Beef Tips Recipe
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These Easy Beef Tips and gravy give you the most tender bites of steak and a delicious gravy finish- all made in the slow cooker. An easy weeknight meal that even the pickiest eater will love.
Love slow cooker recipes as much as I do? Try these easy crock pot dinners: BBQ Pulled Pork, French Dip Sandwiches and Crock Pot Fajitas!
What Make This A Win
- Comfort food made easy: These tender beef tips simmer all day for that rich, homemade flavor without the effort of standing over the stove.
- Perfect weeknight dinner: A hands-off meal that tastes like you spent hours cooking which is ideal for busy families or working parents.
- Tender beef every time: Slow cooking guarantees melt-in-your-mouth meat that’s full of savory gravy goodness.
- Simple ingredients: Uses pantry staples like onion soup mix and canned gravy, no fancy ingredients required.
This is honestly such an easy and delicious way to prepare steak when your schedule has you pulled tight. With the help of your slow cooker you can have a family-friendly meal that is perfectly comforting. It’s full of flavor and the ingredient list is short. Pair these beef tips with noodles, or homemade mashed potatoes, and you’ve got a belly warming recipe that feels like it’s straight from a restaurant.
It checks all of the boxes of a quick delicious recipe. You won’t be sorry you added it to your menu, and neither will your family!
Before You Start Cooking
Like all of my easy dinner recipes, this one calls for only 5-ingredients, minus salt and pepper, and is SO easy. Here is what you will need to get started.
- Beef: For the sake of research, I’ve made this recipe four times. Each time testing different types of beef. We’ve found that sirloin is our favorite, when on sale, but stew meat will work in a pinch! It’s inexpensive and full of flavor thanks to the chuck roast that is commonly used.
- Onion: One whole onion that has been chopped. It will seem like a lot, but I promise it all cooks down to perfection and adds the perfect amount of flavor.
- Gravy: You can make your own beef gravy, but I like to keep things crazy simple. I like to grab a 12(oz) jars of beef gravy. They have a long shelf life, which means you can have the ingredients on hand for a quick dinner anytime of the year.
- Onion Soup Mix: Dry onion soup mix is what really gives you flavor. It’s the perfect balance with the beef and gravy.
- Garlic: I like to say, measure the garlic with your heart. I go for 4 to 5 cloves. However, I’ve been told by my bestie that I’m garlic heavy. So for the sake of this recipe I’ve written it as 3 cloves.
- Salt and Pepper: Or really, any of your favorite seasonings.
Jesseca’s Recipe Review
This is one of those dinners that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen, but really, you just dumped everything into a pot and walked away. The beef turns buttery soft, the gravy’s full of flavor, and it makes the whole house smell amazing. It’s the kind of meal that wins over picky eaters and still feels like comfort food for the cook.
Tip from Jesseca:
For extra depth, sear the beef before adding it to the slow cooker or oven. Those browned bits add a ton of flavor to the gravy. And if you like your gravy thicker, whisk in a quick cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water) during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Make It Your Own
We like this recipe as written, however there are a few additions that can add different flavor profiles to this recipe!
- Add a small bag of carrots to the pot at the beginning of the cooking time.
- Stir in a carton of mushrooms 30 minutes before you are ready to serve.
- Use homemade gravy instead of store bought.
Oven Method
Prefer using the oven? This version gives you that same cozy, slow-cooked flavor with minimal effort and incredibly tender beef.
- Preheat the oven: Set it to 325°F and grab an oven-safe Dutch oven or deep baking dish with a lid.
- Brown the beef: Heat a tablespoon of oil in the pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Sear the beef in batches until nicely browned. This adds that deep, rich flavor to your gravy.
- Add the flavor base: Stir in the chopped onion and garlic. Cook for about 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
- Build the gravy: Sprinkle in the onion soup mix and pour in the canned gravy. Stir everything together and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Bake low and slow: Cover the pot tightly with a lid or foil and transfer it to the oven. Bake for 2½ to 3 hours, stirring once or twice, until the beef is fork-tender and the gravy is thickened.
- Taste and serve: Season with salt and pepper as needed and serve over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.
The oven method gives you a richer, heartier flavor and that “been cooking all day” aroma without the actual all-day effort. Perfect for lazy Sundays or when you want dinner to feel a little extra special.
Helpful Tools
- Slow Cooker: This recipe works best with a larger cooker. I use a 7 quart crock pot (affiliate) which happens to fit everything perfectly.
- Cutting Boards: This recipe requires minimal prep, but one of the steps is cutting up meat and vegetables. A good set of cutting boards (affiliate) is a game changer.
- Sharp Chef Knife: A sharp knife will save you from kitchen missteps. I really love my misen (affiliate). It is sturdy and sharp which gets me clean cuts every time.
All Your Questions Answered
It’s optional but worth it. Browning adds deeper flavor and helps the gravy develop a rich, savory taste. If you’re short on time, you can skip it. The slow cooker still does a great job.
You can. Replace the canned gravy with 2 cups of beef broth, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with cold water. It’s not quite as rich but still tasty.
Absolutely. Carrots, mushrooms, or peas are great options. Add them during the last 1–2 hours of cooking so they don’t turn mushy.
Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch or flour with 1 tablespoon cold water and stir it into the slow cooker about 30 minutes before serving. Leave the lid cracked so the steam can escape and the gravy thickens.
Yes, just make sure your slow cooker is large enough. You may need to add an extra 30–60 minutes of cook time if it’s packed full.
Mashed potatoes are classic, but white rice, buttered egg noodles, or even cauliflower mash all soak up that gravy beautifully.
Definitely. This is one of those recipes that gets better overnight. Store it in the fridge and reheat the next day for even richer flavor the whole family will love.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Leftovers are one of the best parts of this recipe. It tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen.
To store: Let everything cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days. For longer storage, freeze in meal-sized portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To reheat:
- Stovetop: Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth or water to loosen the gravy.
- Microwave: Heat in 45-second bursts, stirring between each, until hot.
- Oven: If you made a big batch, reheat covered at 325°F for about 20–25 minutes.
Pro tip: The gravy will thicken slightly after chilling. A few tablespoons of broth or water will bring it right back to that perfect, saucy consistency.
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Slow Cooker Beef Tips Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs sirloin or stew meat
- 1 large sweet onion (chopped)
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 2 (12oz) canned beef gravy
- 3 cloves garlic
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- If you decided to use sirloin, cut the steak into 2-3 inch cubes. Chop the onion into small bite sized pieces.
- Place the meat, onion, gravy, seasoning packet, and garlic into the center of your slow cooker. Stir and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Set on low and cook for 6 to 8 hours.
- When ready to eat, taste and season if needed, serve over mashed potatoes and with your favorite vegetable side dish.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Easy and adaptable! We love this one.
My rating didn’t come through with my comment.