Beef Tips and Gravy is the ultimate comfort food. This meal features tender chunks of beef smothered in a rich mushroom and pepper gravy. With instructions for making it in the pressure cooker to make this meal quick and easy!
Craving more savory beef recipes? Then you have to try my easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew or this delicious Hearty Veggie and Beef Pot Pie next!
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Growing up, beef tips with gravy were one of my favorite meals that my mom would cook. There's something so comforting about that gravy cascading down a pile of rice, or mashed potatoes.
Today, I make it not only for the sake of nostalgia but because it's delicious, affordable, and easy. My mom made her gravy from scratch, using a flour base that soaked up all of the goodness from searing the beef tips. But for the sake of saving time here at Razzle Dazzle Life, a pre-packaged brown gravy mix was used instead.
Ingredients You Need:
- Beef stew meat: Be sure to trim and rinse the meat prior to cooking.
- Brown gravy mix: Save yourself some time with this shortcut. Simply add water to the mix. With the veggies and seasonings used in this recipe, I guarantee no one will know that it is not homemade!
- Vegetables: Red peppers, onions, and mushrooms add so much extra flavor to the instant gravy.
- Olive oil: You can use vegetable oil or avocado oil if you prefer.
- Seasoning: Seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and nutmeg. The nutmeg adds a great layer of flavor! It is not a spice that is used in savory dishes all too often, but it adds a really special layer of flavor to these beef tips and gravy.
How to make the beef tips and gravy:
You can use a cast iron skillet with a lid, and make the beef tips on the stove top. Start by seering the beef, add in the onions, peppers, and mushrooms (optional), then add some of the water and cover the skillet with the lid.
Simmer the meat and vegetables for about 20 minutes. While that is simmering, mix-up your gravy. Pour the gravy into the skillet and stir it to combine. Cover the skillet and allow the meat to tenderize.
Making beef tips in the pressure cooker:
Making beef tips and gravy in the pressure cooker is a great way to save time. Simply add the beef tips to the Instant Pot while it is in saute mode. Sear them for 5 minutes, turning frequently.
Add in your onions, bell pepper, and mushroom. Then pour in your gravy mixture. Place the pressure cooker on meat mode for 45 minutes.
The pressure cooker is AMAZING to get dinner on the table in as little as an hour. Even more, the meat, or whatever you decide to put in there, comes out so tender and flavorful.
Pro-Tips to Make the Best Beef Tips and Gravy:
- Make sure the meat is at room temperature before cooking. Let it sit on the counter for up to one hour. Doing so will give you tastier, more tender beef tips.
- The key to making beef tips tender is to not rush the cooking process. If you raise the temperature to cook the meat faster then the meat will be tough.
- You can make beef tips and gravy ahead of time. Prepare the meat and gravy up to 3 days ahead and store them in the fridge. When you are ready to serve, reheat on low on the stovetop.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers:
Leftover beef tips and gravy taste just as good as the day you made them! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
If you want it to stay fresh longer, freeze it in Ziploc bags for up to 2 months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Microwave to reheat leftover beef tips and gravy.
FAQ:
What is beef stew meat?
Stew meat is bits and pieces of leftover cuts from larger sirloins, roasts, or steaks that the butcher had. It can contain chuck roast or round, which are known to be tougher cuts of meat. But once it simmers in liquid for at least an hour, it becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender.
What if I do not own a pressure cooker?
No worries at all! If you do not own a pressure cooker (I highly recommend you get one), you can simply use a cast iron skillet. Place the lid on the skillet and let the meat get nice and tender.
What should I serve with the beef tips?
Rice is a great starch to serve with them because it helps sop up the gravy. Other great side dishes are mashed potatoes and egg noodles. All of these options are delicious because they soak up the gravy to provide a complete and hearty meal.
But no meal is truly complete without a side of vegetables though! This squash and tomato bake recipe would pair perfectly with this meal.
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Beef stew meat trimmed and rinsed
- 2 packs Brown gravy mix
- 1 Red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 cup Mushrooms sliced
- 1 small Onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 4 cups Water
Seasoning (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon Seasoning salt
- ½ tablespoon Black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg optional
Instructions
- Add the olive oil into a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Season your stew meat with the seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and nutmeg (optional).
- Gently add your beef into the cast iron skillet and seer for 3-5 minutes, until it forms a nice brown crust.
- Next add in your bell pepper, mushrooms, and onion and saute for about 2 minutes.
- Pour in two cups of the water, place the lid on the skillet, and adjust the temperature to medium-low. Simmer the meat for about 20 minutes. Check the liquid level after 10 minutes, and add ¼ of water if needed.
- While the meat is simmering, mix up the gravy packets according to the instructions. After 20 minutes, remove the lid and pour the gravy mixture into the skillet.
- Stir until everything is fully combined. Cover the skillet and let the beef tips simmer for another 15 minutes, checking every 5-7 minutes to make sure it doesn't need more water.
- Taste for seasoning, and add salt and pepper according to your desired taste.
Pressure Cooker Method:
- Set your pressure cooker to the "saute" mode. In a separate bowl, season the meat to coat evenly.
- Add olive oil to the pressure cooker and warm for about one minute. Add the meat and saute for about 5 minutes to brown it.
- Add the bell pepper, onions, and mushrooms. Saute an additional 5 minutes.
- Mix the gravy and the water in a separate bowl. Pour gravy mixture over the meat and peppers.
- Close the pressure cooker and set it to the "meat" mode. This usually cooks for one hour.
- Release pressure once it's complete. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
Morgan says
This looks SO good! Such a great comfort food!
Morgan says
This looks SO good! Such a great comfort food!
Tamara J. says
Thank you Morgan, it was delicious!
Morgan says
This sounds SO good! Such a great comfort food!
Kim says
This looks amazing! And i love how easy it is. Our instant pot has been a lifesaver now that school is back!
Tamara J. says
Ours has been a lifesaver over here as well!
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Colleen | Bakes & Blunders says
Yum! This sounds like a delicious dinner.
Colleen | Bakes & Blunders says
Yum! This sounds like a delicious dinner.
Tamara J. says
It was a perfect meal indeed!