Looking for an easy weeknight meal? These mouthwatering beef tips made in the slow cooker are perfect for dinner. They are tender and delicious.

Enjoy tender and flavorful slow cooker beef tips with this easy recipe. It's perfect for a hearty meal any day of the week!Photo byLittle Bit Recipes

These slow-cooker beef tips with gravy are a lifesaver. Prepare them in the morning and you'll come home with them ready to enjoy. The slow cooker allows the meat to tenderize so well. The seasonings truly enhance and bring out all the fall flavors.

Ingredients

You only need a few ingredients and seasonings to make these creamy beef tips come together.

• ½ pound top sirloin cubed
• 1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste
• 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
• ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ cup diced onion
• ½ teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• ¾ teaspoon water
• ½ tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

1. Heat 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the beef cubes, season with ⅛ teaspoon of salt and some fresh ground black pepper. Sear for a minute each side, then transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Add beef broth and Worcestershire sauce to the slow cooker. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, paprika, diced onions, and minced garlic over the beef. Tuck in the bay leaf.
3. Cover and cook on Low setting for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is tender and can be easily shredded with a fork.
4. In a small bowl, mix ¾ teaspoon of water and cornstarch until smooth. Add this mixture to the slow cooker, stirring until the sauce thickens. Cook for an additional 10 minutes on Low.
5. Remove the bay leaf and serve.

Hint: sear the beef in a hot skillet before adding it to the slow cooker. This step enhances the flavor through caramelization and adds depth to your dish. After searing, deglaze the pan with some broth or wine, then pour that liquid into the slow cooker along with your other ingredients. This will help incorporate all those flavorful bits into your final dish!

Variations

• Change the cut of beef. Instead of top sirloin, you can use any meat that will remain tender until slow cooking such as chuck roast, stew meat, round roast or tri top sirloin. If you are using another type of meat, the fat content may be higher so you might want to trim any excess fat before going into the slow cooker.
• Soy sauce. You can use this in place of Worcestershire sauce to still give the sauce that umami flavoring.
• Make spicier. Add in a handful of diced jalapenos or add in additional spices such as cumin or chili powder for a spicier taste.
• Add vegetables. Feel free to add your favorite vegetables like carrots, mushrooms and potatoes to the slow cooker for a complete meal. Add more stock or water in this case to partially cover the vegetables.
• Make in the Instant Pot. Place on sauté setting. Add meat and onions and cook until browned. Cancel sauté setting and pour in broth, seasonings and Worcestershire sauce. Add lid and make sure valve is sealed. Press the manual button and set pressure to 15 minutes. Once finished do a quick release and remove lid. Add in slurry mixture. Set to sauté bringing the beef to a boil until sauce thickens.

Tips

Top tip: Make sure the meat that you choose is lean without any excess fat to avoid too much grease. If you are using a fatter meat, trim off any excess fat before placing in slow cooker to lessen grease.

• Cut meat evenly. In this recipe, they should be cubed in size. This will help the meat cook evenly and should guarantee that they will be tender.
• Sear the meat. This will help give a depth of flavor to the meat before slow cooking along with a caramelized crust.
• Adjust the cooking time based on your slow cooker’s settings and the thickness of the meat. It should be cooked until tender and reaches the recommended internal temperature of 145F degrees for medium.
• Watch the liquid. Sometimes the liquid can evaporate in the slow cooker so make sure the lid is on tight. If you notice a decrease in liquid, add a little bit extra broth and make sure the meat is covered.
• Stir slurry to create the sauce. Stir the water and cornstarch mixture until sauce is thickened. Let cook an additional 10 minutes before turning heat off.
• To thicken sauce more, remove lid from the slow cooker the last few minutes of cooking.

Storage

Place any leftover beef tips in an airtight container or bag. They can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. To reheat, place in a sauce pan over medium heat and cook until warmed. Stirring occasionally to loosen sauce.

Beef tips with gravy freeze so well. Place any leftovers in a freezer safe airtight container or bag in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. Take out and thaw in the refrigerator before reheating on the stovetop.