Beef tips, also known as beef cubes or stew meat, refer to small, bite-sized pieces of beef that are great for stews, braises, and gravies. While many recipes call for slow-simmering the beef tips to tenderness, you can also cook them in a shorter time by choosing more tender cuts of beef. This versatile and budget-friendly ingredient can be transformed into all kinds of delicious family-friendly meals
Here are 10 tasty recipes to make with beef tips:
1. Beef Tips with Gravy
This classic recipe transforms beef tips into a hearty, comforting meal by braising them in an easy homemade gravy. Cook the beef tips with aromatics like onions and garlic before adding broth, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Let the beef tips simmer until fork-tender before thickening the gravy with cornstarch. Serve spoonfuls of the beef smothered in gravy over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice. The gravy soaks into the beef, making it incredibly moist and flavorful.
2. Beef Stroganoff
For a quick and easy twist on beef stroganoff use lean beef tips instead of ground beef or steak. Cook the beef cubes in a skillet until nicely browned then make a rich sauce with broth, Worcestershire mustard, and sour cream. Toss the finished sauce with the beef tips and egg noodles or serve it spooned over the top. This lightened up stroganoff comes together quickly, making it a perfect weeknight dinner.
3. Beef and Guinness Stew
For an Irish take, simmer beef tips in a Guinness beer-infused broth. Caramelized onions, carrots, potatoes, and celery make it hearty. Letting the beef cook low and slow results in incredibly fall-apart tender meat soaked in the delicious flavors. The Guinness adds subtle sweet notes that pair nicely with the beef. Spoon this stew into bowls and serve with Irish soda bread.
4. Beef Tips with Mushroom Gravy
Sauteing mushrooms along with the aromatic vegetables adds even more flavor when making a gravy for beef tips. Opt for meaty mushrooms like portobello or cremini. Make the gravy as directed, adding the mushrooms to the cooked onion and garlic. The earthy umami flavor of the mushrooms boosts the sauce, complementing the tender beef. Serve this dish with buttery mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
5. Swiss Steak with Tomato Gravy
This tender baked steak gets its unique flavor from smothering slices of round steak or beef tips in a tomato gravy. You’ll want the beef in thin slices or cubes to help it cook faster. The acidic tomato sauce tenderizes while also infusing delicious sweet and tangy flavor into the meat. Serve with buttered noodles or rice to soak up the wonderful gravy.
6. Beef Tip Stir Fry
Stir fries are all about quick cooking, so beef tips are ideal. Choose more tender cuts like sirloin and slice them against the grain into thin strips. Toss the beef with cornstarch to help it get crispy in the wok or skillet. Stir fry it in batches over high heat with sliced peppers, onions, broccoli and teriyaki or oyster sauce for flavor. Serve this healthy dinner over steamed rice.
7. Beef and Barley Soup
Beef tips simmered with veggies in a savory broth turns into a cozy soup with the addition of pearl barley. The barley plumps up and adds hearty texture along with fiber. Diced carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, garlic, and thyme season the broth. Shredded cabbage or spinach adds color and fresh flavor at the end. Ladle this satisfying soup into bowls and garnish with parsley.
8. Beef Tip Tacos
Ground beef is typically used for tacos, but substituting cooked beef tips provides a fun twist. Season them boldly with chili powder, cumin, and garlic before pan-frying. Then pile the taco meat into warmed corn or flour tortillas along with your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, guacamole, and Monterey jack cheese. The hearty texture of beef tips gives you something to sink your teeth into with each taco bite.
9. Beef Tips with Rice
For a simple one-pot meal, brown beef tips in a skillet, then add chicken broth, tomatoes, and seasonings like oregano and chili powder. Let simmer before stirring in instant white rice to cook together until tender, absorbing all the delicious flavors. Mix in frozen peas at the end for some color. The rice soaks up the extra sauce creating a perfectly saucy consistency.
10. Skillet Lasagna with Beef Tips
Crumbled ground beef is traditionally used in lasagna, but beef tips provide even more texture and substance. Make an easy skillet lasagna by simmering beef tips in marinara sauce before layering the meat sauce with noodles and cheese. Sprinkle each layer of sauce, broken lasagna noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan in a skillet before baking until bubbly.
With these easy yet satisfying recipes, from stroganoffs to tacos, you’ll enjoy putting beef tips to delicious use in family dinners any night of the week. Their versatility, heartiness, and budget-friendly price make beef tips an ingredient to keep stocked.
How to Cook Beef Tips on the Stove
You can make this recipe on the stove or in your instant pot for an even quicker meal! Watch the video above or the detailed step by step instructions below.
For the stove top instructions, scroll down to the TIPS section. Also, you’ll find detailed cooking times for the different cuts of beef tips and cooking method you select.
The bottom line for stove top cooking is simply adjusting cooking time. Also you’ll need to bring the meat to a rigorous boil at first, and then covering your pan really well while dropping the heat to low.
A good dutch oven pan or heavy duty pot is ideal for stove top.
WHAT ARE BEEF TIPS
Depending on where you buy the beef tips, you can expect them to be either beef Sirloin tips or in my case from Sealand Quality Foods, they were beef tenderloin tips.
Without a doubt the beef tenderloin is far more superior in taste and texture! However, the sirloin would work beautifully in this recipe as well.
THE BEST BEEF TIPS & GRAVY | A SOUTHERN COMFORT CLASSIC RECIPE | TENDER & FLAVORFUL | NO LIPTON
FAQ
What are beef tips good for?
Beef tips and gravy are my go-to for low-and-slow braising. In this recipe, the meat simmers slowly in a rich, brown gravy until meltingly tender. It’s perfect for serving over fluffy mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or a piece of crusty bread — anything to sop up that savory sauce.
What side dishes go with beef tips?
Beef tips are traditionally served over cooked egg noodles, rice, or even mashed potatoes. As far as sides go, add a little color to your plate by pairing this dish with a simple side salad or steamed vegetables, such as broccoli or asparagus.
Does cooking beef tips longer make them more tender?
Yes and no. It might seem counterintuitive, but tough cuts of beef get more tender with longer cooking times, while tender cuts of beef become more tough the longer you cook them. Why? It’s all about their internal structure.May 8, 2024
What are beef tips?
Beef tips are a tasty and economical choice for hearty dinners. They are typically made from leftover pieces of larger beef cuts, which are then chopped into ‘tips’ and packaged for sale in the meat section of your market, sometimes labeled ‘stew meat’.
What to eat with beef tips?
Serve with your favorite vegetables – green veggies are wonderful, like broccoli, asparagus, green beans. Garden salad, bread, garlic bread and dinner rolls make great sides. How do I store beef tips and how long will leftovers last?
What to eat with beef tips & gravy?
Beef tips and gravy is the ultimate comfort food with tender chunks of beef in a rich brown gravy. Serve this beef tip recipe over mashed potatoes or even rice or pasta for the perfect meal! You Love These Beef Tips Because… This recipe makes the beef extra tender and with a rich, flavorful brown gravy. Slow roasting adds so much flavor.
How do you cook beef tips?
Gravy: The beef tips are cooked in a combination of beef broth and onion soup. Once cooked, the mixture is thickened with a cornstarch slurry. These are so easy to cook, and cleanup is a breeze with only one pot! Season and sear the beef in a Dutch oven (recipe below). Add the onions and soften.
What can I add to beef tips and mushrooms?
Beef tips and mushrooms are a common pairing, but if you’re not a fan of shrooms, this recipe is for you. Thinly sliced onions and bell peppers add a bit of veggies, while Worcestershire and steak seasoning amp up the flavor. Cooking beef tips low and slow results in ultra tender meat and an extra rich gravy.
What type of meat is used in beef tips?
Many people use ‘beef tips’ to refer to a dish that consists of cubed meat simmered slowly in a savory gravy until it’s tender. Cubed stew meat is used in this recipe.