This is how to cook beef tips with gravy in a Dutch oven on the stove, in a Crockpot or an Instant Pot so you can make it however you’d like. These bite size flavorful pieces are delicious served over a bed of mashed potatoes and always a kid favorite dish.
Wondering how to cook beef tips perfectly? We have ALL THE WAYS you’d ever want to try right here so you can see for yourself which method is your favorite. Bubbling to fork tender in a pot of thick gravy is key to making this comfort food just like your Grandmother did back in the day.
We shared recipes using beef stew meat here. Now it’s on to this similar, but more tender, cut here. We have made it all sorts of ways. Why?? Because it is just so good and I want everyone to have a chance to experience it too. If you don’t have a pressure cooker or slow cooker, NO problem, let’s start with the “old fashioned method”
What cut of meat is beef tips?
It typically refer to small, tender pieces of beef cut from more flavorful and tender parts of the cow, most commonly the tenderloin or sirloin. However, the term can also be used more loosely to describe chunks of beef from other cuts, such as chuck or round, especially when making beef tips and gravy.
Ingredient Notes
The star ingredient is of course Beef tips, but you could use the cheaper cuts labeled stew meat at the store, or you can cut up really any piece of steak or chuck roast really. Key is to make each one bite sized and all the same thickness.
I like to slice up a yellow or white Onion and add that in for added texture and flavor but honestly it is optional. If your kids are opposed to these of any kind go ahead and leave them out.
Olive oil is used to saute the meat first, this is important you do not want to skip, avocado oil would be the best alternative.
Beef broth or stock are your best bets for the liquid necessary but you could use a mixture of half broth and half red wine to make the sauce bolder and richer in flavor.
The best way to add tons of flavor to your meat and gravy I will add a packet of onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, a Bay leaf and some Salt and pepper. Cornstarch is used to thicken gravy at the end but arrowroot flour is the best gluten free alternative.
Beef Tips on the Stove
This was the last and final version we created, and shared in the recipe card below. I use small kitchen appliances for almost everything but still wanted to share this method too if that is what you prefer over them all. I like to use cast iron pans so let’s go with a medium sized Dutch Oven for this one shall we?
Tips for Success
With any of these methods you’ll want to brown your cubed meat first before you go any further. This step will keep the juices in and give the outsides a bit of texture you wouldn’t get if you skipped it. If you add this 5 minutes to the time it cooks in the gravy for about 30 minutes that is the minimum cook time. It will vary from there depending on how thick each one is of course.
The sauce you use makes a big difference in the overall flavor, and tenderness too. It will soak into the meat so use what you like. Adjust the seasonings at the beginning and again at the end as you may prefer a pinch more salt before serving. When thickening you want the roux to be smooth before pouring in or it will become clumpy. You can do this with some of the sauce out of the pot or cold water.
Beef Tips Recipe
Equipment
- 1 dutch oven
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef tips, could be called stew meat
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 24 oz beef broth
- 2 tbsp onion soup mix
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 3 tbsp cornstarch, to thicken
- 1 pinch salt, to taste
- 1 pinch pepper
Instructions
- Place a dutch oven or large pot on stovetop over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil.
- Pat beef tips dry with paper towels and then season them with salt and pepper and/or any other seasonings you like.
- Sear beef in hot oil for about 5 minutes all sides so they're no longer pink.
- Remove tips and add diced onions. Cook until softened and scrape bottom of pot to remove stuck on pieces and flavors mix together.
- Add tips into pot again with broth, onion soup mix, and bay leaves.
- Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Scoop our 1/2 c of hot broth out of pot and whisk with cornstarch until it is smooth.
- Pour back into pot and increase heat to high. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until broth becomes thicker. Taste and adjust seasonings, remove bay leaves and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Crockpot Method
Sometimes I just wanna’ use my “old fashioned” pot in the morning and let it cook all day long. You really just throw it all in and enjoy it at the end of the day when you’re ready. Low and slow many times with proteins with connective tissues are key. If you’re a good planner and are ready to get everything set early in the morning, Crockpot beef tips are fabulous. You get a really thick gravy with it and is really hands off overall.
Instant Pot Method
What if you aren’t that together before 9 a.m. (typically I am not, let’s be honest). Then pressure cooker gravy with beef is absolutely amazing, we make this one all the time. In less than 20 minutes flat you can enjoy the same tenderness you’d get standing at the stove for close to 40 minutes. Under high pressure it is amazing the results that are created in such a short time. Follow our Instant Pot beef tips recipe for full instructions using this quick cooking method.
What should I serve with beef tips?
Our go to is a pot of Instant Pot white rice or slow cooker mashed potatoes. I mean if you want to skip the carbs you can but that’s not our style. It’s comfort food all the way when we make any of these.
Other easy beef recipes you’ll love
- Good old fashioned pressure cooker stew is always a winner for dinner. 😉
- You can use our steak dry rub recipe and make Instant Pot tri tip too. It goes well on just about any type of beef.
- Want to make something like this as an easy air fryer recipe though?? We have that too! We have used cubed steak, stew meat and beef tips with our killer dry rub to make air fryer steak bites!! Any small bite sized pieces of beef will work y’all and it’s always a hit with my bunch.
- Our dutch oven stew with lots of potatoes and vegetables is quite popular too. With a similarly thick gravy it’s great at home or when camping.
- We love a good beef stew casserole recipe too with crispy fried onions on top. Pure heaven I tell you.
