Beef tips, also known as beef cubes or stew meat, can make for a delicious and protein-packed meal when cooked properly. However, the trick is getting those beef tips nice and tender. If you don’t know what you’re doing, they can easily end up chewy and tough.
The good news is that with the right techniques, making tender beef tips in a skillet is totally doable for any home cook. In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to end up with fork-tender beef tips every time.
Choosing the Right Cut of Beef
The first step is selecting the right cut of beef. The most tender cuts like filet mignon may be tasty, but they are quite pricey. For beef tips, you’ll want to use cuts that have more connective tissue. This tissue will break down during cooking, making the meat nice and tender.
Some top choices include:
- Chuck shoulder or chuck roast
- Bottom sirloin or tri-tip
- Brisket (flat cut)
- Top round or eye of round roast
- Flank steak
I recommend choosing a cut that is well-marbled, meaning it has thin veins of fat running through the meat. The fat will keep the beef tips juicy and flavorful as they cook.
Cutting the Meat into Uniform Pieces
Once you’ve selected your cut of beef it’s time to cut it into cubes or tips. The pieces should be about 1-2 inches in size. Try to keep them as uniform as possible so they’ll cook evenly.
Use a sharp chef’s knife to carefully slice the meat into strips, then cut crosswise into cubes. Trim off any large chunks of fat, but leave some marbling on each piece.
Pro Tip: Put the beef in the freezer for 30-60 minutes before cutting. This will firm it up, making it easier to cut into clean pieces.
Season Generously for Flavor
Now it’s time to add flavor with seasoning. At a minimum, you’ll want to use salt and pepper. For 1-2 pounds of beef tips, season with:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Then feel free to also add any of the following:
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Rub the seasonings all over the beef pieces so they are completely coated. This will really boost the flavor as the beef cooks.
Sear the Beef in a Hot Skillet
Here’s where the magic happens—searing the beef tips to perfection. You’ll want a heavy skillet, ideally cast iron or stainless steel. Heat it up over medium-high heat until it’s piping hot.
Then add just enough oil to coat the bottom, about 1-2 tablespoons. Let it heat up for 30 seconds.
Carefully add the beef tips in an even layer, being sure not to overcrowd the pan. You may need to sear them in batches. Let the beef sit undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until a nice brown crust forms on the bottom.
Then flip each piece and brown the other sides, about 2 minutes per side. Resist the urge to move them around too much.
Once the beef is nicely browned all over, transfer it to a plate and set aside.
Simmer in a Flavorful Liquid
Now you want to simmer the seared beef tips in a flavorful braising liquid that will further tenderize the meat.
If there are browned bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet, add 1/2 cup of beef broth and deglaze the pan by scraping up the bits. This adds flavor.
Then add more beef broth to the skillet, enough to almost cover the beef tips (about 1 1/2 – 2 cups). You can also use red wine, tomato sauce, or water.
Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Then add the reserved beef tips back to the skillet along with any juices from the plate.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer gently until the beef is very tender, 1-2 hours. Check and add more liquid occasionally if needed.
Finish with a Sauce
Once the beef tips are fall-apart tender, it’s time to finish off the skillet meal with a tasty sauce.
If the broth has reduced and you want more sauce, stir in another 1/2 cup of beef broth. For a luxurious texture, whisk in 1-2 tablespoons of butter.
You can also thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry. Just mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water. Pour this into the simmering sauce and let it bubble for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
Finally, taste and adjust seasonings as needed. I like to add a splash of Worcestershire sauce and extra black pepper. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving if desired.
Serving Suggestions
Your succulent beef tips are ready to enjoy! Here are some tasty ways to serve them:
- Over mashed potatoes, egg noodles or rice
- With roasted veggies like potatoes, carrots and onions
- Stuffed into tacos, burritos or sandwiches
- On top of a green salad
- With biscuits for soaking up the delicious sauce
Making tender beef tips is easy when you follow these simple steps for searing, simmering, and saucing. The key is being patient and letting the meat cook low and slow. In about 2 hours or less, you’ll have fork-tender beef bathed in a rich, flavorful sauce. Enjoy!
Easy Beef Tips with Gravy
- ▢ 2 pounds chuck tender roast stew meat, or any cut of beef you prefer
- ▢ 4 tablespoons butter
- ▢ 1/2 large onion sliced into thin wedges
- ▢ 1 can condensed beef broth
- ▢ 1/2 cup steak sauce like A-1, generic works fine here, more can be used for more flavor
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon beef flavor enhancer like Beefer-Upper, beef base of bouillon could be substituted
- ▢ 8 ounces button mushrooms cut into quarters
- ▢ 1/2 large onion cut into large dice
- ▢ 1 green pepper sliced optional
- ▢ 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Cut roast into 1 to 2-inch cubes.
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt butter until it just begins to turn brown, but don’t burn it.
- Add the beef cubes and turn heat up to medium-high.
- Let meat sit for a few minutes until browned. There may be browned bits of meat stuck to the bottom of the pan and that’s a good thing.
- Stir the meat a few times and continue browning. This will not crust up like beef stew, just a quick cook/steam is what you want.
- Add the wedge cut onions, beef broth, one can of water, steak sauce. Worcestershire, and flavor enhancer.
- All mixture to come to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
- Allow meat to simmer for about an hour.
- Add mushrooms and continue to simmer until meat is tender, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
- Just before serving, increase heat to medium-high and add the large dice onions and cook just until onions have softened slightly. Slices of green peppers should be added now if using.
- Mix cornstarch with about 1/4 cup of water.
- Bring beef mixture to a boil. Add cornstarch slurry and bring back to a boil. Turn off heat.
- Serve over rice, egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or grits.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and may vary based on exact ingredients used. For accuracy, consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
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Steak Sauce
My preferred steak sauce for this recipe is A-1, only because it makes it more palatable to Andy. Any steak sauce can be used.
I have used Heinz 57 before and have used a combination of whatever little bits of steak sauce sitting in bottles I had in the refrigerator.
Spices
Any spice you like could be added as well.
I have used anywhere from garlic salt to lemon-pepper in mine. Just be sure to taste the broth before you add the mushrooms because they will soak up whatever flavoring they first encounter and it will be kind of locked in.
The best part about these beef tips is that you can serve them with rice or noodles.
It is equally delicious with either.
I recommend you butter your noodles while they are hot for the best flavor.
I also find that a splash of soy sauce adds an extra touch of salt that livens up the flavor when served over rice.
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FAQ
How to cook beef tips to be tender?
Pour 2 cups water, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce into the skillet. Stir in garlic powder, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
What tenderizes beef tips?
Make a marinade with acidic components—such as citrus juice, buttermilk, yogurt, wine, vinegar or soda—to help break down tough connective tissue and muscle fibers.
How to cook steak tips on a skillet?
Sear the meat on one side until deeply browned and caramelized, about 2-3 minutes. Flip each piece, and sear for 2-3 minutes or until the meat is medium rare or medium, depending on your preference. Transfer the cooked meat to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
How to cook beef tenderloin tips?
How to Cook Beef Tenderloin Steak Tips – a delicious beef tenderloin steak tips recipe made with butter, garlic and fresh herbs! Cut beef tenderloin tips into 1 inch sized pieces. Pat dry with clean paper towel and season with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Bring a large cast iron skillet to medium-high heat.
What is a way to make beef tender?
To make beef tender, you can use a meat mallet or a meat tenderizer tool to break down the muscle fibers and connective tissues. This will result in more tender beef tips.
How do I cook beef tips?
Sear the beef on high heat in a skillet to develop a flavorful crust before slow cooking or braising the beef tips. This helps to seal in the juices and adds complexity to the taste.
How can you tenderize beef tips?
To tenderize beef tips, you can use a dry rub. A combination of salt, sugar, and spices can help break down the proteins and tenderize the meat.
How do you cook beef tenderloin in a cast iron skillet?
Cut beef tenderloin tips into 1 inch sized pieces. Pat dry with clean paper towel and season with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Bring a large cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl to coat the pan.
How do you cook tenderloin steak?
First, you will want to get your fresh tenderloin beef tips to about room temperature. Then use a large kitchen knife to cut them into 1-inch cubes. They might be slightly different sizes but that’s ok! Next, use clean paper towels to pat the tender steak bites dry. And then season generously with kosher salt and ground pepper.