cozy touch.

Creative Flavorful Variations:

Don’t hesitate to unleash your culinary creativity and experiment with the filling to customize these rollups to your personal taste. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Cheesy Indulgence: Enhance the creaminess by adding a sprinkle of shredded sharp cheddar, smoky provolone, or gooey mozzarella to the cream cheese mixture.
• Mushroom Lover’s Delight: Sauté finely diced mushrooms with a hint of garlic until tender, then mix them into the cream cheese for an earthy, savory upgrade.
• Spinach & Feta Mediterranean Twist: Combine well-drained, chopped fresh spinach with crumbled feta cheese and the cream cheese for a tangy, herbaceous flavor profile.
• A Hint of Heat: For those who enjoy a little spice, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the cream cheese mixture to give it a fiery kick.
• Herbaceous Upgrade: Experiment with other fresh herbs like chives, thyme, or oregano, either mixed into the cream cheese or sprinkled on the steak before rolling.

Storage, Freezing & Reheating Tips

Should you be lucky enough to have leftovers, these grilled cube steak rollups store wonderfully. Place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they will remain fresh for up to 3-4 days. For reheating, while a quick microwave zap works, for the best texture (especially to crisp up the bacon again), I recommend reheating them in a conventional oven or a toaster oven set to 300-325°F (150-160°C) until they are warmed through. This method helps prevent the bacon from becoming soggy and ensures the steak remains tender.

A fantastic bonus of this recipe is that the marinade yields enough for more than just one batch of rollups! I often take advantage of this by freezing additional cube steaks directly in the prepared marinade. This ingenious tip makes for a super quick and incredibly convenient meal prep option for a future date. Simply transfer the frozen marinated steaks to the refrigerator to thaw overnight, and then proceed with the grilling instructions as directed. It’s a perfect way to ensure a delicious, no-fuss meal is always within reach!

The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.