Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy is one of my favorite slow cooker meals. The meat is tender and completely smothered in a rich gravy, making it a go-to for chilly days or as an easy weeknight meal.
Crock pots are not just for soups and stews. Two favorite recipes are my Orange Crockpot Chicken and Italian Dressing and Chicken Recipe.
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Why this Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy Recipe is a Keeper
I love this recipe because it’s a quick and easy one pot meal that also happens to be super delicious. This recipe is perfect to add to an set-it-and-forget-it dinner recipe stash.
- Effortless: The slow cooker does 95% of the work. It’s a true “set-it-and-forget-it” recipe, perfect for busy days.
- Flavorful: The combination of beef tock, Worcestershire, and the dry onion soup mix creates a complex, umami-rich gravy that coats the meat beautifully.
- Fork-Tender: Slow cooking guarantees the stew beef breaks down into melt-in-your-mouth beef tips for slow cooker beef tips and rice.
- Versatile: Slow cooked beef in gravy pairs well with many sides, like mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.
Why is My Cooked Beef Still Tough?
If the beef is tough after cooking, you may have cooked it for too long. Next time be sure to take it off the heat as soon as it’s cooked through and is fork tender.
Pro Tip for this Slow Cooker Recipe
Sear the Beef Tips: For a richer, deeper flavor, consider quickly searing the seasoned beef tips in a tablespoon of oil in a skillet before adding them to the slow cooker. This creates a flavor base through the Maillard reaction.
Ingredient Notes for this Crockpot Beef Recipe
You need a few simple ingredients to make this slow cooker recipe, and many are kitchen staples!
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Beef: You will need 2 pounds of a stew meat. I like to use a cut of beef like chuck roast cubed into bite sized pieces.
- Beef Broth: Use your favorite beef broth or stock to cook your meat and add flavor.
- Dry Onion Soup: Adding a dry soup mix will bring the delicious onion and beef flavor.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is used to thicken the gravy. You will mix 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 Tablespoons of water.
Variations and Substitutions for Crock Pot Beef Tips
This recipe is super easy to customize. I like to take it to the next level by using different ingredients or trying different flavors.
- Cut of Meat: Chuck roast, sirloin, or bottom round. Chuck roast is the most traditional and tender beef stew meat. Sirloin or round will be leaner but can dry out if overcooked.
- All Purpose Seasoning: Salt and pepper blend, or a mix of paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Adjust the saltiness if using a commercial seasoning blend.
- Beef Broth: Beef consommé or mushroom broth. Consommé is richer; mushroom broth adds a deep, earthy flavor.
- Dry Onion Soup Mix: Brown gravy mix (for extra thickness) or a homemade blend of beef bouillon, dried onion flakes, and seasonings. This is a key flavor component; substituting will alter the taste profile.
- Mushroom Soup: You could also use an onion mushroom soup mix to make a mushroom gravy to add a different flavor to the beef.
Special Equipment Needed for Beef Tips with Gravy
To make this recipe just right, you will need just one kitchen item.
- Slow Cooker: A crock pot will slowly brown the beef tips so that they end up super tender and juicy.
How to Make Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy
This recipe comes together in just 3 quick and easy steps. This slow cooker beef in gravy is so good and cozy, I make this every winter.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Season the Meat: Season the beef with All Purpose Seasoning. Set aside.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, onion soup mix, garlic flakes and a bay leaf to the slow cooker. Stir to combine, then add the seasoned beef cubes.
- Let Cook and Thicken: Cover and cook on low until the beef is fork tender. When the beef has 20 minutes left, mix in a cornstarch slurry, minced garlic and thyme to thicken and season the gravy. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Slow Cooker Beef Recipe
Preparing ingredients ahead of time can help to save even more time when it comes to making slow cooker beef and gravy.
- Prep the Beef: Cube the beef (if not already done) and season it with the All Purpose Seasoning. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- Dry Mix Combo: Pre-mix the dry onion soup mix, garlic flakes, and bay leaf in a small zip-top bag.
- Slurry Prep: The cornstarch slurry is best mixed just before adding, but you can measure out the cornstarch and water ahead of time.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Tender Beef Tips
If you don’t happen to have a crock pot, or it’s dirty, there’s another way to make this classic slow cooked beef tips and gravy.
- Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker: Sauté the meat first (optional). Add all liquid and meat. Cook on High Pressure for 35−40 minutes. Much faster, but the beef flavor isn’t as deeply developed as with slow cooking.
- Dutch Oven/Stovetop: Sear the seasoned beef in oil on all sides (optional, but recommended). Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer, then cover and transfer to a 325°F oven, or keep on the stovetop on very low heat. Braise for 2.5−3 hours or until fork tender. Add slurry to the beef dish at the end.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Store: Cool completely, then transfer leftover beef tips and gravy to an airtight container. Refrigerate slow cooker beef tips with gravy for 3-4 days or freeze for 2-3 months.
- Reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between.
- Stovetop: Reheat the delicious beef in a saucepan over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth or water if the gravy is too thick.
- Use Leftovers: Serve on small buns with a dollop of sour cream or cheese.
- Shepherd’s Pie: Top the beef and gravy with a layer of mashed potatoes and bake until golden brown.
- Beef and Noodles: Mix with egg noodles and a small amount of sour cream for a stroganoff-like dish to the seared beef.
Recipe FAQS About Making Slow Cooker Beef Tips
Yes, but you will need to add other seasonings to achieve a similar flavor. Use dry mix for ease.
Add the cornstarch slurry at the end to make sure the gravy is properly thickened, without getting crock pot beef tips and gravy too thick.
Tips for Beef Tips Recipe with Flavorful Gravy
- Don’t Over Thicken the Gravy: Start by thickening the delicious gravy with the specified cornstarch slurry. If you prefer a thicker gravy, add a small, second slurry (1 teaspoon cornstarch whisked together with 1 Tablespoon water) and cook for another 10 minutes. Make extra gravy. This beef gravy is amazing.
- Fresh Garlic and Thyme Last: Adding the minced garlic and dried thyme at the end keeps their flavors fresh and potent. If added at the beginning , they can become muted in the savory gravy during the long cook time.
- Check the Salt: The dry onion soup mix and beef broth are already quite salty. Taste the gravy right before serving and add additional salt or pepper only if necessary for this great recipe.
- Serve With: Serve over Mashed Potatoes or Fluffy White Rice, or with Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan Cheese.
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Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds Stew meat, cubed
- 2 teaspoons All Purpose Seasoning
- 2 cups Low-sodium beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
- 1 ounce Dry Onion Soup Mix, 1, 1 ounce package
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic flakes
- 1 Bay leaf
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon Dried thyme
- 3 Tablespoons Water
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
Instructions
- Season beef on all sides with All Purpose Seasoning. Set aside.
- Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce onion soup mix, garlic flakes and bay leaf to slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Nestle the beef cubes in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 7 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours, or until the beef is fork tender.
- When beef has about 20 minutes remaining, combine the water and cornstarch in a small bowl and pour it into the slow cooker. Stir in minced garlic and dried thyme. Cover and continue to cook for 20 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Christina’s Notes
- Don’t Over Thicken: Start with the designated amount of cornstarch slurry. Then feel free to add more, a little at a time, if you want a thicker gravy.
- Add Herbs Last: Add the garlic and thyme at the end to keep the flavor fresh.
- Taste and Season: This recipe can become quite salty. Be sure to taste it before adding more salt or pepper.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.