Description
There’s something about the slow simmer of tender beef that transports me back to lazy summer days at my grandmother’s house in upstate New York. While most think of stews and hearty roasts as winter fare, our family always made slow cooker beef tips a summer staple. It was our secret to enjoying rich, savory flavors without heating up the house — just set it, forget it, and come back to dinner ready and waiting.
Ingredients
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup beef broth
1 packet onion soup mix
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
2 tablespoons water (optional, for thickening)
4 cups mashed potatoes (prepared separately)
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Prep the Slow Cooker
In your slow cooker, combine the beef stew meat, beef broth, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, and black pepper. Stir everything well to coat the beef.
2. Let the Magic Happen
Cover the slow cooker and cook:
-
On low for 6–8 hours
-
Or on high for 3–4 hours
The beef should be fall-apart tender and soaked in a deeply savory sauce.
3. Thicken the Gravy (Optional)
About 30 minutes before serving, if you’d like a thicker gravy, whisk together the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir it into the slow cooker and let it cook on high for the remaining time.
4. Serve It Up
While your beef finishes cooking, whip up a batch of mashed potatoes. To serve, pile a generous scoop of potatoes on each plate and ladle over the beef tips and gravy. Sprinkle with fresh parsley for a bright finish.
Notes
- Choose the right cut: Chuck roast or stew meat with marbling works best for slow cooking.
- Sear the beef first (optional): If you have time, browning the meat adds depth of flavor, though it’s not necessary for a tasty outcome.
- Double the batch: This recipe freezes beautifully — make extra and stash some away for a future no-fuss dinner.
- Add veggies: Toss in mushrooms, carrots, or pearl onions in the last 2 hours for a one-pot meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6–8 hours on low (or 3–4 hours on high)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup beef + ⅔ cup mashed potatoes
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 840mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: slow cooker beef tips, beef tips with gravy, crockpot beef tips, summer comfort food