This Bistec Encebollado (Cube Steak and Onions) recipe is hyper delicious and loaded with onions. Serve with white or yellow rice.

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While this Bistec Encebollado recipe (Puerto Rican Style Cube Steak and Onions) may not be the prettiest and may lack in appeal, it does not lack in flavor! Do not let the pale color of the steak fool you because Puerto Rican Bistec Encebollado will be one of your favorite ways to make cube steak, that I promise!
With a few simple ingredients, you will have the most delicious cubed steak!
Marinated in fresh garlic cloves, oregano, vinegar and adobo. That’s it! Easy peasy but loaded with tons of flavor and is all kinds of yummy!
In Puerto Rican restaurants as in Puerto Rican homes, you will find bistec encebollado served with white or yellow rice, stewed beans, a side of fried green plantains, sweet plantains and/or avocado slices.

Because these are marinated in a vinegar, oregano and garlic blend, bistec, is not meant to be eaten with anything other than rice. While steaks are cooking a tasty broth emerges that is makes these the perfect companion to rice.
It is so flavorful that it just wouldn’t go well with anything else.
So when making these don’t think of making mashed potatoes or a baked potato or veggies, it must be rice to be truly enjoyed.
So again, make sure when you make these yummy cube steaks that you also have made white or yellow rice to go with it.
Ingredients to Make Bistec Encebollado (Cube Steak and Onions)
- 2 pounds cube steak
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or corn oil
- ¼ cup white vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon Adobo Seasoning (I use Goya brand)
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 onions cut into slices
How to Make Bistec Encebollado (Cube Steak with Onions)

- If you have a mortar and pestle, use it to mash the garlic and the oregano.
- Combine the vinegar to the garlic and oregano.
Note: If you do not have a mortar and pestle, add the garlic, oregano and vinegar to a blender and blend until smooth.


- Using a mallet, pound the meat to about an ⅛ of an inch.
- Add the cube steaks to a bowl and season on both sides with adobo.
- Add the garlic, oregano and vinegar blend.
- Add the oil.
- Stir and cover steaks well with marinade on all sides.
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes to 2 hrs.



- In a skillet over medium high heat, add the cube steak and marinade.
- Cover the pan and cook for a few minutes stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
- While steak is cooking, slice the onions.
- Add onions midway into cooking and cook until onions are translucent.

Steak is done.
- Serve with white or yellow rice.
- Drizzle steaks with sauce from pan.

What to Serve with Bistec Encebollado
White rice and Habichuelas Guisadas-Puerto Rican Beans (Stewed Beans)
Puerto Rican Rice (Puerto Rican Yellow Rice with Corn)
Puerto Rican Rice and Beans (Arroz con Habichuelas)
Arroz Mamposteao (“Dirty Rice” and Beans)
For more Delicious Beef Dishes, you will also love these:
Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew)
Pastelitos de Carne (Puff Pastry with Meat Filling)
Canoas de Platano (Stuffed Plantains)
Empanadillas de Carne (Puerto Rican Empanadas)
For a full list of yummy delicious dishes made with beef click here → Beef dishes
📖 Recipe

Bistec Encebollado (Cube Steak and Onions)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds cube steak
- 2 tablespoon vegetable or corn oil
- ¼ cup white vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 6 garlic cloves grind in a mortar and pestle or blended
- 1 teaspoon Adobo Seasoning I use Goya brand
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 onions cut into slices
Instructions
- If you have a mortar and pestle, use it to mash the garlic and the oregano. Combine the vinegar to the garlic and oregano.Note: If you do not have a mortar and pestle, add the garlic, oregano and vinegar to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Using a mallet, pound the meat to about an ⅛ of an inch.
- Add the cube steaks to a bowl and season on both sides with adobo.
- Add the garlic, oregano and vinegar blend. Add the oil.Stir and cover steaks well with marinade on all sides.Marinate for at least 30 minutes to 2 hrs.
- In a skillet over medium high heat, add the cube steak and the marinade.Cover the pan and cook for a few minutes stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
- While steak is cooking, slice the onions.Add onions midway into cooking and cook until onions are translucent.
- Steak is done.Serve with white or yellow rice.Drizzle steaks with sauce from pan.
Nutrition


Ryan says
Do you slice the steak prior to cooking it? My mom does, she also uses gravy master to create the sauce/gravy. Just curious as I have both of your recipes side by side.
Cathy says
Hello Ryan! Yes, I do cut up my cube steak into chunks every so often but not all the time. Here, for this particular version, I did not. As far as the Gravy Master, YES, I have also used it several times throughout the years, but again didn’t for this particular version. I will be posting a delicious “Tomato based Bistec Encebollado” that is cooked for far longer than the typical recipe, resulting in cube steaks that are hyper tender and falls apart… absolutely excellent with white or yellow rice. If you would like you can sign up for our email list, to make sure you don’t miss it! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your question Ryan! 🙂
kim says
Yum! I love how easy and flavorful this recipe is!
Cathy says
Thank you Kim!
Jeannette says
You can’t go wrong with steak and onions. They’re such an inseparable duo! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Cathy says
You sure can’t! 🙂
Alina | Cooking Journey Blog says
It looks like a proper dinner! I would love to have it with Basmati rice.
Cathy says
Yum! Basmati rice would be excellent with this dish!!
Lizzy says
This is incredibly simple, but yummy tasting! I’ve never tried it before, so looking forward to it!
Cathy says
Thanks Lizzy! Let me know when you do!!
Alexandra says
Mm, delicious –
I am loving these flavours. This is a delicious dish full of wonderful flavour! The whole family enjoyed this, and we will certainly make it again.
Cathy says
Aww, that’s so great to hear Alexandra! So happy your whole family enjoyed it!!