Learn how easy it is to make Beef Tips and Gravy from scratch on the Stove Top or in the Crock Pot. These Sirloin tips are smothered in the most flavorful brown gravy and served with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or with rice.
Be sure to try my Chicken Pot Pie and Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe next!
Beef Tips and Gravy
Welcome to one of my family’s favorite meals! We can’t resist this recipe with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and roasted carrots. I love assembling it the night before and cooking it in the Crock Pot during the day, or serving it as a quick skillet recipe!
You won’t believe how flavorful this gravy recipe is either. (I think I’ve definitely got easy gravy recipes down pat.)
There are plenty of seasonings in this recipe, but they really add the best flavor to the meat and gravy, mix them together ahead of time and cooking will be a snap.
Let’s get into everything you need to know to NAIL it!
What Cut of Meat is Beef Tips
Beef “tips” are smaller cuts of meat that are leftover from breaking down any of the larger, more tender sections.
For example, a Top Sirloin is a large, tender cut of meat. A Sirloin Tip is an outer ‘scrap’ from that particular section. It’s not quite as tender as the whole top sirloin, but works well for cutting into cubes to make beef tips or stews.
Sirloin or Tenderloin cuts are best for making beef tips on the stove top as they don’t require as much low and slow cooking to render down and tenderize.
- Tender Cuts of Meat: Sirloin, Flank, Ribeye, Tenderloin.
- Tougher Cuts of Meat: Chuck Roast, Rump Roast, Brisket. (Best suited for slow cooking.)
- This guide from Fix.com provides a good visual as to the location of these cuts of meats, why they have varying degrees of toughness, and approximate cost per pound.
Are Beef Tips and Stew Meat the Same
Beef tips and stew meat are generally not the same, but labels can make it vague and hard to distinguish. I recommend purchasing meat that is directly labeled as containing sirloin or tenderloin if preparing this recipe on the stove top.
- Stew meat usually contains a tougher cut of meat (such as a chuck or rump roast) which is best suited for making Slow Cooker Beef Stew.
- Beef Tips should be prepared with a more tender cut of meat such as sirloin or tenderloin, unless they’re being prepared in the Slow Cooker.
How to Make it
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Toss cubed beef in seasoning mixture, sprinkle with flour. Sear in olive oil for 30-45 seconds/side. Remove and set aside.
Deglaze with red wine, (optional). Sauté butter, onions, and garlic until softened.
Add beef broth, beef bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Bring to a boil and whisk in cornstarch + cold water. Reduce heat.
Add beef + juices back to the pot. Cook, partially covered, for 10-15 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with mashed potatoes, buttermilk biscuits, and roasted carrots.
Crock Pot Method
- Season/sear the beef tips and prepare the gravy as outlined in steps 1-8, then transfer it to the crock pot along with the beef tips.
- Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Combine the cornstarch and cold water until uniform in consistency and slowly stir it into the gravy over high heat. Remove from heat and serve.
How to Make Brown Gravy More Flavorful
- Worcestershire Sauce: This is my top choice. You can’t taste it at all but it enhances the other flavors of the gravy and adds a rich element to it. We’ll use just 1.5 teaspoons in this recipe.
- Soy Sauce: (An alternative option to Worcestershire sauce.) Soy Sauce is a great way to add ‘umami’, which is basically a savory characteristic that makes gravy so irresistible. Like the above choice, you can’t taste it when it’s added in the right quantity. I recommend using low sodium.
- Use a Combination of Chicken and Beef Broth : This adds a nice depth of flavor, especially because chicken broth has slightly more flavor and substance to it than beef broth does. To maintain a dark brown color, read my next tip.
- Kitchen Bouquet Browning and Seasoning Sauce: I like to add a few drops of this in combination with the ingredients noted above to add just a hint of a darker brown color. You can find it in the aisle where they sell gravy packets.
Make-Ahead Method
- Sear the meat and prepare the gravy as outlined. Let the gravy cool completely, then combine with the seared meat + juices from the meat.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Finish cooking on Stove Top or in the Crock Pot as outlined.
Note: This is an overview. See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Pro Tips
- Onions are optional, but add nice flavor. Use as much or as little as you’d like.
- Mushrooms can be added when the onions are added.
- Wine is optional. Dry varieties such as Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon are best in this dish. Broth may be used instead of wine as well.
- A hint of cream (about 1/8 cup), can be added at the end if desired.
- Measure the seasoning mix for the beef and the gravy ahead of time! (There are quite a few, but you can’t beat the flavor!)
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 72!
What to Serve with Beef Tips and Gravy
- Buttermilk Biscuits, Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Carrots, Roasted Green Beans, Corn Casserole
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)– Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- Kitchen Tongs– Makes it easy to handle the meat during searing.
- Kitchen Scale– Perfect for weighing the meat if needed.
- Deep 13-inch skillet– You’ll have this one forever.
- Crock Pot– This is the one I have, you can sear meat right on the stove top with it, and it automatically switches to warm when the cooking time is up.
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Beef Tips and Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. sirloin tips
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Beef Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon EACH: salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika
Gravy
- ¼ cup dry red wine, optional
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon EACH: dried thyme, dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons corn starch + 1/4 cup cold water
Instructions
- Combine beef seasoning mix and measure out gravy ingredients before beginning.
- Cut meat into 1-inch cubes, discard any large pieces of fat.
- Combine beef seasoning and sprinkle it over the meat. Toss to coat. Sprinkle flour over the meat and toss again.
- Heat 3 Tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meat in batches, don’t overcrowd the pan. Brown on each side for 30-45 seconds. Add a splash of more oil if needed. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining beef. *Don't cook the beef all the way through. You want it to cook in the gravy to add more flavor.
- Add ¼ cup wine and use a silicone spatula to “clean” (deglaze) the bottom of the pan, removing any brown remnants. The brown specks are called “fond” and will give the sauce lots of good flavor.
- Let the wine gently bubble and reduce by half. Reduce heat to medium and add the butter and the onions. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add all remaining gravy ingredients except the cornstarch mixture. Bring to a boil.
- Combine the corn starch and cold water. Whisk into the sauce, a little at a time. Stir continuously. Continue until your desired consistency is obtained.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add the beef along with the juices from the plate. Cook with the lid partially covered for 10-15 minutes, until beef is cooked through. Remove from heat.
- Optional: Swirl in 1 Tablespoon of COLD butter at the end, this is called “Monter au Beurre” and it adds a smooth, velvety finish to sauces and gravies.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or over rice!
Notes
- Season/sear the beef tips and prepare the gravy as outlined in steps 1-8, then transfer it to the crock pot along with the beef tips.
- Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Combine the cornstarch and cold water until uniform in consistency and slowly stir it into the gravy over high heat. Remove from heat and serve.
Pro Tips:
- Red Wine is optional, dry varieties such as Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon are best in this dish.
- Sirloin or Tenderloin tips are best for this recipe. For more tender results, purchase a whole Top Sirloin or Beef Tenderloin and cut it into cubes.
- Avoid using Chuck or Rump roasts unless cooking in the Slow Cooker.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 72!
Nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving. There are 4 servings in this recipe.
Great beef tips recipe. It is simple and fairly quick. This recipe also has very good directions and tips. I would recommend this to anyone. It is now my favorite beef tips recipe.
I am so happy that you enjoyed this Tanya! This is always a hit in our house too. THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it!! -Stephanie
I just made this yesterday and it was EXCELLENT! Thank you for sharing this amazing meal. I used Bob’s Red Mill White Rice Flour instead of using regular flour (due to a family member with gluten intolerant ). The gravy is so flavorful and hearty for cold winter evenings. I am going to keep this receipt forever!!!
I am so happy that you liked the Beef Tips and Gravy Al! And great that you were able to adapt it to be gluten-free, nice work! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie
Awesome flavor. Made mine in the instant pot so I omitted 2 cups of beef broth, but added 2 Tablespoons bullion. It was delicious and GONE
Thank you for the inspiration!
You’re very welcome Monica, happy to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review😀
This was so very delicious. Totally making again. I used a sirloin steak and cubed it.
I just need to learn that I am not a huge Rosemary fan and wish I had skipped it or used less.
Thanks!! I actually made half a batch of meat but made full gravy ingredients and that is just fine with the extra mashed potatoes!
I’m so happy you enjoyed this one Mary! I love having the extra gravy to pour over everything too😋. Thanks so much for the great comments and review!
Im learn cook
Thank you
You’re very welcome! Happy you’re learning!😃
How cook beef tip
Hi Jolleen, this recipe post has a recipe card that outlines the step by step instructions. There are also process shots and a step by step video to help you make the beef tips. 🙂
Recipe was delicious and perfect for a snowy day. Is the nutritional value per serving or total for the whole recipe?
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it Kim! It’s per serving. ❤️
I made this last night in the crock pot. I followed your directions exactly. I used beef sirloin cuts and it was awesome! So tender and the gravy was delicious! We have enough for a second meal since it’s just my husband and I.
I’m so happy you and your husband enjoyed the Beef Tips and Gravy Adele! Best thing is you get to enjoy leftovers! Thanks so much for the great comments and review!❤️
I made the crock pot version and served it over large egg noodles. I used stewing beef and it was so tender. It has amazing flavour . I’m making it for a friend who is having surgery. She will love it. Jamie
I’m so happy you’re making this for a friend, how nice!🙌 Thanks so much for the great review and I wish your friend a speedy recovery!
I always marinate & grill my sirloin tips, but with weather in the single digits I am not grilling outside. I searched for a recipe that would be company worthy, and this is the one I decided on. There is a little bit of prep time involved with measuring out the ingredients but after that it goes together quickly. To say this was a huge hit would be an understatement. I served it with garlic mashed potatoes and some steamed broccoli. This was a restaurant quality meal, and this recipe is a keeper for sure. Thanks for sharing such a terrific recipe!!
Yayyy! I love hearing such great comments! Garlic mashed potatoes are perfect with this, great choice! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!😍