These slow cooker 3-ingredient garlic herb steak packets are the kind of low-effort dinner that saves a hectic school-night schedule without making dinner feel boring. My grandfather loved simple kitchen shortcuts, and wrapping seasoned steak strips with butter in foil packets was one of those practical little tricks that locked in flavor, kept cleanup easy, and let dinner cook while the rest of the evening kept moving.
Serve these buttery garlic herb steak packets with mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or roasted baby potatoes to catch all the flavorful juices. For something lighter, add steamed green beans, broccoli, a simple side salad, or sweet corn, and if you want to stretch the meal for hungry kids and busy adults, tuck the steak into toasted hoagie rolls or warm wraps.
Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Garlic Herb Steak Packets
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds steak strips
2 tablespoons dry garlic herb seasoning
4 tablespoons butter, sliced
Directions
1. Tear off 4 large sheets of heavy-duty foil and divide the steak strips evenly among them. Sprinkle the dry garlic herb seasoning evenly over the steak.
2. Top each portion with sliced butter, then fold the foil tightly into sealed packets so the juices stay inside while cooking.
3. Place the foil packets in a 6-quart slow cooker, stacking slightly if needed. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until the steak is tender.
4. Carefully open one packet to check doneness, then serve the steak hot with the buttery juices spooned over your favorite side dish.
Variations & Tips
Potato Packet Dinner: Add a layer of thinly sliced baby potatoes under the steak in each packet if you want a full meal in one bundle, but plan on the longer end of the cooking time so the potatoes soften fully.
Veggie Add-In: For a more colorful packet, add sliced onions, mushrooms, or bell peppers before sealing. They cook down into the butter and seasoning and make the packets feel a little more complete on extra-busy nights.
Best Cut Tip: Sirloin steak strips work especially well because they stay tender and cook evenly, but strip steak or ribeye strips also taste great. Just try to keep the pieces similar in size so everything finishes at the same time.
Make-Ahead Shortcut: Assemble the foil packets the night before and refrigerate them on a tray. The next morning, set them in the slow cooker insert and get dinner started faster before the day gets away from you.
Foil Safety Tip: Use heavy-duty foil and seal each packet tightly to prevent leaks. When opening, be careful of the hot steam, and use tongs to lift the packets from the slow cooker for easier handling.