Melt-in-Your-Mouth Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy

We’re passionate about crafting delicious and effortless meals using our slow cooker Crockpots! Every week, we explore new recipes to bring you the best and most convenient dishes. Today, we are thrilled to unveil a new family favorite: this incredible Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy recipe. Prepare yourself for a hearty, comforting meal that promises to become a staple in your kitchen rotation.

Indulge in Ultimate Comfort with Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy

There’s nothing quite like a warm, satisfying meal that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor. Our Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Gravy fits that description perfectly. This dish transforms humble beef tips into incredibly tender, fall-apart morsels drenched in a rich, deeply flavored gravy. It’s the quintessential comfort food, ideal for chilly evenings, busy weeknights, or any time you crave a wholesome, hearty dinner that feels like a warm hug.

The beauty of this slow cooker recipe lies in its simplicity and the way it coaxes out the best textures and flavors from the beef. By letting your Crockpot do all the heavy lifting, you can enjoy melt-in-your-mouth beef tips without constant supervision. Whether you serve it over creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy white rice, or tender egg noodles, this meal is guaranteed to be a hit with everyone at your table.

Why You’ll Adore This Slow Cooker Beef Tips Recipe

• Effortless Preparation: This recipe is designed for ease. A little upfront browning for flavor, then simply combine ingredients in your slow cooker and let it work its magic.
• Unbelievably Tender Beef: The “low and slow” cooking method ensures your beef tips become incredibly tender, practically melting in your mouth.
• Rich, Flavorful Gravy: A savory gravy forms right in the Crockpot, infused with the beef’s juices and aromatic seasonings, making it perfect for soaking up with your favorite sides.
• Versatile Serving Options: Pair it with classic mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles for a complete and satisfying meal.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: This dish makes fantastic leftovers, which can be easily stored and reheated for quick future meals.
• Family-Friendly: A universally loved comfort food that will please even the pickiest eaters.

Essential Ingredients for Epic Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy

Creating truly epic Slow Cooker Beef Tips starts with quality ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to gather to bring this delicious dish to life. The full printable recipe card at the bottom of this article provides specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredient Spotlight:

• Beef Tips or Cubed Beef Stew Meat: The star of the show! Opt for cuts like sirloin tips, chuck roast cut into cubes, or pre-packaged beef stew meat. These cuts are perfect for slow cooking as they become incredibly tender over several hours, absorbing all the wonderful flavors of the gravy.
• All-Purpose Flour: Used for coating the beef, which helps in browning and also contributes to thickening the gravy later in the slow cooker. For a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
• Onion Powder & Garlic Powder: These essential seasonings provide a foundational layer of aromatic flavor without the texture of fresh onions or garlic, ensuring a smooth gravy.
• Salt and Pepper: To taste, enhancing all the other flavors in the dish. Don’t be shy with seasoning the beef before browning.
• Oil: For browning the beef in a skillet. Vegetable oil, canola oil, or olive oil will work well. Browning is a crucial step for developing deep, rich flavor through the Maillard reaction.
• Water: The base liquid for the gravy, which will combine with the gravy mix and beef juices.
• Brown Gravy Mix Packet: This is your secret weapon for a quick, consistently delicious, and rich gravy. Many brands offer gluten-free options.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a fantastic depth of umami flavor, a touch of tang, and complexity to the gravy. Be sure to check labels for gluten-free varieties if needed.
• Soy Sauce: Another umami powerhouse, soy sauce deepens the savory notes of the beef and gravy. If you’re gluten-intolerant, tamari is an excellent gluten-free substitute.

Equipment Needed for This Recipe

Having the right tools makes all the difference when preparing any recipe. For this Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy, these items will ensure a smooth cooking process:

• Crockpot (Slow Cooker): We highly recommend using a slow cooker with a digital timer and an automatic “keep warm” function. This feature provides peace of mind, ensuring your dinner cooks perfectly and switches to a safe holding temperature once done, eliminating worries about overcooking if you’re away from home.
• Large Ziploc Bag: Ideal for easily coating the beef tips evenly with flour and seasonings.
• Heavy Large Skillet: Essential for browning the beef before adding it to the slow cooker. A heavy-bottomed skillet retains heat well, ensuring a good sear.
• Kitchen Spoon/Spatula: For stirring, browning, and serving.
• Whisk: Useful for thoroughly combining the gravy mix and sauces to prevent lumps.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate ingredient proportions.

How to Make Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy: Step-by-Step Instructions

This recipe is incredibly straightforward, making it perfect for novice cooks and seasoned home chefs alike. While complete instructions with specific measurements are found in the printable recipe card below, here’s a detailed overview of the process to guide you to perfection.

1. Prepare the Beef Coating: In a large Ziploc bag, combine the all-purpose flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Shake the bag gently to mix the seasonings thoroughly. This seasoned flour will create a delicious crust on the beef and help thicken the gravy.
2. Coat the Beef: Add the beef tips or cubed stew meat to the Ziploc bag with the flour mixture. Seal the bag, ensuring there’s some air inside, and shake vigorously until all the beef pieces are evenly coated. This step is messy but effective!
3. Brown the Beef: Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the coated beef in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Brown the beef on all sides until a nice crust forms. This browning step, known as the Maillard reaction, is crucial for developing deep, complex flavors that will enhance your gravy.
4. Combine Gravy Ingredients: In the insert of your Crockpot, whisk together the water, brown gravy mix packet, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce until smooth and no lumps remain. This forms the base of your incredibly flavorful gravy.
5. Assemble and Cook: Carefully transfer the browned beef tips from the skillet into the slow cooker, ensuring they are submerged in the gravy mixture as much as possible. Cover the Crockpot with its lid.
6. Slow Cook to Perfection: Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the beef tips are incredibly tender and easily pull apart with a fork. The “low and slow” method generally yields the most tender results.
7. Adjust Gravy Consistency (Optional): If your gravy is thinner than desired after cooking, you can thicken it further. In a small bowl, whisk 1-2 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the hot gravy in the Crockpot and cook on high for another 15-30 minutes, or until the gravy reaches your preferred consistency.

Preparation and Storage Made Easy

Make Ahead + Storage: This recipe is wonderfully accommodating for busy schedules. You can pre-sear the beef and prepare the gravy base up to two days in advance. Simply refrigerate the assembled (but uncooked) or unassembled portions in separate airtight containers to maintain freshness. Once cooked, leftover Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy will keep beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four to five days.

Freezing/How to Freeze: For longer storage, this dish freezes exceptionally well. Transfer freezer-bound leftovers into an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. Label and date your containers, and enjoy within three months for best quality. If preferred, you can freeze the cooked beef tips and gravy separately. This allows you to portion out just the meat or gravy as needed, or to add fresh gravy when reheating.

How to Reheat: Reheating your delicious leftovers is simple. Thaw any frozen servings overnight in the refrigerator to ensure even reheating. Then, you can use your microwave for single portions, a stovetop pot for larger amounts, or even return them to your Crockpot on the “warm” setting for a gentle reheat, especially if you have a substantial quantity. Add a splash of beef broth or water if the gravy has thickened too much during storage.

Recipe Variations & Expert Tips for the Best Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy

This Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy recipe is incredibly versatile, allowing for numerous adjustments to suit your taste and dietary needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Substitutions for Beef: While beef tips are classic, almost any beef-like meat cut into chunks will work wonderfully. Consider using boneless short ribs, beef round, or even tougher cuts like lamb or venison stew meat if you have access to them. The slow cooker excels at breaking down these tougher cuts, transforming them into pull-apart perfection with minimal effort. The extended cooking time ensures maximum tenderness, regardless of the initial cut.

Additions for Flavor:

• Mushrooms: If you’re a fan of mushroom gravy, sauté sliced mushrooms (cremini or button) with the beef before adding to the Crockpot, or stir them in during the last hour of cooking. They add a wonderful earthy depth.
• Vegetables: For a more complete meal, add chopped carrots, celery, or diced potatoes directly to the slow cooker along with the beef. They will cook down beautifully in the rich gravy. A diced onion can also be added to the gravy base for extra flavor.
• Herbs: Enhance the savory notes with a sprig of fresh rosemary or a few sprigs of fresh thyme tied together, added during cooking and removed before serving. A bay leaf is also a classic addition to beef stews.

Serving Variations: While mashed potatoes and rice are popular, these tender beef tips are also fantastic served over:

• Egg Noodles: A classic pairing that creates a comforting and easy meal.
• Polenta or Grits: For a creamy, rich base that soaks up the gravy beautifully.
• Crusty Bread or Biscuits: Perfect for dipping and savoring every last drop of the luscious gravy.

Dietary Adjustments:

• Vegetarian + Vegan Option: To make this recipe vegetarian or vegan-friendly, simply use plant-based meat substitutes (like seitan or mushrooms), a vegetable-based brown gravy mix, and a vegan Worcestershire sauce. Many plant-based options are now readily available.
• Gluten-Free: Achieve a delicious gluten-free meal by ensuring all your ingredients are certified gluten-free. Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for coating the beef, a gluten-free brown gravy mix (many brands are explicitly labeled), and a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. It’s important to note that traditional Worcestershire sauce typically contains barley malt vinegar, so double-check the label for a GF version.
• Alcohol-Free / Alcohol Option: Our original recipe is alcohol-free, making it suitable for all. However, if you wish to add another layer of sophisticated flavor, you can replace a portion (about ½ to 1 cup) of the water or beef broth with some red wine (like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot), a dry sherry, or even a splash of whiskey or bourbon. These additions deepen the savory notes and create an even richer gravy.

Scaling the Recipe: The written recipe is designed to yield approximately five generous servings. It’s incredibly easy to scale up or down depending on your needs. For a smaller serving size, simply halve all the ingredients. For a larger group or more servings, double or triple the ingredients. Keep in mind that when scaling up significantly, you might need to brown the beef in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet and ensure a proper sear.

Make it Spicy: For those who enjoy a little heat, consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika, a dash of cayenne pepper, or a few red pepper flakes to the flour mixture or directly into the gravy base. These spices will add a subtle warmth and kick to your meaty entree.

Sugar-Free: The base recipe contains a minimal amount of sugar (around 1 gram per serving) primarily from the gravy mix and sauces. If you are strictly monitoring sugar intake, ensure your chosen brown gravy mix and sauces are explicitly sugar-free or low in sugar.

Top Tips for the Best Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy

• Don’t Skip the Browning: While it adds an extra step, browning the beef before slow cooking is paramount for flavor development. It creates a rich, complex taste that you simply can’t achieve by skipping this step.
• Control Gravy Consistency: As with many roux-based sauces, you have full control over the gravy’s thickness. If it’s too thin, a simple slurry of cornstarch or flour and cold water can be stirred in during the last 30 minutes of cooking. If it’s too thick, simply add a bit more water or beef broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Taste and Adjust: Always taste your gravy towards the end of cooking. You may want to add a little more salt, pepper, or even a touch more Worcestershire or soy sauce to perfect the flavor profile.
• Rest the Meat: While not strictly necessary for slow-cooked meat, letting the beef tips rest for a few minutes after cooking allows the juices to redistribute, though they are already incredibly tender.

What to Serve with Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy

Our Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy is a versatile main course that pairs wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. The rich gravy begs to be soaked up by something delicious! Serving the gravy in a gravy boat allows each guest to add as much as they desire.

Classic & Comforting Sides:

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes: The ultimate pairing, allowing the gravy to meld perfectly. Consider Crock Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Loaded Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes for extra flavor.
• Fluffy White Rice: A simple yet effective base for the rich beef tips and gravy.
• Buttery Egg Noodles: Tender pasta that’s wonderful for soaking up every drop of sauce.
• Freshly Baked Biscuits or Crusty Bread: Ideal for sopping up all the delicious gravy.

Hearty & Flavorful Side Dishes:

• Crock Pot Parmesan Potatoes
• Crockpot Creamed Corn
• Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole
• Cheesy Ranch Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Kale & Apple Potato Salad (for a fresher contrast)
• Easy Broccoli Slaw

Additional Main Dishes to Complement:

• Bacon Pot Pie (as a side for a larger feast)
• Crock Pot Cheese Grits
• Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese
• Camp Stew
• John Wayne Casserole
• Sausage Biscuit & Gravy Casserole

Sweet Endings: Desserts

• 2 Ingredient Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups
• Ooey-Gooey Butter Cake
• Caramel Apple Dump Cake
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
• Crock Pot Peach Crumble

Refreshing Beverages:

• Copycat Chick-fil-A Lemonade
• Copycat McDonald’s Sweet Tea
• CopyCat Sonic Cherry Limeade

When to Serve This Delicious Dish

This Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy is incredibly versatile and suitable for a wide range of occasions, from everyday meals to special gatherings:

• Weeknight Dinners: Its “set it and forget it” nature makes it perfect for busy evenings.
• Sunday Dinner: A classic, comforting choice that feeds the whole family and is often requested for traditional Sunday meals.
• Biscuits and Gravy Night: Elevate a simple biscuits and gravy night by serving it with these tender beef tips.
• Potlucks and Gatherings: Easily transported in the slow cooker, it’s a fantastic dish to share at potlucks, family reunions, or holiday parties.
• Comfort Food Cravings: Whenever you need a truly satisfying and heartwarming meal, this recipe delivers.
• Cold Weather Meals: There’s nothing quite as warming and satisfying on a cold day as a hearty plate of beef tips and gravy.

Discover More Great Crockpot Dinner Recipes

If you love the ease and deliciousness of slow cooker meals, we have plenty more to explore. A Crockpot truly is a kitchen essential for simplifying mealtime without sacrificing flavor.

• Southwest Crock Pot Chicken Chili
• Crock Pot Mexican Chicken Tostadas
• Crock Pot Chili Verde Pork
• Crock Pot Stuffed Tomatoes
• Check out these other great Crock Pot Chili Recipes!

Do you love discovering new recipes? Be sure to explore our copycat recipes, irresistible dessert recipes, and an extensive collection of our favorite Crockpot Recipes.

For all our latest recipe posts and culinary inspiration, make sure to follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Recipe originally shared on June 25, 2018. Updated January 2021, August 2023. This version last updated November 2023.