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.
Fran Klapmeyer
This tasted just like beef stew without the veggies. I would make it again but with the veggies. Need a better cut of meat for beef tips. The gravy was very tasty though.
Carmen
I made this last night and let me tell you. It was sooo good especially for pickey eaters. I added a lil flour to my meat prior cooking it. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca
What would be the nutrition fact for this. Like serving size and carbs
Holly
Made this before and it was delicious, going to try it tomorrow with the red wine and mushrooms. Question is do I cook the mushrooms the whole time with the beef in the crock pot? Don’t want them to be to mushy!
Thank you!
Mary Neumann
Glad you enjoyed the original version, Holly. Adding red wine and mushrooms is terrific! It’s great both ways. Here is a slow cooker version I just posted
:https://sweetlittlebluebird.com/best-ever-beef-tips-made-in-the-slow-cooker/
Rebecca
Do you drain the meat after browning before adding the water & everything else??
Golda F Harrison
I have made this on numerous times – so very good. (In the words of Sam Elliott – Beef, it’s whats for dinner). My husband loves it and it is quite easy. Also made it in the crockpot and InstaPot
Diane
Have made this several times!!! So good!! I serve over egg noodles!! I added a little bit of flour to make it thicker. Awesome recipe- thank you for sharing!!!
Joan
This was so simple and absolutely delicious. I followed the directions exactly but when it was done, I wanted it a bit thicker so I put about 2 T cornstarch in about 1/4 c hot water and stirred it in. Perfect. Next time, I’m going to try replacing some of the water wiith red wine.
Myra
Hi all,
I saw a lot of questions about if this could be cooked in a slow cooker, earlier I cooked this recipe and did it in a slow cooker and it was delicious and the meat was soo tender. What I did was cooked the minced onion in oil and sweated the onions till cooked and added some fresh minced garlic too, then added the beef. I cooked the beef till browned then transferred all contents from pan to my slow cooker (using a slow cooker liner of course) and added all same measurements and ingredients that the recipe called for. I added some of my own seasoning like beef bouillon and tony chacheres. After this I slow cooked it on high for 6 hours or you could probably do low for 8 hours I just started it late in the day. Hope this helps someone 🙂 thanks author for sharing this recipe i’ll be cooking again.
George & Myra Skiendziel
My wife never met another Myra
Canan
This is probably the only repeat recipe I make. I’ve been making this for at least 3 years now. I LOVE this recipe.
Ginger
I made this last night and my boyfriend loved it and he’s not easy to please
Jenn
I made this for the first time and the meat was so dry and tough and not be making this again
Mary Neumann
Hi Jenn – Sorry to hear. I am not sure what went wrong for you, but as you can see from all the reviews, this is a really great recipe.
G
Agree- it is great!
Bet it had something to do with either cut of beef or not cooking long enough.
Jamie
Most likely needed to cook longer, I would recommend the slow cooker version that’s usually how I do it, and it turns out amazing. Pair with rice and a nice green salad super yummy.
Carol
This is a great meal. I’ve made it half a dozen times and we
I’ve it. Only difference is I use my small crockpot and let it cook all afternoon.
Abby
Do you just put everything in the crockpot and cook on low? Or high?
Amanda
Wonderful recipe! My whole family enjoyed it. I ran out of Worcestershire sauce so used balsamic vinegar instead. So yummy!!
Menno a mast
I love this easy recipe. I substituted the water for beef broth and added beef bullion cubes and God damn. Your mouth will thank you.
Joyce
Language, language, please.
Adam
Do you drain the liquid that the steak was cooked in before adding gravy?
Kenlynn
OMG so delicious a new family fav!! I did alter slightly to reduce salt!! Used all reduced sodium’s soy sauce & Worcestershire. I actually forgot to omit salt so instead of full packet brown gravy. I used 2/3rds cup water and 1/3rd red wine with 2TBSP of brown packet gravy. The wine made a huge difference and the 2 Tbsp was just the right Amount to add flavor and thick’n the sauce. Served over wide egg noodles SO AMAZING!!! Thank you for sharing!!
Emily
I don’t have brown gravy mix, what can I do?
Joyce
A homemade gravy would be great in this.
Bridget
Very tasty!
Stephanie
How could I convert to crock pot?
Jessica Nelson
How can I convert this to the crockpot?
Nadine
Husband loved this. I added some red wine, carrots and potatoes.
Christy
Made this for my 3 kids on this snowy New Year’s Day. They all gave it two thumbs up. I’ll go with the lower sodium recommendations next time and I used 3/4 cup of wine with 1 1/4 cup water. So good!
Frances Gonzalez
OMG! this is the best recipe ever!
My husband loves this dish plus its so easy to make!!
I give this 5 stars!!!
Sarah
If I were to put this in the instant pot, would I cook it for 30 minutes you think?
Carlita
Yep 25-30mins
Heather
This is so delicious! I add sautéed mushrooms in at the end too! My fiancé gobbled it down and went for more! So easy to prepare!