Beef Tips with Gravy
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This is my go-to recipe for Beef Tips with Gravy! Made with staples from your kitchen and only one pot. A favorite comfort meal that all ages will crave! Including instructions for your slow cooker or Instant Pot, you can make this recipe no matter your equipment or time limit.
Easy Beef Tips With Gravy Recipe
I’ve always been a fan of beef tips and gravy. Nothing like using one of the most inexpensive protein items at the grocery store and creating something this delicious with it! While comforting, saucy, and drool-worthy, this recipe is also surprisingly low-calorie. It’s a win-win!
What Type Of Beef Should I Use?
Recipes using beef tips became popular for a couple reasons. Rather than throwing out perfectly good beef, butchers were able to package up these odds and ends to sell. The best part? They could sell these bits incredibly cheap. It was a win-win for everyone! That being said, you have tons of options for types of beef you can use for beef tips and gravy! Chuck roasts, round roasts, rump roast, sirloin, tenderloin, or rib cuts.
Most grocery stores will sell beef stewing cubes that you can use, or you can ask your butcher for some beef tips. If you often trim up roasts, you can also save those pieces and freeze them. Once you’ve accumulated a couple pounds of meat, use them up in this recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Beef Tips Recipe
- Easy Recipe! With some stew meat and simple pantry ingredients, you can make this tasty dish in just 4 easy steps on the stove or pressure cooker! Once the meat is seared and the gravy is started it pretty much cooks itself!
- Super Tender Beef! When you generously season cubed meat, sear it, and then simmer it for a bit of time in sauce what you create is little bites of perfectly braised beef that are incredibly tender.
- Family Favorite! This recipe is sure to become one of your family’s most requested dinners. These beef tips with gravy are super versatile and can be served with any side like rice, noodles, or potatoes.
- Beef – Tips or stewing beef.
- Salt and pepper – Season to taste.
- Olive oil – Sunflower, safflower, avocado, vegetable, canola, or grapeseed oils can be used instead.
- Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter so I have full control over the salt.
- Onion – White or yellow onion, or even shallots will work.
- Garlic – Use as much or little as you prefer.
- Flour – You can make this recipe gluten-free by adding a cornstarch slurry to thicken the gravy at the very end.
- Beef broth – While beef broth is ideal for this recipe, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth.
- Soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce – You can use one or the other if needed.
- Thyme – Fresh sprigs.
- Bay leaf – Fresh or dried.
- Parsley – Chopped, for garnish.
This beef tips recipe is super easy! It’s the perfect example of how you can take stew meat and turn it into so much deliciousness with very little effort! Just be sure to give the beef the time it needs to get tender and it will turn out amazing!
Sear The Beef
To begin, you need to sear the meat to create some flavor. First, generously season the beef with salt and pepper. Next, heat the olive oil over medium-high in a Dutch oven or pot. Now, add the beef tips, sear them on all sides, and then remove them from the pan.
Add The Onions And Garlic
After the beef is seared you’ll use the same pot for this step. Start by melting the butter in the pot and then adding the onion to cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until it is soft and translucent. Now, add the garlic and cook for just 30 seconds more just until it’s aromatic.
Start The Gravy
Now let’s get the yummy gravy going! Sprinkle the flour over the onions in the pot. Then stir the mixture and cook it for 1 to 2 minutes to create a roux. Next, pour in the beef broth and whisk the mixture well until the roux and broth are fully incorporated. Now, stir in the soy sauce, Worcestershire, thyme, and bay leaf.
Add The Beef And Cook
With the gravy started, add the seared beef back into the pot and stir. Next, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, and allow it to cook for about 30 minutes stirring from time to time. The dish is done when the meat is tender and the gravy has thickened. However, if the gravy begins to thicken too much before the meat is tender just add a bit of water or broth to thin it out.
Finish And Serve
Once the beef is done, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf from the gravy. Then taste the dish and season with salt and pepper if needed. Now, garnish with some fresh chopped parsley and serve with your favorite sides.
This version is a very similar process but uses a pressure cooker to speed things up a bit. Also, you only need 2 cups of beef broth when you make Instant Pot beef tips.
Sear The Beef In The Instant Pot
First, you need to sear the beef in the IP. So season the meat well with salt and pepper. Then heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot on the saute setting. Next, add the beef tips, sear them on all sides, then remove them from the pot.
Add The Onions And Garlic
Add the butter to the Instant Pot and let it melt. Then add the onion and cook it for a few minutes or until it is translucent and has softened. Next, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until it’s aromatic.
Start The Gravy
Now, you need to create the base of the gravy before you start pressure cooking. First, sprinkle the flour over the onions, then stir, and cook the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes. Then add the beef broth to the pot and whisk the mixture until well combined. Now, add the beef tips back into the IP along with the soy sauce, Worcestershire, thyme, and bay leaf. Then stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil.
Pressure Cook The Beef Tips
Once the mixture comes to a boil, close the lid on your Instant Pot and set the valve to the sealing position. Now, set the IP to HIGH pressure and the timer for 15 minutes. Note, it takes a few minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure before it starts cooking and the timer begins counting. So don’t worry.
Release The Steam And Finish
When the Instant Pot is done cooking, quick release the pressure. But be very careful because the steam is hot and can burn. Then once the pin has dropped, you can safely remove the lid.
Now that the beef is cooked, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. At this point, if you want the gravy to be thicker you can set the IP to the saute setting and simmer it for an additional 10 minutes. Then taste the dish and season with salt and pepper if you like. Finally, garnish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and serve.
For this version, use only 2 cups of beef broth.
Sear The Beef
Season the beef tips generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef cubes on all sides. Remove the cubes from the pot and set them aside. Add the butter to the pot, let it melt, then add the onion. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened and translucent.
Combine All The Ingredients
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then sprinkle the flour into the skillet. Stir well and cook for another minute or two. Pour the beef broth into the pot and whisk the mixture well. Pour the mixture into your slow cooker along with the soy sauce, Worcestershire, thyme, bay leaf, and seared beef.
Cook And Finish
Secure the lid of your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. If you’d like the gravy thicker, you can set your slow cooker to high and simmer for 15-20 minutes to reduce. Taste for salt and pepper, season with parsley, and serve.
How To Serve
Beef tips are perfect over some carbohydrates such as rice, mashed potatoes, or even some noodles. Looking for some veggies to add more color to your plate? You can serve up these simple sides with your beef tips:
Salads
- Tomato Basil Salad
- Chickpea Tomato Salad
- Kale and Quinoa Salad
- Black Bean Corn and Avocado Salad
- Easy Tossed Salad
Roasted
- Italian Roasted Mushrooms and Veggies
- Skillet Green Beans
- Sweet And Sour Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
- Garlic Herb Roasted Carrots
Expert Tips
- Pat the meat dry. Use paper towels to pat the beef dry to remove any excess moisture before you season it with salt and pepper. This helps to get a better sear on the meat.
- Whisk well. When adding the beef broth to the flour mixture you need to make sure you whisk it well while at the same time scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen up any bits. This is the key to making flavorful gravy.
- Season at the end. Wait until the beef is completely done before you add more salt. As it cooks the gravy will reduce and intensify in flavor. So if you season the dish before the gravy thickens you can easily end up with an over-salted dish.
Leftovers
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat in the microwave, or reheat on the stovetop. Transfer the leftovers to a skillet or saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until completely heated through. You can add a splash of water or beef broth if you find the gravy is getting too thick.
Freezing
This is one of the best meals to make ahead and store in the freezer for future dinners. I find it’s easiest to let the leftovers thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating, however you can reheat them straight from the freezer if need be.
Leftovers will last up to 3 months stored in an airtight container in the freezer. Make sure the beef tips have fully cooled down to room temperature before freezing. To reheat, simply follow the instructions detailed in the section above.
Other Delicious Beef Recipes To Try
- Beef Bourguignon
- Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
- Beef Rouladen
- Oxtail Stew
- Guinness Braised Short Ribs
- Carne Guisada
- Salisbury Steak
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Beef Tips with Gravy
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds cubed beef (chuck roast, sirloin, or other types of stewing beef.)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoon butter (unsalted)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup flour (all-purpose)
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon parsley (freshly chopped)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Sear: Season the beef tips generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the beef cubes on all sides. Remove the cubes from the pot and set them aside. Add the butter to the pot, let it melt, then add the onion. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened and translucent.
- Mix: Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then sprinkle the flour into the pot. Stir well and cook for another minute or two. Pour the beef broth into the pot and whisk the mixture well. Then, add the soy sauce, Worcestershire, thyme, bay leaf, and seared beef.
- Cook: Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let it simmer for 30 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened and the beef is tender. Stir occasionally.
- Finish: Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Taste for salt and pepper, then garnish with parsley and serve.
Equipment
Notes
- For Instant Pot or slow cooker instructions, see above in the post.
- Pat the meat dry. Use paper towels to pat the beef dry to remove any excess moisture before you season it with salt and pepper. This helps to get a better sear on the meat.
- Whisk well. When adding the beef broth to the flour mixture you need to make sure you whisk it well while at the same time scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen up any bits. This is the key to making flavorful gravy.
- Season at the end. Wait until the beef is completely done before you add more salt. As it cooks the gravy will reduce and intensify in flavor. So if you season the dish before the gravy thickens you can easily end up with an oversalted dish.
- Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat in the microwave, or reheat on the stovetop.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
I made the pressure cooker version. It was yummy. The WHOLE family enjoyed it. If you csn get my 6 yr old to eat something other than taco meat it is a win! I served it with a baked potato and peas.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
My husband and I love this dish. I make mashed potatoes to go with it and we have a comfort-food evening.
I sear the meat and cook the onions and garlic in a skillet in the morning, then put everything in my slow cooker so that I can just leave it alone for the rest of the day. As suggested, I only use 2 cups of the beef broth but add the given amounts of Worcestershire and soy sauces. It turns out great.
This dish was sooooo good. The gravy is so good I could’ve drank a gallon of it. The meat came out very tender. A very enjoyable dish that I’ll be making again
So glad you enjoyed it!
We really enjoyed it, I made it with couscous was really delicious 😋 thank you!
This was so good. Very easy to follow. We had ours over mashed potatoes. It is definately a keeper. thankyou…
made something similiar to this yesterday…..wish i had seen this recipe sooner…it’d have popped…..yours = TOTALLY DELICIOUS!!
Made this last night for my wife and daughter. They really enjoyed the meal. I followed the recipe exactly except I added half the beef broth and added the other half a little at a time as it cooked. I didn’t want it to be to liquidy.
I’ll definately make again.
If you’re making this on the stove top, is it supposed to be covered or uncovered while it’s simmering??
Uncovered.
Wow! Thank you for the quick reply 🙂
And it was delicious, served over egg noodles.
Easy to make. Tastes is great. I added mushrooms but otherwise followed recipe. Will make this again and again.
I would like to add mushrooms to mine! When did you add tge mushrooms?
So delicious!
I served it as a loaded baked potato with peas!
Loved it!
Very tasty and easy recipe to follow!
I had a small AAA sirloin roast in the freezer and didn’t feel like roasting it. I wanted something I can get ready and forget about for a bit without fear of burning. I’m so glad I found you, and this recipe. It was delicious and so easy. I used my cast iron pot and once everything was ready, I popped it into the oven. No worries and stirrings are needed that way. One, no, two things. I added the flour as a slurry about 30 minutes before it was ready and when I moved it to the stove top (forgot to add it earlier). And cooking time for me was 2 hours. Total. I cannot imagine beef or lesser quality needing only 30 minutes and being tender. No matter, I’m glad I started cooking early. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I think I’m going to be making it often. Oh, I served it with cream cheese mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, and fresh-out-of-the-oven bread, to dip into the delicious gravy.
First time making beef tips and this recipe was so easy! I used the crockpot method and it was so quick to get ready.
Good recipe fairly easy to follow with good results. However, the gravy was a bit thin – maybe a bit less beef broth …
Made the crockpot version today. My husband and I loved it. Definitely will make often. Served it with rice, biscuits and green beans. We are so happy that we have leftovers for dinner tomorrow night. Thanks for a great recipe!