Making Instant Pot beef tips and gravy has never been easier! Whether you use your slow cooker or Instant Pot, this recipe gives you tender, juicy meat in a rich brown gravy. Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes for a meal the whole family will love!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love Slow Cooker Beef Tips With Gravy
In our house, we’re all about cozy, comforting meals — especially when they come together with minimal effort. This recipe for Instant Pot beef tips delivers tender, juicy meat in a rich, flavorful gravy that always hits the spot. And you can make it in a slow cooker too!
Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a chilly Sunday dinner, this is one of those meals that always gets a thumbs-up from everyone. And the best part? The slow cooker or Instant Pot does all the hard work for you! Just toss everything in, let it do its thing, and come back to the most delicious, fall-apart-tender beef. Here’s why you’re going to love this recipe:
- Minimal prep, no stress
- Every bite melts in your mouth
- Perfect gravy for soaking into rice or noodles
- A real crowd-pleaser
- Freezer-friendly and perfect for busy nights
Ingredient Information And Substitutions
- Beef- Sirloin steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 1 ½-inch chunks. You can also use stew meat or chuck roast for a more budget-friendly option.
- Vegetables- Onion, garlic, and mushrooms add depth of flavor. Feel free to swap mushrooms for carrots or bell peppers.
- Beef broth- The base of your gravy. For a more intense beef flavor, use bone broth. If needed, substitute with chicken or vegetable broth, but the taste will be slightly different.
- Red wine- Enhances the gravy with a deep, rich flavor. A dry red wine like Cabernet or Red Zinfandel works best. If you don’t cook with alcohol, replace it with extra beef broth..
- Worcestershire sauce- Adds umami and a slightly tangy depth.
- Soy sauce- Brings a savory, slightly salty richness to the gravy. Coconut aminos or tamari work too.
- Water- Helps balance the consistency of the gravy and ensures the beef stays moist during cooking.
- Seasonings- Thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper to enhance the taste.
- Thickener- A cornstarch slurry helps achieve the perfect gravy consistency. Use arrowroot powder or flour as an alternative.
- Rice- Served as the base to soak up all the rich flavors. You can also spoon this dish over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
How To Make Beef Tips
Step 1- Add the ingredients to the Instant Pot (or Slow Cooker).
Add the beef, onion, garlic, mushrooms, beef broth, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, water, thyme, salt, and pepper to your slow cooker or Instant Pot. Stir well to combine.
Step 2- Cook.
Place all the ingredients into the slow cooker or Instant Pot, then cover and cook for the allotted time.
For the Instant Pot- 20 minutes on manual high pressure and then do a natural release for 15 minutes.
For the Slow Cooker- Cook on low for 7.5 hours, add the cornstarch slurry and cook on high for 30 more minutes.
Step 4- Thicken the gravy.
Once the beef is tender, cornstarch and a little water to create a slurry. Pour it back into the pot and stir well. If using the Instant pot do this on the sauté setting until thickened and for the Slow Cooker turn the heat to High and cook 30 more minutes to thicken.
Serve this sirloin beef tips recipe over rice, mashed potatoes, or even egg noodles for a comforting, satisfying meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, beef tips come from small cuts of sirloin or tenderloin that aren’t quite large enough to be used for full steaks. For this recipe, we’re using sirloin steak, cutting it into bite-sized chunks, and letting it simmer in a rich, flavorful brown gravy.
For the most tender results, use sirloin steak. However, stew meat or chuck roast can also be used.
Using a slow cooker or pressure cooker ensures fall-apart-tender meat every time. A natural pressure release in the Instant Pot also helps lock in moisture.
Yes! Just make sure the soy sauce (or alternative) and Worcestershire sauces you use are GF and you'll be set.
Tips For Making Beef Tips And Gravy
- Before cooking, trim excess fat and gristle from the meat. Cutting the beef into chunks helps ensure even cooking. When slicing, try to cut against the grain to make the beef even more tender.
- For an even richer, more savory flavor, quickly brown the beef chunks before adding them to your slow cooker. If you're using an Instant Pot, you can do this directly on the Sauté setting to lock in those delicious juices.
- If your gravy is too thin, add more cornstarch slurry and let it cook a bit longer. If it’s too thick, stir in a little extra beef broth until you reach your desired consistency.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Chop the onion, garlic, and mushrooms in advance to save time.
- Leftovers and storage- Store slow cooker beef tips and gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Beef Tips And Rice Recipe
There’s nothing better than a comforting plate of beef tips with gravy served over fluffy white rice. But if you want to round out your meal with some delicious sides, here are a few great options:
Other Tasty Beef Recipes To Try
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!
Instant Pot Beef Tips and Gravy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Sirloin steak trimmed of fat and cut into 1 ½ inch chunks
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 1 14 ounce 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 for garnish, chopped (optional)
Instructions
Slow cooker instructions
- Place steak tips, onion, garlic, mushrooms, broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, water, thyme, salt and pepper into slow cooker pot.
- Stir well to combine.
- Cover pot and turn heat to low.
- Cook for 7 ½ hours.
- Remove cover and take around ¼ cup of broth into a small bowl on the side. Whisk in cornstarch to make a slurry.
- Stir the slurry into the pot and cover. Turn the heat to high and cook for an additional 30 minutes to thicken.
- Stir and serving immediately over white rice with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
Instant Pot instructions
- Place steak tips, onion, garlic, mushrooms, broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, water, thyme, salt and pepper into instant pot.
- Stir well to combine.
- Cover pot and turn heat to manual high pressure and set it for 20 minutes.
- When the cook time is up, do a natural pressure release for 10-15 minutes. Then do a quick release. Remove cover and turn off the manual high pressure setting. Turn on the saute setting.
- Take around ¼ cup of broth into a small bowl on the side. Whisk in cornstarch to make a slurry.
- Stir the slurry into the pot and simmer for 5 minutes or until the gravy has thickened.
- Stir and serving immediately over white rice with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
Video
Notes
- Before cooking, trim excess fat and gristle from the meat. Cutting the beef into chunks helps ensure even cooking. When slicing, try to cut against the grain to make the beef even more tender.
- For an even richer, more savory flavor, quickly brown the beef chunks before adding them to your slow cooker. If you're using an Instant Pot, you can do this directly on the Sauté setting to lock in those delicious juices.
- If your gravy is too thin, add more cornstarch slurry and let it cook a bit longer. If it’s too thick, stir in a little extra beef broth until you reach your desired consistency.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Chop the onion, garlic, and mushrooms in advance to save time.
- Leftovers and storage- Store slow cooker beef tips and gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Brooke says
Jessy Freimann says
Rosemary says
Jessy Freimann says