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Beef Tips and Gravy with mushrooms and onions served over fluffy mashed potatoes. This is one of our most comforting, delicious and mouthwatering recipes ever!
Our Beef Tips and Gravy recipe starts building flavor in the very first step. Mix one tablespoon of soy sauce with a teaspoon of sugar and sprinkle over the beef cubes. This little trick creates a flavorful base for the rest of the recipe. Prep the vegetables while the beef marinates.
Next, the mushrooms and onions are sautéed until soft, then garlic, fresh thyme and tomato paste are added to the pot. Finally the beef cubes, broth and Worcestershire join the party and in the oven it goes. That’s right, no messy searing of the beef! I LOVE this recipe 🙂
The pot is covered and the beef is slow cooked for 2 1/2 hours.
After the first hour in the oven the lid is removed. The beef tips finish cooking in about 90 minutes, or when fork tender. The broth reduces to a concentrated, rich, flavorful gravy that is so delicious you’ll be licking the bowl to get every drop.
What cut of beef is best for beef tips?
We start with a nice small chuck roast and remove all visible fat. While it’s impossible to remove all fat from the chuck roast, any remaining fat melts away creating amazing flavor and fork tender beef. Once out of the oven the beef tips rest on the stove-top until settled and any fat that pools on the surface is removed. A quick slurry of cornstarch and water is slowly drizzled into the pot slightly thickening the gravy. This step is optional as the gravy is already reduced and somewhat thick with mushrooms and onions.
Beef tips and gravy is very different from steak tips, or steak bites, which are marinated, quickly grilled or seared and left slightly pink the center.
Make this beef tips and gravy recipe with a chuck roast or prepackaged stew meat. Honestly it’s very similar in many ways to beef stew. Steak tips, an east coast restaurant favorite, typically start out as sirloin flap meat, or sirloin butt which is very similar to skirt steak or hanger steak. My favorite cut of beef for this recipe is a chuck roast. I prefer to cut my own beef into similar sized pieces but feel free to use stew meat from your butcher shop. Shortcuts are a wonderful thing!
Beef tips and gravy is best served over fluffy mashed potatoes, buttery noodles or hot rice with a nice crisp salad on the side.
This recipe is great for entertaining with all the prep work done hours before serving. Don’t forget to serve with a nice crusty bread for cleaning the bowl!
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Beef Tips and Gravy
Ingredients
For the beef tips and gravy:
- 2 pound chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1 ½-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 8 ounces small mushrooms, cleaned and sliced thick
- 1 large onion, halved and sliced thin
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, or ½ teaspoon dried
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can low sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley leaves
For the mashed potatoes:
- 8 medium starchy potatoes, peeled and halved
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup milk or light cream
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To prepare the beef tips and gravy:
- Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position. Preheat oven to 325°F. Place the
- beef cubes in a large bowl and season lightly with salt and pepper. In a small measuring cup, combine the sugar and soy sauce and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle the soy sauce mixture over the beef cubes and toss to combine. Set aside at room temperature while prepping the vegetables.
- Pour the vegetable oil into a large Dutch oven set over medium heat on the stovetop. Add the mushrooms and sauté until starting to brown. Add the onions and a pinch of salt to the pot, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft but not browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid and add the garlic and thyme and sauté until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the beef cubes, beef broth, and Worcestershire. Stir well to combine.
- Cover the pot and transfer to the oven. Cook (covered) for 60 minutes. Uncover, stir gently and return to the oven (uncovered) and continue cooking until the meat is tender, about 1 ½ hours more (for a total of about 2 ½ hours). Remove from the oven.
- Place the Dutch oven on the stovetop and heat on medium. Allow the stew to settle a few minutes then skim off and discard any fat that pools on top. Mix the cornstarch with ¼ cup water. Slowly drizzle the slurry into the stew while stirring gently to combine. Cook for about 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve garnished with parsley and fresh ground black pepper over mashed potatoes, noodles or rice.
To prepare the mashed potatoes:
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt and the potatoes. Cook until the potatoes are fork tender.
- While the potatoes are cooking, combine the milk and butter in a microwave safe measuring cup with a spout. Microwave on medium power until the butter starts to melt and the milk is warm. Set aside and keep warm.
- Drain the potatoes well in a colander then return to the pot. Using a potato masher, smash the potatoes until smooth. Add the warm milk and butter mixture and blend until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and keep warm until needed.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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Finally, here are a few more of our favorite tender beef recipes you might like:
Oven-Braised Pot Roast Recipe
Hungarian Style Beef Goulash
Mississippi Pot Roast
Thanks so much for stopping by! Tricia
Jessica H says
I made this recipe last night and it was hands down the best beef tips I’ve ever had! I’m so glad I found it and I will be making this version forver! They were sooo flavorful and TENDER!
Tricia Buice says
How terrific Jessica! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and for taking the time to comment. Bravo!
Nikia Clark says
This recipe was the best the stew beef was so tender it melted in mouth. I browed the the beef on the stove top prior to putting in the oven as well. Thank you so much for sharing. I will definitely follow your recipe guide moving forward. I am so glad I chose this page. I really enjoyed making it as well. Prep made it easy. God bless you
Tricia Buice says
Thank you so much Nikia! God bless you and your family 🙂
Caroline says
I have made this on a number of occasions and it is easy to make and very delicious. A wonderful winter meal.
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Caroline! We appreciate the feedback and love that you tried this recipe. Hard to beat tender beef and savory, rich gravy!
Judy Wright says
Delicious! Doubled the gravy because, well, we love gravy!
Tricia Buice says
We love gravy too, Judy. Thanks for trying the recipe and for taking the time to comment!
Christina says
Just made this for Christmas Eve dinner. Everyone liked it a lot. I did add some red wine, couldn’t help it.
Tricia Buice says
Yum Christina! So glad everyone enjoyed this recipe. Hearty and flavorful and I bet the red wine was terrific in this gravy. Yum!
Michele says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! It is amazing. Unbelievable results for not much effort as the oven does the work for you. Funny, I had to read the comments because I was confused when I saw under step #4 “beef cubes” also thinking you meant beef bullion cubes, but it is to add the cubed, marinated beef (duh!). Anyway, figured it out and wow this is so good. Thank you again, Michele
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Michele! Sorry for the confusion. I will see what I can do to clarify 😉 Thanks for giving it a try and for taking the time to let us know how it turned out for you. Bravo!
Susan says
A perfect comfort meal that reminds me of dinners at home growing up. Would love this over wide egg noodles 🙂
Tricia Buice says
This is perfect for egg noodles Susan. Down home comfort food for sure!
Mimi says
Really lovely! I vote for the mashed potatoes or noodles, or even polenta! Fabulous recipe.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Mimi! Polenta sounds terrific 🙂
Sharon says
Making this for dinner. Your ingredient list did not state how many beef bouillon cubes. I guessed 2. Hope that was right. Looking forward to dinner tonight!
Tricia Buice says
Hi Sharon – this recipe does not call for beef bouillon cubes only canned beef broth. Hope you enjoy!
Sharon says
I must have misread it. Nonetheless, this turned outstanding! The beef just melted in your mouth. I served it over mashed potatoes along with green beans. Thank you for sharing this.
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Sharon! We truly appreciate you taking the time to let us know and for trying the recipe. Green beans are a great side for this dish – my favorite!
Jennie says
Would a slow cooker work for this recipe? I am really enjoying making so many of your wonderful dishes and want to try this one next. I do not have a Dutch oven. Thank you
Tricia Buice says
Hi Jennie! Thanks so much for the great question. Yes this will work great in the slow-cooker especially since there is no searing of the beef required. Hope you enjoy this recipe as the beef is very tender and flavorful; we LOVE it! And thank you for the kind comment. It’s readers like you that make this blog something special, especially to me. Please let me know if you have any more questions or anything at all! 🙂
Melissa says
Can you make this in a crock pot ??
Tricia Buice says
Hi Melissa. I haven’t made this is the crock pot. As long as you sauté the vegetables first, and then add to the slow cooker, I think it will be fine. Let us know how it turns out for you and thanks for the great question.
Chris Scheuer says
I love this kind of slow easy dinner. The beef looks so tender!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Chris – it is so tender and flavorful – we love it!
sue | the view from great island says
This meal speaks my language Tricia, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I love the technique of using the sugar and soy sauce on the meat!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Sue – it really adds that little punch of flavor – in such a short time. Love it!
Julie G says
Ohmygosh I’m so excited about this recipe! We love beef tips but haven’t found a good recipe yet. Can’t wait to make this!!!!
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Julie – I’m so excited for you to try it. Thank you so much 😉
Larry says
That is one fine looking meal and like you said real comfort food. Seems it is often on restaurant menus but we have never made it but I think you inspired me. The goulash looks very good as well.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Larry – bet you love it!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
Perfect comfort food! This is so perfect over creamy mashed. Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Jennifer – the perfect bite!
angiesrecipes says
I just had a HUGE Tbone, but definitely can still have some of your beef tips and gravy….it looks amazing, esp. that gravy!
Tricia Buice says
A nice grilled t-bone sounds great right now Angie. The gravy is so flavorful, we just love it!