Beef tips and gravy is the ultimate comfort food, with tender chunks of beef in a rich brown gravy served over noodles or mashed potatoes. Have a great homemade dinner tonight with this easy one-pan recipe.
Introduction
It is always comfort food season, and what could be better to warm you and your family than this classic hardy, and delicious recipe? This economical dish has a skill level of about 3/10.
Beef tips are commonly called sirloin tips since sirloin is frequently used. It is a great family dish you can make at home and have some leftovers.
This is one of those dishes that both my wife and I grew up eating. But you don't see or hear about it much.
👨🍳How to make beef tips and gravy
- Trim a chuck roast into bite-sized pieces of about 1-inch cubes.
- Chop a medium onion.
- Brown the onion and beef over medium-high heat—about 10 minutes.
- Add all other ingredients to the pan except the flour. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat to simmer. Cover and simmer for 1 ½ hours.
- Make a slurry of ½ cup of flour and water to make 2 cups of mixture.
- Uncover the meat and turn the heat up to high; when boiling, slowly add the flour mixture while continuously stirring until thickened.
🐄Ingredients
The Meat
Stew beef from your local store wine—it is usually chuck or rump roast, which are cheaper and tougher cuts of meat. I usually chose a nicely marbled chuck roast that I cut and trim myself. A tougher cut of meat works well since we are simmering.
A more tender cut of meat like top sirloin, ribeye, and tenderloin all are excellent choices. Very lean cuts like eye of round or bottom sirloin will work but will not be as tender.
📖Comfort Food Recipes
For more beef comfort food recipes, check out Salisbury Steak Recipe, Meatloaf Burgers, Pot Roast with Gravy, Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy, or Old Fashioned Meatloaf. For a casserole, try American Goulash or Tuna Noodle Casserole.
👨🍳The Gravy
The gravy is easy to make with the braising fluid. The fluid is full of spices, the flavor from the beef cooking, and a good quality beef broth, beef stock, or beef bouillon.
Use a slurry gravy method in the pan, and there is no need to remove the meat. With this method, you can adjust the amount thickness of the gravy to your taste.
There is no need for an envelope of brown gravy mix or premade gravy.
See How To Make Gravy at Home if you want to know more about making gravy at home.
🧂Seasoning
The Worcestershire sauce pumps up the beef flavor. However, soy sauce may be used instead.
In my house, my garlic-loving wife wants a strong garlic taste. If you are not big on garlic, then cut it back some. You can adjust the garlic to your taste.
❓FAQs
Beef tips and gravy are comfort food, and there are usually leftovers. Here I purposely cook for leftovers.
Things thickened with cornstarch will be gelatinized when cooled. It tastes ok, but the texture is odd.
Cornstarch will work better in a crock pot. If you use cornstarch, use half of the recommended flour amount, make a slurry in a small bowl and add to the beef—make up the other fluid with water or broth.
Generally serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice. Side dishes of mixed vegetables or salads will round out the meal.
Yes, a slow cooker or instant pot will work for this one-pot recipe but will increase the cleanup and add nothing. You should brown the meat and cook the onion before simmering, and the gravy is easier to make on the stovetop.
You will not see any added salt here. The Worcestershire sauce and the beef broth add enough sodium here. You can test the taste before serving and add some if you need it.
I would suggest low sodium broth if you have it. And low-sodium Worcestershire sauce may be used to decrease the sodium more.
Many recipes use twice as much Worcestershire sauce and usually add soy sauce, so the sodium will be very high.
❄️Storage
Store in an airtight container. Good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It will freeze well for 3-4 months.
An easy recipe to cut in half, but I suggest freezing instead. If you cut it in half, the cooking time stays the same, and you can use the other half of the can of broth for the gravy instead of water.
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Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.
Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
You will need 2 pounds of trimmed and cubed beef. A nicely marbled chuck roast or top sirloin are good choices.
Trim and cut your beef into bite-size pieces of about 1-inch.
Chop one medium onion.
Over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven. When the oil is shimmering, add onion and beef.
Brown the meat for about 10 minutes. Then add 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Add a 14-oz can of low sodium beef broth.
Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat to simmer and cover. After about 90 minutes, the meat should be fork-tender. Mix a slurry of ½ cup flour with enough water to make 2 cups. Shake to mix using a gravy shaker or whisk until smooth.
Uncover and turn the heat back to medium-high. When boiling well, slowly add part of the flour slurry. Mix continuously and slowly add more every few minutes until the gravy is your desired thickness.
Cook a few more minutes. Server over mashed potatoes or noodles.
📖 Recipe
Beef Tips and Gravy
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 pounds beef - trimmed and cubed
- 1 onion - medium - diced
- 14 oz low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup flour - may take a bit more
- noodles or mashed potatoes to serve
Instructions
- You will need 2 pounds of trimmed and cubed beef. A nicely marbled chuck roast or top sirloin are good choices.
- Trim and cut the beef into bite-size pieces of about 1-inch.
- Chop one medium onion.
- Over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven. When the oil is shimmering, add onion and beef.
- Brown the meat for about 10 minutes. Then add 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Add a 14-oz can of low sodium beef broth.
- Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat to simmer and cover. After about 90 minutes, the meat should be fork-tender. Mix a slurry of ½ cup flour with enough water to make 2 cups. Shake to mix using a gravy shaker or whisk until smooth.
- Uncover and turn the heat back to medium-high. When boiling well, slowly add part of the flour slurry. Mix continuously and slowly add more every few minutes until the gravy is your desired thickness.
- Cook a few more minutes. Server over mashed potatoes or noodles.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- An easy recipe to cut in half, but you really want leftovers.
- You can use "stew meat" from your local store. I prefer a nicely marbled chuck roast or top sirloin.
- Simmer for about 90 minutes covered, but the meat needs to be "fork tender" before going to the gravy stage.
- Make up a little extra of the flour slurry. Add most of it and add more later if you need thicker.
- I have decreased the amount of Worcestershire sauce since some brands have a stronger taste, and all are high in sodium. It went from 4 to 2 tablespoons.
- Gravy made with corn starch will not store well for leftovers.
- Good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Will freeze well for 3-4 months.
- If you cut the recipe in half, the cooking time stays the same, and you can use the other half of the can of broth for the gravy instead of water.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: Originally Published October 15, 2017. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Kevin O'Brien says
Thanks, Dr. Dan, for another excellent recipe like the beef tips and gravy.
Your step by step photo instructions have always been a nice touch, but I am unable to pull them up, no matter what I do. I'm a visual person; can you help?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Kevin,
Welcome to the blog. Thanks for the note and compliment. Private email sent to address your issue.
Dan
Katherine A Dietz says
Can this be made in a 4qt crock pot ? Thanks for the great recipes for two! Also any good recipes for mashed potatoes?
Katherine
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Katherine,
Yes, but you should brown the meat and cook the onion first for better taste (you could skip it). Just do that on the stovetop with a large pan with a lid. Then add other ingredients except for flour. Then use the flour in water at the end to make the gravy. So to do it in a crock pot takes longer, and you now have more to clean. And it makes the gravy harder (and I prefer flour-based gravy vs corn starch). I do have more about how in the FAQs in the post.
Dan
Nancy says
great recipe
John Sack says
Looks good -- now, suppose I'm *starting* with leftover beef (prime rib from Sunday) -- how would I use it in this recipe? (I already made ham panini with the leftover ham, so I probably can't do another round of panini.)
John
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi John,
Welcome the blog.
To use previously cooked meat, you only need to simmer long enough to heat it up and transfer some flavor, then proceed with the gravy making. I do have a Philly sandwiches recipe for leftover beef tenderloin you might want to check out. https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/what-to-do-with-leftover-beef/
Dan
John R Sack says
Thanks, Dan! I was looking for the leftover beef recipe, but found only the leftover ham one.
Jon Barker says
This is a great recipe! I am not an onion fan so I just omit. Taste is great! I put over bow tie noodles! Yum. I am also a huge fan of your French dip minus the onion. Lol
Sherry & Rick Hooper says
I search the internet looking for beef and pork recipes but somehow always end up right here every time. Thanks for putting in all of the hours making these great recipes that you have here at this one site. And I'd like to say also I love the counter/timer that you have put at the bottom of the recipe that saves a lot of time.
Matthew Margiewicz says
Hi Dr. Dan my name is Matt just want to say my wife and I have tried at least a dozen of your recipes some of them multiple times. Everyone has been top notch most recently we made the pork tenderloin sandwich and it was great. Keep up the good work!!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Matthew,
Welcome to the blog and sorry for the delayed reply.
Glad you are enjoying the recipes. This one and the pork tenderloin get repeated frequently in my house.
Thanks again for the note and rating. And again sorry for the delayed response.
Dan
Kimberlee Kleine says
Hello! I want to freeze this dish and am wondering - can I freeze it with the gravy or should I wait to make the gravy after I've defrosted it ? Thanks so much for the wonderful recipes and wonderful pictures of the furry family members! Kimberlee
DrDan says
Hi Kimberlee,
Welcome to the blog.
Yep, it will freeze for 3-4 months. Gravy that is flour based will freeze well if not made with dairy. Gravy made with cornstarch will not even refrigerate well.
DrDan
Leslie says
I am wondering if this has a strong taste of Worcestershire, Its not a favorite flavor of mine if too strong. Would love to try this recipe but that is the only thing holding me back.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Leslie,
No, not a lot but you can cut back the Worcestershire if you want.
Dan
Denise says
Hi! Please tell me what to do for 10 minutes in Step 4. Thank you!
DrDan says
Hi Denise,
Sorry for the lack of clarity. It should read "Brown the meat for about 10 minutes. Then add ....." - Fixed.
It has been like that for several years. It is what happens when I write directions from memory. I know what I mean but it doesn't always come through the fingers.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Kellie Constance says
Followed the recipe to the T last week (except I use fresh garlic) and I used stew meat. Making again today since my hubby is back in town and I’m using chuck roast I cut up. So excited for my husband to try it! Great recipe!
DrDan says
Hi Kellie
Welcome to the blog.
This is one of your Sunday dinner comfort foods for cold days. Glad you liked it.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Jessica Wright says
hi my name is Jessica, I have never made beef tips before and I followed your recipe and it was amazing I just want to thank you for being able to to make something so good that was so easy. my boyfriend really liked it so it made me happy so thank you. With that being said I had a wonderful evening because of the meal.
Kim says
Nice easy recipe. Really like the addition of Worcestershire sauce, adds a rich depth of flavor.
Bruce Vaughn says
Great Recipe! Easy to do without a lot of attention being paid to it. I substituted red wine for 1/3 of the beef broth and used two garlic cloves instead of the powder. Thanks for sharing.
sandy fisher says
occasionally made these, but never used worcestershire sauce. made for much better flavor profile - thank you!
ps: dogs are beautiful and enjoy the updates.
DrDan says
Hi Sandy
Thanks for the note. The Worcestershire does make the "beef" taste pop so I use it frequently for that.
Molly and Lilly say thanks also.
Dan
gkbowood says
Really nice on a coolish day! We added 1/2 T sweet paprika as the gravy thickened...tasty.