Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with this incredibly Flavorful Beef Tips & Gravy, perfectly served over a generous mound of fluffy mashed potatoes. This classic dish promises a heartwarming, satisfying meal that’s both delicious and easy to prepare.
This Beef Tips & Gravy recipe is a cherished family favorite, a testament to its delicious taste, straightforward preparation, and budget-friendly appeal. It’s the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table, eager for a taste of home-cooked goodness. From the tender, slow-simmered beef to the rich, savory gravy, every spoonful is designed to comfort and satisfy.
What truly defines comfort food for you? For some, it might be a decadent, sugary dessert, while others find solace in a steaming bowl of hearty soup. In my family, the epitome of comfort is almost always found in a generous serving of mashed potatoes blanketed in rich, homemade gravy. This dish encapsulates that feeling perfectly, offering warmth and nostalgia with every bite.
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For generations, dishes like this have graced our dinner tables, affectionately known as “farm dinners.” My husband, who grew up on a farm in a quaint Iowa town, recalls similar meals being a staple. When we visit, we can almost always count on enjoying a classic roast dinner complete with tender potatoes, sweet carrots, crisp cabbage, and an abundance of rich gravy. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a comforting ritual that genuinely feels like home, connecting us to simpler times and cherished memories.
Growing up, my personal comfort food beacon was my mom’s unforgettable pork chops with mushroom gravy. To this day, it remains one of my absolute favorite meals, a sentiment echoed by my entire family. Even my boyfriend (now fiancé!) requests those very pork chops with mashed potatoes for his birthday dinner every single year, proving that true comfort food has a timeless, irresistible appeal.
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There’s something uniquely satisfying about tender beef simmering in a rich, savory gravy, especially when it’s destined to be piled high over creamy mashed potatoes. This Beef Tips & Gravy recipe isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience that harkens back to wholesome, home-cooked dinners. It’s robust enough for a chilly evening yet simple enough to prepare any day of the week. Let’s dive into the essential components that make this dish so irresistible.
Key Ingredients for Perfect Beef Tips & Gravy:
- Beef stew meat (or a suitable cut for tender beef tips)
- Butter (for sautéing and richness)
- Fresh onion (adds foundational flavor)
- Mushrooms (optional, but highly recommended for depth)
- Garlic (the aromatic backbone of many great dishes)
- All-purpose flour (for dredging and thickening the gravy)
- Salt & pepper (essential seasoning)
- Cooking oil (for browning the beef)
- High-quality beef stock (the base of the savory gravy)
- Worcestershire sauce (for a boost of umami)
- Ketchup (a secret ingredient for balancing flavors)
- Kitchen Bouquet (for enhancing color and flavor)
When it comes to the beef, you have options! While pre-cut stew meat is readily available at most grocery stores, you can also cut down a beef roast or a round steak you might have on hand. For those who appreciate earthy flavors, I highly recommend including mushrooms; they add a wonderful depth to the gravy. However, if mushrooms aren’t your preference, feel free to omit them without compromising the deliciousness of the dish. This recipe is wonderfully adaptable to your family’s tastes.
One ingredient that often sparks questions in my recipes is Kitchen Bouquet. You’ll typically find it in the grocery store aisle alongside gravies and seasoning packets. It’s a fantastic tool for elevating the visual appeal and flavor of your savory dishes.
Understanding Kitchen Bouquet: Your Gravy’s Best Friend
Kitchen Bouquet is a unique browning and seasoning sauce, primarily crafted from caramel with subtle vegetable flavorings. Its culinary legacy dates back to approximately 1873, and it has since been a secret weapon for enhancing the color and richness of gravies, stews, and other cooked foods. It provides a beautiful, deep brown hue and a nuanced flavor that truly makes a difference. If you find it challenging to locate in your local stores, it’s conveniently available for purchase on Amazon. Alternatively, for the adventurous cook, Cooks Info offers a helpful Kitchen Bouquet substitution recipe, allowing you to create a similar effect from scratch.
The journey to these delectable Beef Tips & Gravy begins with building a strong flavor base. Start by melting a generous amount of butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add your chopped onion, minced garlic, and sliced mushrooms (if using). Sauté these aromatics until they are beautifully softened and fragrant, about 10 minutes. This step is crucial for developing a deep, rich flavor that will permeate the entire dish.
Once your vegetables have reached peak tenderness and fragrance, remove them from the pan and set them aside. They will be reintroduced later to maintain their texture and contribute to the final flavor. Now, it’s time to prepare your beef. Take your stew meat, cut into bite-sized tips, and thoroughly dredge them in a mixture of flour, salt, and pepper. This coating will not only season the beef but also help create that desirable crust during browning and contribute to the thickening of our luscious gravy.
Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add a bit of cooking oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add your dredged beef tips in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Brown the meat on all sides until a beautiful, deep crust forms. This browning step, known as the Maillard reaction, is absolutely essential as it develops complex flavors that are the hallmark of any great beef dish. Don’t rush this part; patience here will be rewarded with a profoundly flavorful gravy.
After browning the beef, it’s time to transform those delicious pan drippings into an incredible gravy. Pour in your beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of ketchup. Stir everything together, scraping up any flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan. As the mixture heats, the flour from the dredged beef will begin to work its magic, gradually thickening the sauce. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat, cover the skillet, and allow it to cook for at least 30 minutes. The longer you let it simmer, the more tender your beef tips will become, and the flavors will meld beautifully. Reintroduce your sautéed mushrooms and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes or so, allowing them to warm through and infuse the gravy with their earthy notes.
As your Beef Tips & Gravy simmers, you’ll witness the sauce transform into a rich, luscious gravy with a glossy finish. If you desire an even thicker consistency, a simple cornstarch and water slurry (equal parts cornstarch and cold water, whisked until smooth) can be added gradually while stirring, allowing the gravy to come to your preferred thickness. The key is to achieve a gravy that clings beautifully to the beef tips and is robust enough to stand up to mashed potatoes, creating a truly comforting experience.
The grand finale? A generous serving of these magnificent Beef Tips & Gravy piled high over a mountain of fluffy mashed potatoes! The creamy, buttery potatoes are the perfect canvas for the rich, savory gravy, soaking up every drop of flavor. This combination is truly a match made in culinary heaven, offering both texture and taste contrasts that are simply irresistible.
Who could resist the allure of mashed potatoes? Their versatility is astounding, and there are countless ways to achieve that perfect fluffy texture. Whether you prefer the convenience of Mashed Potatoes in your Instant Pot, the hands-off approach of Mashed Potatoes in your Slow Cooker, or the classic technique for Stovetop Mashed Potatoes, the options are endless. You can opt for perfectly smooth, fluffy mashed potatoes or even embrace the rustic charm of Rustic Mashed Potatoes with their delightful lumps.
For those looking to elevate their side dish game even further, consider transforming your basic mash into something extraordinary. Try these decadent Loaded Mashed Potatoes, bursting with cheese, bacon, and chives, or these incredibly flavorful Sour Cream, Bacon and Scallion Mashed Potatoes. Another crowd-pleasing option is this yummy Mashed Potato Bake, topped with golden cheese and crispy fried onions. And for those mindful of their carb intake, a delicious and satisfying alternative is making Cauliflower Mash – a light yet flavorful option that pairs beautifully with these Beef Tips & Gravy.
If this enticing photo caught your eye and brought you here, it’s likely from our original post. We’ve been savoring this recipe for years now, and its enduring popularity speaks volumes about its comforting appeal. If you’ve already made it, I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Your feedback helps others discover the joy of this truly special meal.
The next time you’re seeking that quintessential comfort food experience, look no further than these Beef Tips & Gravy. We typically serve it just like this: nestled over fluffy mashed potatoes, accompanied by a side of sweet corn (though not pictured, it’s a delightful addition!). For a delightful twist on a classic, place a slice of bread at the bottom of your plate, top it with mashed potatoes, then spoon over the tender beef tips and rich gravy. Voila! You have yourself a good ol’ fashioned hot beef sandwich – a comforting, hearty meal that’s perfect for any occasion.
Without further ado, let’s get straight to the full recipe for these wonderfully comforting Beef Tips & Gravy, served perfectly over creamy mashed potatoes. Prepare to make a new family favorite!
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Beef Tips with Gravy
Beef tips and gravy over mashed potatoes. Pure comfort food.
Equipment
- Kitchen Bouquet Browning and Seasoning Sauce 4-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 4 Tablespoons oil
- 32 ounces beef stock
- 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon ketchup
- 2 teaspoons Kitchen Bouquet
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Sauté for about 10 minutes until softened and fragrant. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Dredge the beef stew meat in the flour, salt, and pepper mixture, ensuring each piece is well coated.
- Add oil to the skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the coated beef tips in batches, turning to achieve an even sear on all sides. This step is crucial for flavor development.
- Pour in the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and Kitchen Bouquet into the skillet. Stir well, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. The gravy will begin to thicken as it heats. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for at least 30 minutes (the longer it simmers, the more tender the meat will be). Add the sautéed mushrooms back into the skillet. Continue to simmer for another 10 minutes. If you prefer a thicker gravy, you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water, then slowly whisk it into the simmering gravy until desired thickness is reached.
- Serve generously over fluffy mashed potatoes.