Crockpot Beef Tips & Gravy is a classic comfort-food dinner featuring tender chunks of beef slowly cooked in a rich, savory brown gravy. Served generously over creamy mashed potatoes, it makes a hearty meal with very little hands-on preparation.
Slow cooking is especially well suited to beef tips and stew meat. Several hours of gentle cooking allow tougher cuts to become fork-tender while absorbing the flavors of beef broth, onion, ranch seasoning, and au jus.
Butter adds extra richness to the cooking liquid, while a simple cornstarch slurry transforms it into a thick, glossy gravy just before serving. Because the seasoning mixes already provide plenty of savory flavor, the recipe requires only a handful of additional ingredients.
This easy slow-cooker dinner is ideal for busy weekdays as well as cozy weekend meals. Mashed potatoes are a natural pairing, but the beef and gravy are equally delicious over egg noodles, rice, or creamy polenta.
Servings: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6–7 hours on LOW or 3–4 hours on HIGH
Total Time: Approximately 6 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 2½ lbs (1.1 kg) beef stew meat or sirloin tips, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 packet au jus gravy mix
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into pieces
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- Hot mashed potatoes, for serving
Instructions
- Arrange the beef tips evenly in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the au jus gravy mix, ranch seasoning, onion soup mix, garlic powder, and black pepper evenly over the beef.
- Pour the beef broth around the meat, then distribute the pieces of butter over the top.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the beef is very tender. For the most tender results, use the LOW setting when time allows.
- About 20 minutes before serving, combine the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Whisk until completely smooth and free of lumps.
- Stir the cornstarch slurry into the liquid in the slow cooker, distributing it evenly throughout the gravy.
- Cover and continue cooking for approximately 15–20 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened and developed a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Taste before adding any additional seasoning, as the packaged seasoning mixes and broth may already provide enough salt.
- Spoon the tender beef tips and plenty of hot gravy over creamy mashed potatoes.
- Finish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Variations
- Mushroom Beef Tips: Add 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms during the final 1–2 hours of cooking.
- Onion and Mushroom: Add sliced onions and mushrooms for a more substantial, steakhouse-inspired version.
- Garlic Herb: Add several cloves of minced garlic along with dried thyme or rosemary.
- Creamy Gravy: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or a spoonful of sour cream after the gravy has thickened.
- Extra Gravy: Add another cup of beef broth and increase the cornstarch slurry as needed to achieve your preferred consistency.
- Noodle Dinner: Serve the beef and gravy over buttered egg noodles instead of mashed potatoes.
Tips
- Cook the beef on LOW whenever possible. The longer, gentler cooking time is particularly effective for turning stew meat into tender, succulent pieces.
- Avoid repeatedly lifting the slow-cooker lid. Each time the lid is removed, heat escapes and can extend the cooking time.
- There is usually no need to add salt at the beginning. Au jus mix, ranch seasoning, onion soup mix, and beef broth can all contain substantial amounts of sodium.
- Always mix cornstarch with cold water before adding it to the hot gravy. Adding dry cornstarch directly can create lumps.
- If the gravy becomes thicker than desired, stir in a small amount of warm beef broth until it reaches your preferred consistency.
- For additional flavor, brown the beef tips briefly in a hot skillet before transferring them to the slow cooker.
- Mashed potatoes are ideal for catching the rich gravy, but rice, egg noodles, or polenta also work beautifully.
