Easy Beef Tips and Gravy, Crock Pot or Stovetop

By Diana Rattray

Updated 06/12/19

Beef tips with rice crock pot

​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  • Total: 2 hrs 20 mins
  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 2 hrs
  • Yield: 4 servings

Stewing beef cut from the chuck is the best choice for these long-simmered beef tips. The beef tips simmer to perfection in a simple beef gravy mixture. The beef makes a tasty meal with mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice. Mashed cauliflower, zucchini noodles, or cauliflower rice are other excellent options as well if you're watching your carbs.

Feel free to omit the mushrooms if you aren't a fan, or use canned drained sliced mushrooms in the dish. 

Ingredients

  • 1 pound stewing beef
  • 4 ounces mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt (or to taste)
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 medium onion (peeled and diced)
  • 1 cup beef stock (unsalted or low sodium)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (or flour)
  • 2 tablespoons water (cold)
  • Optional: hot cooked rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, for serving

Steps to Make It

Stovetop Method

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for beef tips
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  2. Cut the beef into bite-size pieces.

    Cut beef
    ​The Spruce Eats / 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 Eats / Katarina Zunic 

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

    Heat vegetable oil
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  5. Cook until the beef is browned, turning frequently. Then remove the beef tips to a plate and set aside.

    Cook until beef is browned
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

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

    Onions and mushrooms
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  7. Cook until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are golden brown.

    Cook onions
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

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

    Add beef
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  9. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 2 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender. 

    Cover the pan
    ​The Spruce Eats / 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 Eats / Katarina Zunic

  11. Stir the cornstarch or flour mixture into the simmering liquids.

    Stir cornstarch and flour
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

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

    Cook stirring
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  13. About 20 minutes before the beef tips are ready, prepare the rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.

    Mash
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  14. Serve the beef and its gravy with rice, potatoes, or noodles, along with a side vegetable.

    Serve beef with rice
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

Slow Cooker Method

  1. Gather the ingredients.

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

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

    Cut beef
    ​The Spruce Eats / 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 crockpot
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  4. Strain the liquids into a saucepan.

    Boil
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

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

    Bring to simmer
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

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

    Combine cornstarch
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  7. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the liquids and cook, stirring, until thickened.

    Let boil
    ​The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

  8. Add the sauce back to the beef tips.

  9. Serve over rice or noodles and enjoy!

Tips

  • If desired, use leaner beef tips and reduce the length of simmering time to about 30 minutes.