Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy
The packet shortcut: beef tips in a salty, savory brown gravy that needs no cornstarch at the end.
Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy
Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy6
servings10
minutes8
hoursThe packet shortcut: beef tips in a salty, savory brown gravy that needs no cornstarch at the end.
Ingredients
2 lb beef stew meat or chuck cubes, about 1 1/2 inches
1 packet (about 1 oz) dry onion soup mix
2 packets (0.87 oz each) brown gravy mix
1 cup low-sodium beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
8 oz cremini mushrooms, halved (optional)
Directions
- Pat the beef dry and spread it in the bottom of the crockpot in one even layer.
- Sprinkle the onion soup mix, both gravy packets, garlic powder and pepper evenly over the meat.
- Whisk the broth, Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste together in a measuring cup until smooth.
- Pour the liquid over the beef without stirring, then scatter the minced garlic on top.
- Add the mushrooms if you are using them, and dot the butter over the top.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or on HIGH for 4 hours. Do not lift the lid in the first 6 hours.
- After 7 hours on LOW, stir once and test a piece. It should break apart with a fork.
- If the gravy is thinner than you like, cook it 20 minutes with the lid slightly open.
- Taste before salting. The packets usually carry enough.
- Serve over noodles, rice or mashed potatoes, spooning the gravy over the top.
Notes
- Stew meat cooks unevenly, so start testing an hour before the end. For less salt, use one gravy packet and thicken the rest with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Leftovers keep 4 days and freeze for 3 months.
Why packets give a salty gravy
Onion soup mix and gravy packets are concentrated, so they flavor and thicken in one step. Tomato paste and Worcestershire add depth the packets lack.
No thickener is needed.
Swaps and serving
Using one gravy packet plus cornstarch cuts the salt. Do not add salt before tasting. Serve over noodles, rice or mashed potatoes.
A green vegetable balances the richness.
Storing and the lid mistake
Leftovers keep 4 days and freeze for 3 months.
The mistake is opening the lid early. The gravy needs steady heat to thicken, and stew meat is easy to overdo.
Managing the salt
Packets vary by brand, so taste before you add anything. If the sauce is too salty, stir in a splash of water or unsalted broth and serve over plain rice or mashed potatoes, which absorb the salt. Mushrooms help round out the flavor.
Stew meat often includes uneven pieces, so cut the large ones down. Even cubes finish together, and you will not find a tough piece in a tender bowl.
Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy at a glance
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 8 hours
- Servings: 6 servings
- Ingredients: 11, led by beef stew meat or chuck cubes, packet (about 1 oz) dry onion soup mix, packets (0.87 oz each) brown gravy mix, low-sodium beef broth
Tips for Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy
Stew meat cooks unevenly, so start testing an hour before the end. For less salt, use one gravy packet and thicken the rest with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Leftovers keep 4 days and freeze for 3 months.
Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy FAQ
How long does Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy take?
Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy takes 8 hours of cooking after 10 minutes of prep.
How many people does Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy serve?
This recipe makes 6 servings.
What do I need to make Crockpot Beef Tips with Onion Soup Mix and Brown Gravy?
11 ingredients, led by beef stew meat or chuck cubes, packet (about 1 oz) dry onion soup mix, packets (0.87 oz each) brown gravy mix, low-sodium beef broth. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
Part of: 5 Crockpot Beef Tips Recipes for Stew Meat and Sirloin
