Crockpot Beef Tips

Why I Love These Slow Cooker Beef Tips

This might just be the ultimate comfort dinner recipe. As soon as the weather drops below 70°F (which is a big deal here in Florida), I plug in the Crockpot for this easy beef tips recipe! I love the way it always hits the spot. And maybe even more than that, I really love the way my whole kitchen smells like heaven while it slowly cooks. This recipe has been in my family since… well, as far back as I can remember. Check out why I’ll never stop making this classic:

• So Easy: Slow cookers famously do all the work for you! There’s no need to hover over a hot stovetop when you make this crockpot beef tips recipe. With this easy method, you just need to plug in your crockpot and relax as it cooks the meat until it’s perfectly tender. 
• Flavorful: There are plenty of ingredients here that ensure the meat isn’t just tender, but also has a deep savory flavor in a rich brown gravy. Beef broth, gravy packets (or cornstarch), Worcestershire sauce and more mix together to create a medley of seriously mouthwatering flavors.
• The Best Gravy: When you make crockpot beef tips, you’re allowing the meat enough time to really take on all of the flavors of the ingredients it’s cooked with. The end result is a gravy that’s just as tasty as the meat itself!
• Minimal Ingredients: You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry, making it a convenient choice.

Key Ingredients

Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this slow cooker beef tips recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!

• Beef Tips – Not all beef tips are created equally! Scroll down to my tips & variations section for more info about how to choose the best meat.
• Beef Broth – Avoid a salty gravy by using low sodium beef broth. 
• Worcestershire Sauce – The rich umami flavor in this sauce really enhances the overall savory flavor of the gravy. 
• Beef Bouillon – Beef bouillon really pumps up the beef flavor and you do not want to skip it. We like to use Better Than Bouillon, as opposed to the bouillon cubes, as it helps to keep the sodium down while still adding to the signature beef flavor. Do NOT skip out on this ingredient – it’s the key to great gravy!
• Brown Gravy Packets – We like to use low sodium gravy packets for the little extra beef flavor they add, but you can use cornstarch instead if you prefer.

How to Make Beef Tips in the Crockpot

This is one of those amazing dump and go style crockpot recipes. Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions.

• Prepare the Crockpot. Spray the crockpot insert with a light coat of nonstick spray.
• Place everything in the Crockpot. Season the beef tips with salt and pepper, then place the meat in the Crockpot. Add remaining ingredients. Stir and cover with a lid. 
• Cook. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until meat is tender. 
• Stir everything together. Once the beef is nice and tender, stir everything together in the crockpot. Note that the gravy will thicken once stirred.
• Enjoy! Serve immediately with mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.

Cook’s Tips & Variations

• Should I sear the meat? There’s no need to sear or brown the meat! Just toss it all into the Crockpot and give yourself one less dish to clean. However, if you have the time and feel like it, searing the beef quickly in a hot skillet will help deepen the beef flavor.
• Bouillon: Whatever you do, don’t skip the Beef Better Than Bouillon. Even if you have to use regular beef bouillon instead, it’s a vital ingredient. No beef gravy would ever be complete without it. 
• Veggies: You can add veggies like onions, potatoes, and carrots, but keep in mind that the recipe will be more like a stew at that point and less like classic beef tips. If you are looking for a stew recipe, try our favorite Instant Pot beef stew with veggies included!
• Thicken the gravy: If for some reason your gravy is not thick enough for your liking, you can add a little extra cornstarch to help it thicken after cooking. Just grab a small bowl and add a tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of water and whisk to combine to make a cornstarch slurry. Add it to the crockpot and give everything a good stir.
• Mushrooms: Want to add mushrooms? I recommend adding in 1 cup of sliced mushrooms in for the last 2 hours of cooking time so they don’t get too mushy.
• Choose the right beef tips: Usually when making beef tips, I recommend tenderloin beef tips (or sirloin beef tips) to produce the most tender beef bites. However, stew meat works great in this crockpot recipe, since the low and slow cooking time will help break down the meat making it tender. If using stew meat, I highly recommend cooking your beef tips on low for 6 to 8 hours.

How To Serve Crockpot Beef Tips

There are a lot of ways you can serve beef tips! No matter how you serve them, don’t forget a soft warm dinner roll to soak up all the gravy with! Here are a few of our favorite ways to serve beef tips:

• Mashed Potatoes: My personal favorite is to serve them over mashed potatoes, specifically these creamy sour cream mashed potatoes.
• Rice: Another common way to serve beef tips is over rice. You can use whatever rice you like!
• Egg Noodles: Just like in these photos, beef tips go perfect over some tender egg noodles. This is actually my husband’s favorite way to enjoy beef tips! You can also add some green peas to add some color and get your veggies in.