Crock Pot Beef Tips With Creamy Onion Gravy
Some meals feel like home, even if you didn’t grow up eating the exact dish. For me, Crock Pot beef tips with creamy gravy is just that. I’m a Southern food blogger who’s been cooking slow cooker meals for years, and this one earned a top spot in the regular rotation. Once I dialed in the low-and-slow method with a simple, creamy onion gravy, my family started actually requesting it. Perfect for when everyone expects a real dinner but you’ve got a full day in between.
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Servings | Prep Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 8 hours | 4 | Beginner + |
Julie’s Ingredient Notes
This recipe is built around a few things that work well together:
- At the grocery store, pick beef tips or stew beef because they are meant for slow cooking to get that tender texture.
- Onion soup mix brings a deep, savory, “cooked-all-day” flavor without chopping a thing.
- Cream of mushroom soup gives you body and creaminess, so the gravy isn’t watery.
- Beef broth gives it a hearty flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce adds that rich, a little tangy, and more “beefy” flavor.
And the biggest reason this works? Time. Beef tips get tender when they’re given enough low heat to relax and break down. If you rush it, they can stay tight and chewy.
How I Make Creamy Onion-Gravy Beef Tips In The Crock Pot
Start by adding the beef tips to your slow cooker. I either buy them cut up or ask the meat department to slice them for me to save on time.
Sprinkle the onion seasoning on top. This recipe is great because you can add your favorite seasonings, such as ranch, taco seasoning, gravy, or anything you can think of.
Pour in the cream of mushroom soup and beef broth into the Crock Pot.
If you don’t want the canned cream of mushroom soup, try my homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup. It’s quick to prep, and it’s the perfect amount to add to this recipe.
Cook the beef tips and gravy for 8 hours on the low temperature setting, and it will turn out incredibly tender. The gravy is not your typical thick gravy, but give it a stir after it cooks, and it will thicken a little.
Serving Ideas
This is one of those gravy dinners that begs for something underneath it.
- My favorite way to serve these is on a pile of buttery mashed potatoes because it soaks up all that gravy. If you don’t want to make homemade mashed potatoes, I like the Bob Evans brand. Just heat them up, and you’re ready to go.
- White rice – you can whip up some minute rice or buy the pre-cooked kind and heat it up fast.
- Egg noodles – this takes the meal from beef tips to a basic beef stroganoff.
- Buttered biscuits – ok, this just makes it amazingly Southern. And I have the perfect recipe for traditional homemade buttermilk biscuits that win every time.
Tips
If your gravy is thinner than you want it to be
Slow cookers tend to trap moisture, and some cuts of beef release a little more liquid than others. This is not a super-thick gravy, but if it’s too thin at the end, remove the lid for the last 20 minutes and let it cook on high, stirring once or twice. This will help it reduce without adding any extra thickening ingredients.
If your beef isn’t tender yet
If the beef isn’t tender yet, it usually just needs a little more time to cook. Keep the lid on and cook for another 30-60 minutes on low, then check for tenderness.
Do you need to sear the beef tips first?
No, this version is designed to be simple, dump-and-go, and still taste like comfort food. This recipe is meant to save you time and energy. If you do love that extra flavor from searing the meat, you can do that. If you have a slow cooker that sears meat, you can sear it in there, then start the low-and-slow cooking process.
FAQs
Can I cook this on high the whole time?
Yes, and I would cook it for 3-4 hours. But for the most tender tips, low and slow is going to be better.
Does this taste like mushrooms?
No, the mushroom soup is more for the creaminess and body of the gravy, rather than a strong mushroom flavor. Even people who dislike mushrooms usually love this gravy.
Do I have to add Worcestershire Sauce?
You don’t have to, but it does give it that deep flavor and a little bit of a pop. It’s only 1 tablespoon, but if you are on the fence, add a little less, but you will love the flavor.
How do I know when the beef tips are done cooking?
By your fork! When you poke a piece of meat and it breaks apart easily, it’s done. If they are still chewy and hard to break apart, they need to cook longer.
Crock Pot Beef Tips With Creamy Onion Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef tips or stew meat
- 1 ounce onion soup mix
- 1 cup beef broth
- 10.5 ounce condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Add the beef tips to the crock pot. Sprinkle the onion soup mix on top.
- Next, add the cream of mushroom soup, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 8 hours.
Video
Nutrition
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