Slow Cooker Beef Tips & Noodles is a perfect comfort dish that combines tender beef tips, a rich savory sauce, and egg noodles. This dish is both easy to prepare and ideal for busy days when you want to return home to a delicious meal waiting for you. The slow cooker works its magic, turning stew meat into melt-in-your-mouth beef, while the creamy mushroom-based sauce adds depth and flavor.

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Why This Recipe Works So Well

The combination of beef tips and noodles is a classic, and this recipe takes it up a notch with its slow-cooked tenderness and rich sauce. The Lipton onion soup mix and brown gravy mix blend perfectly with cream of mushroom soup to create a savory sauce that coats every bite of beef. Adding mushrooms gives the dish an earthy flavor, while the beef broth enhances the richness of the sauce. Cooking the beef low and slow allows the flavors to fully develop, resulting in a deeply satisfying meal.

Fun Fact

The use of onion soup mix in slow cooker recipes became popular in the mid-20th century, as convenience foods were on the rise. It quickly became a staple in American kitchens because it added a burst of flavor to a variety of slow-cooked dishes, without the need for multiple seasonings.

A neat trick for achieving perfectly tender beef tips is to use stew meat that has a bit of marbling, as the fat will render down during the slow cooking process, adding even more flavor and tenderness. Another tip is to brown the beef in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker. This step adds a deeper, richer flavor to the finished dish, though it's optional for those pressed for time.

Nutritional Information for Slow Cooker Beef Tips & Noodles (Per Serving, Serves 6)

• • Calories: 460 kcal  
  • Protein: 28g  
  • Fat: 20g  
  • Carbohydrates: 40g  
  • Fiber: 3g  
  • Sugar: 2g  
  • Sodium: 980mg

Serving Suggestions to Enhance Your Slow Cooker Beef Tips & Noodles

This dish is best served over a bed of egg noodles, allowing the noodles to soak up the flavorful sauce. A side of crusty bread or a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette would complement the richness of the beef tips. For an added pop of color and flavor, you can sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley or green onions on top. Pair with a bold red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, to round out the meal.

Fun Fact

Did you know that the term “stew meat” refers to various cuts of beef that come from tougher areas of the cow, like the shoulder or round? When cooked slowly, the connective tissues break down, making the meat incredibly tender and flavorful. This is why slow cookers are perfect for turning tougher cuts into something delicious.

Storage Information to Keep Your Slow Cooker Beef Tips & Noodles Fresh

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the beef tips (without the noodles) for up to 2 months. Simply defrost in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through. To avoid the noodles becoming mushy, cook fresh egg noodles when you're ready to serve.

Tip for Freezing: When freezing the beef tips, it's a good idea to freeze the sauce and beef separately from the noodles. This way, when you reheat the dish, you can cook fresh noodles and mix them in just before serving. This will help the noodles retain their texture and ensure they don’t become overly soft.

Extra Tip to Elevate Your Slow Cooker Beef Tips & Noodles

For an extra depth of flavor, try adding a splash of red wine or Worcestershire sauce to the slow cooker before cooking. You can also stir in a bit of sour cream at the end of cooking to create a creamy, stroganoff-style sauce. Additionally, serving the dish with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese or a drizzle of truffle oil will add an extra layer of richness and sophistication to the meal.

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Slow Cooker Beef Tips & Noodles Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 lb stew meat (increase to 2 lbs if preferred, keeping other measurements the same)  
• 1 pack of Lipton onion soup mix  
• 1 pack of brown gravy mix  
• 1 can of cream of mushroom (10.5 oz can)  
• 1 small can of mushrooms  
• Beef broth (equal to one can, use the cream of mushroom can for measurement)  
• Egg noodles (cook as per package instructions)

Instructions:

1. In a slow cooker, combine the stew meat, Lipton onion soup mix, brown gravy mix, cream of mushroom soup, and mushrooms.  

2. Pour in the beef broth, using the cream of mushroom can to measure the broth. Stir everything together to ensure the meat is fully coated with the sauce mixture.  

3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened.  

4. About 20 minutes before the beef tips are done, cook the egg noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.  

5. Once the beef is cooked, serve the beef tips and sauce over the cooked egg noodles. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or green onions if desired. 

Enjoy this comforting, hearty Slow Cooker Beef Tips & Noodles, perfect for a cozy family dinner!