Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy

Our easy slow cooker beef tips and gravy recipe with stew meat is great on top of mashed potatoes. Throw it all in a Crockpot and dinner is done in the evening. If you loved our Instant Pot beef tips but you want to make it low and slow this is it.

Beef tips with gravy is the best meal ever I tell you! That’s what my kids say too. 😉 It’s basically a hearty stew meat beef recipe that is cheap to make with a ton of flavor that melts in your mouth. One of our favorite Crockpot recipes we make often.

SO tender and packed with flavor, you only need 4 ingredients to make it too. I am telling you, this is one of our favorite meals. There are tons of ways to serve this. Over slow cooker mashed potatoes or as is in a bowl it is fabulous. I assure you even your kids are going to rave over this meal and ask you to make it again.

You can add any seasonings you want but basic ingredients is what we use here. A bit of red pepper flakes could add heat as well if that is your preference. Easy to tweak it to your tastebuds. Sliced roast, steak or we usually make this as a stew meat recipe.

This is the best choice if you ask me. If you have ever had these at a restaurant and they were drowning in a thick stew like gravy, this is that. You may think it is a lot of work to get all of those flavors the meat is swimming in but you can get them a bit of a cheater way which we will share with you today. With 3 pantry ingredients + some stew meat you too can throw this together in less than 15 minutes.

Talk about meal prep done in a snap! 😉 Using either store bought stew meat that is already sliced into bite size pieces or cut up beef or steak this turns out great. Many times if I have meat that needs to be cooked this is my go to dish.

How Long to Cook Beef Tips in Crockpot

Longer is better so I recommend 8 hours but cut into smaller pieces could fall-apart in 6. It makes everyone’s palate happy spooned over a bed of mashed potatoes and my wallet is pleased too since it’s so cheap. Let us show you how to make this with inexpensive stew meat and a little of this and a little of that.

What kind of meat is used for beef tips?

Here are a few questions you might have before you begin. I hope they help you: I mean you can use what you like to to make Beef Tips and Gravy. Stew meat or a chuck roast cut up into cubes turns out super tender because it is marbled with fat. If I have steaks that need to be used I might use those. Use what you have on hand I always say.

Can you use stew meat for beef tips?

Absolutely, that is what we do most of the time because it is the cheapest overall and you buy it already cut up into the ideal sizes so why not?? This is typically leftovers from cuts of steak and roasts but not super fatty (however enough so that it stays nice and tender).

How do you tenderize beef tips?

Well in this case we’re going to slow cook them. Nothing beyond that is necessary since it is a long slow cook. If not, you could beat it. Using a marinade works well too. Acids can help break down tough meat.

For under 20 bucks you can make this comfort food that everyone will just love. I call that a real win when I can feed all 5 of us for that!

FAQ

Why do we love this recipe? Let me count the ways! If you’re like us you cook a lot of ground beef and like to change it up a bit throughout the week. That is why I use stew meat quite frequently. Since it is packed with protein, but quite inexpensive compared to other cuts it is a no brainer when meal planning.

We have A LOT of beef to choose from because we buy 1/2 a cow at the beginning of each year from a local farm. I love knowing our Idaho beef is grass fed organic beef AND it’s one less thing I have to shop for year round. Bonus!

Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy with Onion Soup Mix Ingredients

For the protein it is the obvious, you are going to use Beef tips, stew meat or cubed roast will work as well you just want beef pieces that are large bite sized pieces.

For an easy way to add a ton of flavor you just dump in 1 whole dry Onion soup mix packet.

I do like to add thick sliced or diced onion (yellow or white) to add flavor and texture but this is optional of course.

And for the thick sauce your meat is going to cook in I use a jar of gravy! Yes that makes it super easy because it is already made with the liquid needed to coat the outside of each piece.

Can you use brown gravy mix?

Yes you could but you would need to prepare it as directed on the back of the box. Usually you just need some water to turn the dry mix into wet thicker gravy but that would work the same way. I just go for the easiest method and already made is just that.

Can you use cream of mushroom soup instead of gravy?

Some like to use homemade cream of mushroom soup for the creamy sauce/gravy and I’ve tried that, I think gravy has a lot more flavor personally but yes that is an option though I would thin it out a bit with 1/2 a can of water whisked together before adding into your pot so it coats the protein better.

How to Make Crock pot Beef Tips and Gravy

If you buy stew meat it will already be cubed and ready. Using any other cut and you’ll need to do this yourself. Smaller the pieces the more tender the meat. Put your meat, packet of dry onion soup mix, diced onions, and gravy into your pot. Onion and garlic powder could be added too. Add seasonings of choice. Stir everything together so it’s coated.

Cover with the lid and cook on low. As soon as the pieces are fork tender they’re ready! Use a ladle and serve in a small bowl over (cooked separately) 1/2 cup egg noodles or over mashed potatoes.

Can you cook on high?

I almost never think that high is better than low especially when cooking meat that needs low heat for a long time to slowly break down the connective tissue which will make it as tender as possible. Rushing will not help this process but rather make it a bit tougher.

Tips for Success

This is what it will look like prior to cooking. Stir it all together so your meat is nicely coated with all that goodness. It will really soak it up amplifying all the natural great flavors of your bite size beef pieces.

This is a great recipe you can leave thick once it’s ready, or thin a bit with some beef broth. I prefer as thick as possible myself. It just depends on what kind of day I have ahead of myself as to my method of cooking. If we’re headed out for a full day of exploring I’d rather throw it all in my slow cooker and have it ready.

Of course you could opt to season your beef, sear over medium high heat with some olive oil and then simmer with the gravy a bit. I just find this doesn’t get fork tender like you do cooking on low all day. Decide for yourself my friends. 😉

What can I use stew meat for besides stew?

There are TONS of options but this one is probably on top of the list. Need others? A great meal is our beef and noodles Instant Pot recipe. If you love slow cooker beef stew I would use this cut too.

We have used it to make beef stew casserole Instant Pot stew casserole with rice is a fabulous option as well.

Best way to save cooked beef tips

You should store it separately than your side dishes. As always you should make sure the meat is room temperature before you transfer it into an airtight container. Ensure all the air is out and add as much gravy or sauce on top as you can, this will maintain the moisture. You will want it when reheating too.

Can you reheat cooked beef?

Yes!! If you’re going to want to reheat make sure you put leftovers in airtight containers within an hour and refrigerate. When you’re ready to reheat it, warm in a pan over low heat, stirring consistently. Consume leftover beef in fridge within three to four days. Before consuming, ensure the internal temperature is at least 165 °F to be safe.

When you reheat cooked beef you want to do it low and slow. If you’re using a microwave do so in 30 second increments stirring in between times. You could use a small pot on the stove over low medium heat too.

Can you reheat cooked beef in microwave?

Reheating beef in a microwave is obviously the quickest option overall. BUT just know that reheating anything more than a couple of minutes will likely result in it becoming quite dry. To make it a bit better, place what you want to eat in a microwavable dish. Add a small amount of broth inside, mix in with sauce and protein and cover with a microwave safe lid to keep in the moisture.

Of course you can add additional seasonings but as is stated below comes out packed with flavor. If you only have steaks, dice those up and use that instead. Whatever works!