diff --git a/src/cdk/stepper/stepper.ts b/src/cdk/stepper/stepper.ts
index 5c5b860a5e3b..8fb9d1463001 100644
--- a/src/cdk/stepper/stepper.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/stepper/stepper.ts
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ export class CdkStepper implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
    * @deprecated use `steps` instead
    * @breaking-change 9.0.0 remove this property
    */
-  @ContentChildren(CdkStep) _steps: QueryList<CdkStep>;
+  @ContentChildren(CdkStep, {descendants: true}) _steps: QueryList<CdkStep>;
 
   /**
    * We need to store the steps in an Iterable due to strict template type checking with *ngFor and
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ export class CdkStepper implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
    * @deprecated Type to be changed to `QueryList<CdkStepHeader>`.
    * @breaking-change 8.0.0
    */
-  @ContentChildren(CdkStepHeader) _stepHeader: QueryList<FocusableOption>;
+  @ContentChildren(CdkStepHeader, {descendants: true}) _stepHeader: QueryList<FocusableOption>;
 
   /** Whether the validity of previous steps should be checked or not. */
   @Input()
diff --git a/src/material/stepper/stepper.spec.ts b/src/material/stepper/stepper.spec.ts
index f6dacfb351c3..2c83ef869f40 100644
--- a/src/material/stepper/stepper.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/stepper/stepper.spec.ts
@@ -1102,6 +1102,79 @@ describe('MatStepper', () => {
       expect(stepper._getIndicatorType(1)).toBe(STEP_STATE.EDIT);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('indirect descendants', () => {
+    it('should be able to change steps when steps are indirect descendants', () => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(StepperWithIndirectDescendantSteps);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const stepHeaders = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.css('.mat-vertical-stepper-header'));
+      const stepperComponent =
+          fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MatStepper))!.componentInstance;
+
+      expect(stepperComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(0);
+      expect(stepperComponent.selected instanceof MatStep).toBe(true);
+
+      // select the second step
+      let stepHeaderEl = stepHeaders[1].nativeElement;
+      stepHeaderEl.click();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(stepperComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(1);
+      expect(stepperComponent.selected instanceof MatStep).toBe(true);
+
+      // select the third step
+      stepHeaderEl = stepHeaders[2].nativeElement;
+      stepHeaderEl.click();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(stepperComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(2);
+      expect(stepperComponent.selected instanceof MatStep).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should allow for the `edit` icon to be overridden', () => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(IndirectDescendantIconOverridesStepper);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const stepperDebugElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MatStepper))!;
+      const stepperComponent: MatStepper = stepperDebugElement.componentInstance;
+
+      stepperComponent.steps.toArray()[0].editable = true;
+      stepperComponent.next();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const header = stepperDebugElement.nativeElement.querySelector('mat-step-header');
+
+      expect(header.textContent).toContain('Custom edit');
+    });
+
+    it('should allow for the `done` icon to be overridden', () => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(IndirectDescendantIconOverridesStepper);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const stepperDebugElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MatStepper))!;
+      const stepperComponent: MatStepper = stepperDebugElement.componentInstance;
+
+      stepperComponent.steps.toArray()[0].editable = false;
+      stepperComponent.next();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const header = stepperDebugElement.nativeElement.querySelector('mat-step-header');
+
+      expect(header.textContent).toContain('Custom done');
+    });
+
+    it('should allow for the `number` icon to be overridden with context', () => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(IndirectDescendantIconOverridesStepper);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const stepperDebugElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MatStepper))!;
+      const headers = stepperDebugElement.nativeElement.querySelectorAll('mat-step-header');
+
+      expect(headers[2].textContent).toContain('III');
+    });
+
+  });
 });
 
 /** Asserts that keyboard interaction works correctly. */
@@ -1510,6 +1583,26 @@ class IconOverridesStepper {
   }
 }
 
+@Component({
+  template: `
+    <mat-horizontal-stepper>
+      <ng-container [ngSwitch]="true">
+        <ng-template matStepperIcon="edit">Custom edit</ng-template>
+        <ng-template matStepperIcon="done">Custom done</ng-template>
+        <ng-template matStepperIcon="number" let-index="index">
+          {{getRomanNumeral(index + 1)}}
+        </ng-template>
+      </ng-container>
+
+      <mat-step>Content 1</mat-step>
+      <mat-step>Content 2</mat-step>
+      <mat-step>Content 3</mat-step>
+    </mat-horizontal-stepper>
+`
+})
+class IndirectDescendantIconOverridesStepper extends IconOverridesStepper {
+}
+
 @Component({
   template: `
     <mat-horizontal-stepper linear>
@@ -1536,3 +1629,18 @@ class StepperWithAriaInputs {
   ariaLabel: string;
   ariaLabelledby: string;
 }
+
+
+@Component({
+  template: `
+    <mat-vertical-stepper>
+      <ng-container [ngSwitch]="true">
+        <mat-step label="Step 1">Content 1</mat-step>
+        <mat-step label="Step 2">Content 2</mat-step>
+        <mat-step label="Step 3">Content 3</mat-step>
+      </ng-container>
+    </mat-vertical-stepper>
+  `
+})
+class StepperWithIndirectDescendantSteps {
+}
diff --git a/src/material/stepper/stepper.ts b/src/material/stepper/stepper.ts
index 3611fb0a4329..b567ae663584 100644
--- a/src/material/stepper/stepper.ts
+++ b/src/material/stepper/stepper.ts
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@ export class MatStepper extends CdkStepper implements AfterContentInit {
   @ViewChildren(MatStepHeader) _stepHeader: QueryList<MatStepHeader>;
 
   /** Steps that the stepper holds. */
-  @ContentChildren(MatStep) _steps: QueryList<MatStep>;
+  @ContentChildren(MatStep, {descendants: true}) _steps: QueryList<MatStep>;
 
   /** Custom icon overrides passed in by the consumer. */
-  @ContentChildren(MatStepperIcon) _icons: QueryList<MatStepperIcon>;
+  @ContentChildren(MatStepperIcon, {descendants: true}) _icons: QueryList<MatStepperIcon>;
 
   /** Event emitted when the current step is done transitioning in. */
   @Output() readonly animationDone: EventEmitter<void> = new EventEmitter<void>();