Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy

The only recipe for crockpot beef tips and gravy you’ll ever need. There’s nothing more comforting than tender cubes of sirloin, onions, and mushrooms smothered in rich gravy. Don’t forget the mashed potatoes!

Why this recipe works

Tender, savory bites of cubed sirloin are an excellent candidate for crockpot beef tips and gravy. We’ll brown the hunks of beef in a skillet before placing them in the slow cooker, but that’s really all there is to it, other than measuring out some seasonings and slicing up the onions and mushrooms.

I truly love the set it and forget it aspect of making this dinner in the slow cooker. When you need a quicker alternative, you can always make beef tips and gravy on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot as well. It’s such a hearty, filling meal that even my youngest daughter loved. As soon as she got home from school she asked, “What smells so good?”

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

BEEF – Beef tips can be made from just about any cut of meat, though commonly people lean towards stew meats as they’re more affordable. You can typically find beef tips at the store labeled as stew cubes though if you prefer to use sirloin as we did, you might see them labeled as steak tips or sirloin tips.

MUSHROOMS – Baby bella mushrooms add lots of flavor, but you can omit them or use a different type if you have a favorite.

ONIONS – Again, onions are optional, but recommended for the flavor they provide. It’s entirely worth the extra couple of minutes it takes to chop them up.

How to Make Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Cut the roast into 2-inch cubes, try to remove as much of the silver skin as you can. Place cubes in a large mixing bowl. Season with garlic salt and pepper and toss to distribute.
   
   TIP – Trimming the silver skin from the meat is essential. This is a tough, shiny, silvery-white membrane of connective tissue that should be removed before cooking. Silver skin remains chewy after cooking, it can also cause the meat to curl up, and it keeps your seasonings from penetrating, so it should be trimmed with a sharp knife. To remove it, slide knife between the silver skin and the meat, making a small cut to create a tab to hold. Then, hold the tab taut and run the knife blade under the membrane, pulling it away from the meat to remove it.
   
   
2. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add beef in an even layer and cook for 2-3 minutes undisturbed to help create a nice sear. Cook on all sides.
3. Remove meat from skillet and add to slow cooker. Add in onions, mushrooms, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, onion powder, minced garlic, and beef broth.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
5. To make a gravy, strain the juices from the crockpot and place in a saucepan. Heat over medium-high until bubbling.
6. To thicken the gravy, you can make a slurry by whisking the cornstarch into the water, then slowly whisking it into the saucepan. Allow to simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until desired thickness.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

We suggest checking the meat at the 6 hour mark. Cooking this dish for 8 hours on low can make the meat too tender, and the cubes won’t hold their shape. Of course, if you prefer the meat to fall apart, cook it closer to 7-8 hours!

Store cooled leftovers in an air tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

It isn’t mandatory, but I would suggest it! Browning the beef adds an extra layer of flavor that surprisingly makes quite a difference. You can, of course, skip this step to save some time.

Sirloin tips, stew meat, or chuck roast work best for this recipe. All of which makes a mean beef tip and gravy dinner!

Absolutely. Hop over to our beef tips and gravy post which is made right on the stovetop. You can also make it in the pressure cooker with our Instant Pot version if preferred. We love it each way. The pressure cooker method is best if you need a quick turnaround, whereas the stovetop version takes closer to 2 hours. Making it in the slow cooker is great when you aren’t in a rush.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your crockpot beef tips and gravy spooned over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, white rice, or pasta. Be sure to add a generous amount of the gravy on top!

More Crockpot Recipes

• Crockpot Beef Stew
• Crockpot Roast Beef
• Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches
• Crockpot Beef Burgundy
• Crockpot Beef Short Ribs

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