A fantastic tried and true recipe that’s been a family favorite for over a decade – Best-Ever Beef Tips & Gravy! Easy to make, so darn good. Rave Reviews!
Best-Ever Beef Tips & Gravy Recipe (Easy Prep)
Tender beef cooked in a deliciously rich brown gravy, served over rice, mashed potatoes or egg noodles – a satisfying, filling meal the whole family will love. Simple to make comfort food that’s easy to adapt to your taste!
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Original Post Date: Aug 17, 2017. Post Updated May 23, 2023
What You Need to Make The Best Beef Tips & Gravy (Full Recipe at Bottom of Post)
- beef stew meat, cubed
- vegetable oil (or canola)
- onion, chopped
- water
- soy sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- garlic powder (or fresh garlic)
- salt
- fresh ground pepper
- brown gravy mix packet (.75 ounce)
- water
- red wine (optional)
- mushrooms (optional)
*For less salt/ lower sodium, leave out the teaspoon of salt and use reduced sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and brown gravy mix.
How to make Easy Beef Tips & Gravy
In a large skillet over medium-high to high heat, heat 3 tablespoons of oil then add the chopped onion and cook until they are translucent, stirring occasionally.
Next, add cubed beef to the oil and onions, browning the meat on all sides – it will take about a minute on each side. After browning the beef, add 2 cups of water, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce. Next add garlic powder, salt and pepper, stir well.
Bring to a boil then reduce heat, COVER and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Last, in a medium size bowl (I use my measuring cup), add the gravy mix and 1 cup water, mix well then pour over beef – stir until well blended. Increase heat, bringing to a boil while continuously stirring – it is ready when the sauce slightly thickens.
Serve over mashed potatoes, white rice or egg noodles with your favorite steamed vegetable and salad.
This awesome recipe was found on food.com and has been a go-to comfort food on cold, rainy and snowy days for years. What’s so great, it’s a cinch to adapt to your taste and so easy to make.
If I have red wine in the house, I will replace water with 1/4 to 1/3 cup, and pour the rest in a glass. 😀 Fresh garlic is best, but garlic powder works well too. Mushrooms are also a wonderful addition.
You can make Best-Ever Beef Tips& Gravy in the Slow Cooker – Try the slow cooker version!
Frequently Asked Questions
The beef tips and gravy can be served over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, rice, thick sliced toast.
Serve with your favorite vegetables – green veggies are wonderful, like broccoli, asparagus, green beans. Garden salad, bread, garlic bread and dinner rolls make great sides.
These beef tips are even better the next day. Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave.
Yes! This recipe is great without red wine, but with it…so darn good. Highly recommend!
Want More Easy Beef Recipes Like This One?
Best-Ever Beef Tips & Gravy (Easy)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cubed
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil (or canola)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup soy sauce (you can use reduced sodium)
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce (you can use reduced sodium)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or use fresh garlic)
- 1 teaspoon salt (omit to reduce sodium)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 packet brown gravy mix .75 ounce packet (you can use reduced sodium)
- 1 cup water
- Eggs Noodles, Rice or Mashed Potatoes (to serve with beef tips)
Optional
- ¼ – ⅓ cup red wine – Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup of wine, replacing an equal amount of water with wine (1/4 cup wine plus 1 3/4 cups water OR 1/3 cup wine with 1 2/3 cups water).
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced (fresh or canned)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high to high heat, heat 3 tablespoons of oil then add the chopped onion and cook until they are translucent, stirring occasionally.
- Next, add cubed beef to the oil and onions, browning the meat on all sides – it will take about a minute on each side. After browning the beef, add 2 cups of water, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce. Next add garlic powder, salt and pepper, stir well.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat, COVER and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Last, in a medium size bowl (I use my measuring cup), add the gravy mix and 1 cup water, mix well then pour over beef – stir until well blended. Increase heat, bringing to a boil while continuously stirring – it is ready when the sauce slightly thickens.
- Serve over mashed potatoes, white rice or egg noodles. Great with your favorite steamed vegetable and a side salad.
Notes
- 3 cups of water needed for this recipe. 2 cups are used in the beginning of the recipe – the last 1 cup is used with the brown gravy mix at the end.
- For less salt/ lower sodium, leave out the teaspoon of salt and use reduced sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and brown gravy mix.
- Red wine is an awesome addition. I use 1/4 to 1/3 cup of wine – replacing an equal amount of water with wine (1/4 cup wine plus 1 3/4 cups water OR 1/3 cup wine with 1 2/3 cups water).
- Mushrooms are a great addition too.
- Make Best-Ever Beef Tips & Gravy in the Slow Cooker.
Don
Way too salty as written had to throw it out
Maureen
This is so good! I made mine with leftover roast beef and it turned out really nice. It makes a lot, and I have enough left for a second meal. So out of a 2 – 3 lb rib roast we will get 3 delicious meals as we barbecued the original roast. Will definitely put this recipe in my favourites file.
George
How do you make this with a crockpot?
Jo
The recipe directions say garlic powder not just garlic. Which is it?
Mary Neumann
I use fresh.
lora
i cant cook at all…i think i need the redipes and pictures
Jeanette Jones
I made this and it was way too salty. When I tried it again I cut Soy Sauce and Worcestershire sauce down to 1 Tablespoon each and it was fine.
Barb
I made this recipe 2 nights ago. My husband complained about it being to salty, and I have high blood pressure and it is extremely salty. I followed the recipe all the way. The meat could be cut with a fork. The next time I make it I will not use the one teaspoon of salt to see if that will help the salty flavor.
Mary Neumann
Hi Barb, next time you make this, leave out the teaspoon of salt and use reduced sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and brown gravy mix.
Jennifer Desjardins
Beef tips….iI use heavy cream and better than bouillon for the gravy and fresh thyme. Very delicious!
Lisa Abernethy
Omg this was the best I’ve ever had, the meat turned out very tender. My boyfriend owns a restaurant and he said it was amazing, he is my best critic. I did add a little more garlic, did use the red wine, added mushrooms and a little bit of gravy Master.
Yelitza
Any ideas to substitute the gravy mix? I am unable to use processed type foods due to food allergies.
Mary Neumann
You could make your own Brown Gravy Mix, Yelitza.
Recipes:
http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/brown-gravy-mix-149886
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/ready-gravy-mix
frugal hausfrau
Wow, what a great looking down home comfort meal!!
Mollie
The Better Baker
LUSCIOUS! I think about this kind of dish ALOT and want to make your easy recipe soon!
Shannon
Wanted to make this in the crockpot.. to make sure, I cook lil on both sides, then I add to the crockpot… same ingredients go in & how long on the crockpot??? If done on “low” how long/ if I did on “high” how long??
Thx
Anonymous
When do you substitute the red wine for the water, the 2cups or the 1
Anonymous
We made this with 1/3 cup red wine and mushrooms. We also used sirloin.. The sauce was really good. We thickened it a bit with gravy flour. Next time I would use a much better cut of meat as the sirloin tasted, and had the texture, of a somewhat dry pot roast. But again, the sauce was very flavorful and I will make it again. Thank you.
Anonymous
Crockpots require less water because it doesn't reduce. However, the longer cooking does make meat more tender. Meats need to be seared before being put into the pot. A couple minutes on each side at high temperature.
Anonymous
Yes you can make it in a insta pot. I would saute the beef tips in the pot take out nd saute the onions, then I would use the liquid to get everything off the inside bottom of the pot. Add the meat and other ingredients pressure cook for 15 – 20 mins. If you need to thicken do it on saute after you let the meat cook.
marysweetlittlebluebird
This can easily be made in the slow cooker – just be sure to brown the beef first for the added layer of flavor.
Here are some slow cooker beef tips recipes to check out too:
https://www.thecountrycook.net/slow-cooker-beef-tips-with-gravy/
https://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2015/05/easy-crockpot-beef-tips-with-gravy.html
https://www.fromvalerieskitchen.com/slow-cooker-beef-tips-with-gravy/
http://carlsbadcravings.com/slow-cooker-beef-tips-and-gravy-no-cream-soup/
Anonymous
Hi, this looks amazing, I love your suggestion to substitute wine for the water, I pinned it and really only felt I wanted to comment as this sounds like such a great recipe if followed as is, i.e.; not in crockpot;) thanx, gail
Anonymous
Can this be made in crockpot
Heather
I imagine. I'd do it 5-6 hours on high.
Heather
I would imagine. I am going to do 5-6 hours on high.
Anonymous
Hello there….can I cook this on a Crock-Pot?
Anonymous
Has anyone heard if you could make this in the crockpot?
Cindy
I was looking for times in the instant pot too.
Gloria bran dt
I cook thi, serve over noodless in the crock pot sooo tender, besides adding the chopped onion I add a pkg of onion soup mix & cut up carrots, servwe over noodles or whatever
Unknown
How could this be made in an instant pot?
Anonymous
Could you put the rib tips in a crockpot, if so how long?
Anonymous
Could you put the rib tips in a crockpot, if so how long?