Crock Pot or Stovetop Beef Tips and Gravy

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/20/21
Beef tips with rice crock pot

​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
519 Calories
15g Fat
52g Carbs
43g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 519
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 112mg 37%
Sodium 281mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 43g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 6mg 32%
Potassium 568mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

As delicious as beef tips are, the concept of beef tips is not fully popular in all areas of the United States. And that's a great loss to many people because these chunks of meat are simply delicious. In short, beef tips are the leftover pieces that you get when breaking down primal cuts or loin. Not a cut per se, but the scraps of other cuts, these tasty pieces make wonderful stews, soups, and the classic and beloved beef tips with gravy. So now that you know what to ask for next time there's confusion, it's time to make one of the most succulent preparations in which beef tips are included.

If your butcher doesn't sell beef tips, simply ask for one pound of stewing beef from the chuck. Our recipe includes both the stovetop and crockpot methods for you to decide what works best for your available time. The beef tips simmer to perfection in a rich and wonderful beef gravy. Mushrooms and onions add a lot of flavor and texture.

This is a gluten-free recipe as long as the broth you are using is free of wheat ingredients and that you choose cornstarch and not flour to thicken the gravy. This dish is great for people with low-carb preferences; serve with mashed cauliflower, zucchini noodles, or cauliflower rice. For a classic meal, go with cooked rice, potatoes, or butter noodles.

2:04

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound stewing beef, or beef chuck

  • 4 ounces mushrooms

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1 pinch black pepper, or to taste

  • 1 medium onion, peeled and diced

  • 1 cup unsalted or low-sodiumbeef stock

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch, or all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons cold water

For Serving:

  • 3 to 4 cups cooked rice, or noodles, or mashed potatoes

Steps to Make It

Stovetop Method

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for beef tips
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  2. Cut the stewing beef into bite-sized pieces.

    Cut beef
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  3. Lightly rinse the mushrooms and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the mushrooms into 1/4-inch slices. 

    Cut mushrooms
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  4. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the stewing beef and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

    Heat vegetable oil
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  5. Cook until the stewing beef is browned, turning frequently. Remove the beef to a plate and set aside.

    Cook until beef is browned
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  6. Heat the remaining vegetable oil in the same pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sliced mushrooms.

    Onions and mushrooms
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  7. Cook until the onion is translucent and the mushrooms are golden brown.

    Cook onions
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  8. Add the beef back to the pan along with the beef stock.

    Add beef
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  9. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 2 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender. About 20 minutes before the beef tips are ready, prepare the rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, and any other side dishes you are serving.

    Cover the pan and simmer
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  10. In a small bowl or cup, combine the cornstarch or all-purpose flour with the cold water and stir until smooth.

    Combine cornstarch and flour
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  11. Stir the slurry into the simmering liquids.

    Stir cornstarch and flour
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  12. Cook, stirring, for a few more minutes, or until the gravy has thickened. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

    Cook stirring
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  13. Serve the beef and its gravy with rice, potatoes, or noodles.

    Serve beef with rice
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  14. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Method

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for beef tips with rice
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  2. Combine the stewing beef, mushrooms, onion, salt and pepper, and 1 cup of beef stock in the slow cooker.

    Cut beef
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  3. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours—or about 3 hours on high—or until the beef is very tender.

    Put in crock pot
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  4. Strain the liquids into a saucepan.

    Boil
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  5. Place it over medium heat and bring to a simmer.

    Bring to simmer
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  6. Combine the cornstarch and water to form a smooth mixture.

    Combine cornstarch
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  7. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the liquids and cook, stirring, until thickened. Add the sauce back to the beef tips, stir well, and serve.

    Let boil
    ​The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  8. Enjoy!

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