Making Instant Pot beef tips and gravy has never been easier! Whether you use a slow cooker or an Instant Pot, this recipe yields tender, juicy beef in a rich brown gravy. Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes for a comforting family meal.
Why You’ll Love Slow Cooker Beef Tips With Gravy
This recipe is perfect for cozy weeknights or relaxed weekend dinners. It produces melt-in-your-mouth beef in a savory gravy with very little hands-on time. Use either a slow cooker for set-and-forget convenience or an Instant Pot for a quicker result that still locks in plenty of flavor.
Simple prep, dependable results, and a gravy that soaks into rice, noodles, or potatoes make this a go-to family favorite. It’s easy to scale, freezer-friendly, and ideal for busy schedules.
- Minimal prep and low stress
- Fall-apart tender beef in every bite
- Rich gravy that pairs perfectly with rice or noodles
- Family-friendly and crowd-pleasing
- Freezer-friendly for meal prep
Ingredient Information And Substitutions
- Beef – Sirloin steak trimmed and cut into 1½-inch chunks. Stew meat or chuck roast are budget-friendly substitutes.
- Vegetables – Onion, garlic, and mushrooms add depth. Swap mushrooms for carrots or bell peppers if preferred.
- Beef broth – The base for the gravy. Bone broth intensifies the beef flavor. Chicken or vegetable broth will work but will alter the taste slightly.
- Red wine – Adds richness and depth. Use a dry red like Cabernet or Zinfandel, or replace with extra beef broth if avoiding alcohol.
- Worcestershire sauce – Provides savory umami and tang.
- Soy sauce – Adds savory saltiness. Tamari or coconut aminos can be used for gluten-free options.
- Water – Helps balance the gravy and keeps the meat moist while cooking.
- Seasonings – Dried thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Thickener – Cornstarch slurry creates the silky gravy. Arrowroot or flour can be used as alternatives.
- Rice – Fluffy white rice is a classic base, though egg noodles or mashed potatoes are great choices too.
How To Make Beef Tips
Step 1 — Add ingredients to the Instant Pot or slow cooker.
Place the beef, onion, garlic, mushrooms, beef broth, red wine, Worcestershire, soy sauce, water, thyme, salt, and pepper into the pot. Stir to combine.
Step 2 — Cook.
Instant Pot: Seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, then allow a natural pressure release for 10–15 minutes before finishing with a quick release.
Slow cooker: Cover and cook on low for 7½ hours.
Step 3 — Thicken the gravy.
Remove about ¼ cup of the cooking liquid into a small bowl and whisk in the cornstarch to make a smooth slurry. Stir the slurry back into the pot. In the Instant Pot, use the Sauté setting and simmer until the gravy thickens, about 5 minutes. In the slow cooker, cover and cook on high for an additional 30 minutes to thicken.
Serve the beef tips over cooked white rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Beef tips are small cuts of beef—often sirloin or tenderloin—cut into bite-sized pieces and simmered until tender in a flavorful gravy.
Sirloin steak yields very tender results. Stew meat or chuck roast are good, more economical alternatives.
Cook low and slow in a slow cooker or use a pressure cooker with a natural pressure release to retain moisture and achieve fall-apart tenderness.
Yes. Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari and a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce to keep the dish gluten free.
Tips For Making Beef Tips And Gravy
- Trim excess fat and gristle before cooking and cut the beef into uniform chunks for even cooking. Slice against the grain to improve tenderness.
- Brown the beef first for a richer, more savory flavor. Use the Instant Pot Sauté setting or quickly sear on the stove before adding to a slow cooker.
- Adjust gravy consistency with more cornstarch slurry if it’s thin, or thin with extra broth if it becomes too thick.
- Prep ahead by chopping onion, garlic, and mushrooms to save time.
- Storage – Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Beef Tips And Rice
Beef tips and gravy are lovely over fluffy white rice, but you can also serve them over egg noodles or creamy mashed potatoes. Add a simple vegetable side to complete the meal.
Other Tasty Beef Recipes To Try
-
Beef Italian Stew
-
Easy Beef Stroganoff
-
Beef Burrito Bowls
-
Easy Beef and Broccoli
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Instant Pot Beef Tips and Gravy
Equipment
- Slow cooker
- Instant Pot
- Whisk
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Chef’s knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sirloin steak, trimmed and cut into 1½-inch chunks
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 (14 oz) can beef broth
- ½ cup red wine
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2–3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- Cooked white rice, for serving
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
Slow cooker instructions
- Place steak tips, onion, garlic, mushrooms, broth, wine, Worcestershire, soy sauce, water, thyme, salt and pepper into slow cooker.
- Stir to combine, cover, and cook on low for 7½ hours.
- Remove about ¼ cup of broth and whisk in cornstarch to make a slurry. Stir the slurry into the pot, cover, and cook on high for 30 minutes to thicken.
- Serve over white rice and garnish with chopped parsley.
Instant Pot instructions
- Place steak tips, onion, garlic, mushrooms, broth, wine, Worcestershire, soy sauce, water, thyme, salt and pepper into Instant Pot and stir.
- Seal and set to Manual/High pressure for 20 minutes. Allow a natural pressure release for 10–15 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Remove about ¼ cup of broth and whisk in cornstarch to form a slurry. Turn the Sauté setting on and stir the slurry into the pot. Simmer until the gravy thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Serve over rice and garnish with parsley.
Notes
- Trim excess fat and cut beef into even chunks; slicing against the grain improves tenderness.
- Brown the beef first for extra flavor when time allows.
- Adjust gravy thickness with additional cornstarch slurry or broth as needed.
- Prep vegetables ahead to speed assembly.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.