Beef Tips with Gravy – Easy Slow Cooker Comfort Food

When you’re craving comfort food that cooks itself while you get on with your day, nothing beats a Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Rich Gravy Recipe. Tender beef simmered low and slow with flavorful gravy is pure magic on a plate.

The image shows a close-up of a rich brown stew with thick gravy, filled with tender, chunky pieces of meat coated in the sauce. The stew has small bits of green herbs scattered throughout, adding a touch of color contrast. A wooden spoon is lifting a portion of the stew, holding several large chunks of meat that glisten under the light, highlighting the smooth and shiny texture of the sauce. The background features the same stew, giving a sense of depth and fullness. The overall color palette is deep brown with subtle green accents on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Rich Gravy Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Rich Gravy Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Delicious Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This slow cooker beef tips recipe isn’t just about ease — it’s about achieving that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and a gravy so rich it makes your taste buds dance. Plus, it’s an everyday classic that always feels a little special at the dinner table.

Effortless Cooking: Toss everything in the slow cooker and walk away — dinner makes itself!
Deep Flavor: The blend of Worcestershire, onion soup mix, and garlic makes for an irresistible gravy.
Versatile Comfort Food: Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes — it works with all your favorites.
Perfectly Tender Beef: Slow cooking breaks down the meat beautifully for that just-right melt-in-your-mouth experience.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Getting great results starts with simple, hearty ingredients that come together to create that luscious gravy and tender beef. Let me share why each bit is key and a few shopping tips from my own kitchen.

Flat lay of fresh raw beef stew meat chunks, a small pile of coarse salt crystals, a small mound of whole black peppercorns, a few dried thyme sprigs, a small heap of minced fresh garlic, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with brown dry onion soup mix powder, a small white ceramic bowl with rich dark brown beef broth, a small white ceramic bowl holding glossy red ketchup, a small white ceramic bowl containing thick dark Worcestershire sauce, and a small white ceramic bowl with fine white cornstarch powder, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Stew Meat: Choose chuck or beef stew meat with a bit of marbling for flavor and tenderness after slow cooking.
Salt & Black Pepper: Basic but essential to season the beef and build flavor layers.
Dried Thyme: Adds subtle, earthy notes that complement the rich beef taste.
Garlic (Minced): Fresh garlic brightens the gravy and gives it depth.
Dry Onion Soup Mix: A secret weapon that brings savory onion and herb magic effortlessly.
Beef Broth: The flavorful liquid base that simmers the meat and forms the gravy.
Ketchup: Adds a touch of sweetness and acidity to balance the rich gravy.
Worcestershire Sauce: Brings umami and a tangy kick to deepen the sauce’s personality.
Cornstarch: For thickening the gravy to that perfect velvety texture.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One thing I love about this Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Rich Gravy Recipe is how easy it is to customize. I often tweak it depending on the season or what’s in my pantry.

Variation: For even deeper flavor, I sometimes sear the beef in a hot pan before slow cooking — it adds a lovely crust and richer taste.
Herb Boost: Adding fresh rosemary or parsley toward the end brightens up the dish wonderfully.
Healthy Swap: Use low-sodium broth and reduce ketchup for a lighter version without losing the comforting feel.
Thicker Gravy: Need a more luxurious sauce? I whisk extra cornstarch with cold water at the end and stir it in for that perfect velvety finish.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Rich Gravy Recipe

A white bowl held by a woman's hands contains a meal with three main layers. On one side, there are bright orange cooked baby carrots topped with small green parsley pieces. The middle layer is creamy white mashed potatoes with a soft and smooth texture, partially covered by a thick dark brown beef stew with visible chunks of beef in rich sauce scattered with parsley bits. The bowl rests on a white marbled surface with green parsley leaves around it. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Prep and Season the Beef

Start by placing the stew meat in the bottom of your slow cooker. Make sure the pieces are similar in size so they cook evenly — this really helps everything come out perfectly tender. Then sprinkle salt, pepper, and dried thyme over the meat. The seasoning is the foundation for your gravy’s flavor.

Step 2: Mix the Flavorful Sauce

In a medium bowl, combine the minced garlic, dry onion soup mix, beef broth, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch. Whisk everything together until smooth. This mixture is what turns into that rich, luscious gravy — trust me, it’s the star of the show.

Step 3: Cook Low and Slow

Pour the sauce right over the beef in the slow cooker and cover it up. Set your slow cooker to low and let it do its magic for 7 to 8 hours. This slow cooking time is crucial to breaking down the beef’s connective tissue, making it tender and juicy. Resist the urge to rush it — the long, gentle heat makes all the difference.

Step 4: Final Touches and Serving

Once the beef is tender, give the gravy a quick stir. If you want it thicker, mix a bit more cornstarch with cold water and stir it in, cooking on high for 10-15 minutes more. Then serve your beef tips hot over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or steamed rice for a comforting meal that feels homemade and special.

Top Tip

From my kitchen to yours — getting tender beef tips with that perfect gravy takes patience and a few tricks I’ve picked up along the way. These tips will help you shine!

Sear Before Slow Cooking: I learned early that browning the beef first adds a depth of flavor you just can’t get otherwise. A quick 3-4 minutes per side locked in savory goodness.
Cornstarch Timing: Adding cornstarch early helps thicken the gravy, but if it feels too thin after cooking, a final quick thickening step makes your sauce luscious every time.
Even Pieces Matter: Cutting the meat evenly means all your beef tips become tender simultaneously — no chewy surprises!
Low and Slow Always: Cooking on low heat is non-negotiable here — rushing will give you tough beef and thin gravy, and nobody wants that.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Rich Gravy Recipe

A shiny silver frying pan with a few small pieces of seared meat scattered inside, each piece showing a mix of pink and browned colors from cooking. The meat pieces are uneven in shape, with browned edges and some light sear marks on top. The pan sits on a white marbled surface, and faint steam rises from the meat, giving a fresh cooked feeling. A worn, slightly tarnished handle with a gold

Garnishes

I often sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the beef tips right before serving — it adds a bright, fresh contrast to the rich gravy. Sometimes I like a little cracked black pepper on top too, just for that extra bite.

Side Dishes

This recipe pairs wonderfully with creamy mashed potatoes — the gravy soaks in beautifully. I also love serving it over buttered egg noodles or fluffy white rice to soak up all the sauce. Roasted vegetables on the side round out the meal perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

For a cozy dinner party, I like to serve the beef tips in rustic, shallow bowls and garnish with a sprig of thyme or rosemary. If you want to dress it up, a dollop of horseradish cream on the side adds a lovely zing and contrast to the rich gravy.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, I transfer leftover beef tips and gravy to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The flavors actually deepen overnight, making leftovers taste even better.

Freezing

This slow cooker beef tips recipe freezes beautifully. Portion it out into freezer-safe containers and it’ll last up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating for a quick, delicious meal anytime.

Reheating

I reheat leftovers gently on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Adding a splash of beef broth or water helps loosen the gravy if it’s thickened too much during storage.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other cuts of beef besides stew meat?

Absolutely! While stew meat is ideal for its tenderness after slow cooking, you can use chuck roast cut into chunks or sirloin tips. Just make sure to slow cook long enough for tenderness.

How do I make the gravy thicker?

To thicken the gravy, whisk additional cornstarch with a little cold water and stir it into the slow cooker in the last 15 minutes of cooking. Let it simmer to your desired thickness.

Can I cook this recipe on high instead of low?

Cooking on high for 3-4 hours is possible, but for the best tender results and flavor development, low and slow for 7-8 hours is recommended.

What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?

Reheat leftovers gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and add a splash of broth or water if the gravy has thickened too much.

Final Thoughts

This Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Rich Gravy Recipe is one of those dishes that feels like a big, warm hug on a plate — it’s truly a staple in my home. I hope you give it a try and find it as comforting and delicious as I do. Once you master this, it’ll become your go-to meal whenever you want something simple, filling, and packed with flavor.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Ingredients & Why They Work

Make It Your Way