Southern Beef Tips with Rice and Brown Gravy
Beef Tips with Rice and Brown Gravy is comfort food at it’s finest! This classic Southern dish consists of tender bites of seasoned sirloin in an easy, all-natural homemade brown gravy served over rice or egg noodles….not complicated or fancy, just deliciously good! You can make this on the stovetop or in a slow cooker-both instructions are included.
I make this easy beef recipe several times a year, along with the other “regular” menu items at our house…pot pie with ground beef, meatloaf, chicken spaghetti, pot roast and chili! But I never get tired of this easy recipe!
Ingredients
The ingredients for beef sirloin tips are pretty simple-you probably have most of this in your pantry.
- Beef-sirloin, tenderloin, ribeye or chuck roast cut into bite size pieces (Use a sharp knife and cut the steak or roast into cubes (or ask your butcher to cube it for you!)
- Oil– vegetable oil, canola oil or olive oil
- All-purpose flour-this forms a roux for the brown gravy
- Beef broth or beef stock
- Onion-yellow onion, sweet yellow or white onion
- Allspice ground seasoning
- Garlic powder or garlic salt
- Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Bay leaves– whole dried bay leaves of 1 teaspoon of ground bay leaf seasoning
- Rice or egg noodles -plain white rice is the traditional side dish for this recipe, but you can use brown rice, or another type of grain like quinoa, barley or egg noodles
- Salt and ground black pepper – to taste
Some recipes use Lipton Dry Onion Soup Mix, a dry brown gravy mix, an au jus mix or a gravy packet for the gravy, but this recipe makes homemade brown gravy with all-natural, made from scratch ingredients.
How to make it beef tips with rice and brown gravy
Stove top method
If you make this on the stove top, it’s pretty easy! In just a few simple steps and you’ll have a deliciously tender and hearty stew to serve over prepared white rice, brown rice, noodles or mashed potatoes!
- Cut the sirloin into bite sized pieces; add a little vegetable oil to a Dutch oven or stockpot and brown it in a single layer for 4-5 minutes
- In the same pan, add chopped onion and saute onions for 2-3 minutes; use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits; add beef broth (enough to cover the tips), Worcestershire sauce, ground allspice seasoning, garlic powder and 2 bay leaves
- Reduce heat to simmer, cover and allow to cook until fork-tender. If you want a thicker brown gravy, make a thickening slurry with 1 cup of cold water (or tap water) and 4 tablespoons of flour in a separate measuring cup or bowl.
- Whisk this together with a fork until there are no lumps, then pour it into the stockpot with the beef and onions. Continue to cook on low heat until gravy thickens; Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper.
- Meanwhile, prepare the long grain white rice according to package directions. Remove the bay leaves and serve the brown gravy over the cooked rice!
Whichever cut of meat you decide to use, make sure it is in a steak, or “roast” form for the most tender result.
Slow cooker beef tips
- The slow cooker method is great if you’re busy. First, you’ll need to sear the beef sirloin tips on the stovetop first, so they’re nice and browned on all sides.
- In a Dutch oven on medium to medium high heat, add a little oil and brown the beef on the stove top.
- Transfer the browned meat to the slow cooker, add remaining ingredients, and allow to cook on low 5-6 hours. (Slow cooker times may vary because each slow cooker cooks differently.)You may have to add more liquid (water of broth) to the slow cooker in order to completely cover the meat with liquid.
How to make brown gravy from the slow cooker
- If you use the the slow cooker method, once the tips are tender, remove two cups of the broth from the slow cooker and place it into a large saucepan.
- In a two-cup measuring cup, add one cup of water and 4 tablespoons of flour; stir together with a fork until smooth; add this mixture to the broth that’s in the saucepan
- Turn the stovetop heat to medium, and cook the gravy for about 5-6 minutes; then turn the stove to low heat and continue to cook the brown gravy – let it thicken for about 2 minutes, season to taste with salt and black pepper, then pour the gravy over the delicious beef tips and rice!
Recipe tips
- Do not overcrowd the pan when searing the beef; work in batches if needed
- You can use chopped garlic if you don’t have garlic powder; just add it to the skillet or saucepan after the onions are tender.
- Add only HALF of the slurry to the mixture at first, and let it thicken; if you want a thicker brown gravy, add the remaining slurry
- If the gravy gets too thick, thin it with a little broth or water
- The brown gravy seasonings may need to be adjusted after you add the thickening slurry; taste it and add more if you think it needs it
FAQ’s
Yes. Cut the chuck roast into half-inch to one-inch cubes.
Make a gluten free brown gravy by substituting the all-purpose flour with either gluten free flour or cornstarch.
Slow cooker times vary based upon the temperature, the quantity of beef and the slow cooker-like ovens, they are all somewhat different.
Serving suggestions
If you don’t have rice, beef tips and gravy go great served over egg noodles, mashed potatoes or even on a baked potato!
If you’re looking for a vegetable to go with your dinner, try steamed Brussels sprouts, green beans or collard greens!
Storage and reheating
For best results, store in an airtight container and put the rice in a separate airtight container. Store these in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The brown gravy may thicken upon refrigeration; if so, add a little water or stock to it when you reheat.
You can easily reheat this on the stove top (on low to medium heat) or in the microwave. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months. When ready to serve allow the beef tips and brown gravy to come to room temperature, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Southern Beef Tips with Rice and Gravy can be a one-dish meal or serve it with a side of steamed asparagus, broccoli or steamed carrots! Your family will love this delicious, hearty beef and rice recipe!
Why this recipe works
- Browning the beef provides a rich and savory base for the brown gravy
- Can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker
- Slow simmering the beef allows for tender beef tips no matter what cut of meat you use
Southern Beef Tips with Rice and Brown Gravy
Equipment
- Dutch oven – or –
- Slow Cooker
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 2 lbs sirloin or chuck roast , cubed (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1¼ cup chopped sweet yellow onion
- 2 cups beef broth see recipe notes
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder see recipe notes
- 2 dried bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- salt and pepper , to taste
- prepared rice
- ½ cup water , for thickening slurry
- 4 tablespoons flour , for thickening slurry
Instructions
- Cut beef into ½-1" inch cubes; lightly salt and pepper2 lbs sirloin or chuck roast
- In a large Dutch oven on medium high heat, add oil; once oil is hot; add beef to pan in a single layer (if possible);2 tablespoons oil, 2 lbs sirloin or chuck roast
- Lighly brown beef cubes on all sides; add onion and cook on medium heat for 2 minutes, until onions are tender; (if you're using fresh or prepared minced garlic, add it to the pan after the onions have cooked a few minutes);1¼ cup chopped sweet yellow onion
- Add broth (use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits). Make sure you add enough liquid to cover the meat. Add remaining ingredients;cover, reduce heat to simmer and allow to cook until fork-tender (see notes)2 cups beef broth, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 dried bay leaves, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Once beef is fork-tender, make a slurry (in a 2 cup measuring cup-combine 1 cup water and 4 tablespoons of flour; stir well with a fork until there are no lumps); add half of the slurry to beef mixture- See Notes½ cup water, 4 tablespoons flour
- Season to taste; add salt and peppersalt and pepper
- Prepare rice according to package instructions; remove bay leaves from beef tips; Plate rice and serve beef tips and gravy over riceprepared rice
These beef tips with rice and gravy came out perfect! My go-to recipe from now on! Thank you!
I love beef tips and rice. It really is one of the best comfort foods ever!