Tender Slow Cooker Beef Tips Recipe for Easy Homemade Rich Gravy Meal
A simple, hands-off slow cooker recipe for tender beef tips in a rich, savory gravy. Perfect comfort food that pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes (low) or 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs beef tips (stew meat or sirloin tips)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour (or cornstarch for gluten-free)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp fresh or dried thyme
- Optional: 1 cup sliced mushrooms (cremini or portobello)
Instructions
- Pat 2 lbs of beef tips dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef tips in batches, about 3 minutes per batch, then transfer to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, sauté sliced onion until softened and lightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Deglaze the skillet with ½ cup beef broth, scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon.
- Add the sautéed onions and garlic to the slow cooker with the beef tips. Pour in remaining 1 ½ cups beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and thyme. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until beef is tender and easily shredded with a fork.
- About 30 minutes before serving, whisk 3 tbsp flour with ¼ cup cold water until smooth. Stir into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 20-30 minutes until gravy thickens.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Thin gravy with a splash of broth if too thick.
- Serve hot over mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or creamy polenta.
Notes
Browning the beef before slow cooking locks in flavor and keeps the meat juicy. Use cornstarch instead of flour for a gluten-free gravy. Add mushrooms for extra earthiness. Adjust salt at the end to avoid over-salting. If gravy is too thin, thicken with a flour or cornstarch slurry.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup of beef
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Protein: 25
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