Slow Cooker Mushroom Swiss Steak and Gravy Made this last Sunday. My husband absolutely loved it and said I could make it as often as I want...and he's a picky eater. The only change I made was that I added plenty of sale, pepper, and garlic powder to the steak and then browned it in a skillet for a few minutes before putting in the crock pot. I also had a package of fresh mushrooms on hand so I used them instead of the canned. Came out sooooo tender and was ready in about 7 hrs. This will definitely be a regular in our house!