Here’s a complete, detailed recipe write-up for the dish in your image: Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Gravy and Egg Noodles.
🍲 Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Gravy and Egg Noodles
Introduction
There are few comfort meals that can match the richness and heartwarming flavor of tender beef tips simmered in a silky brown gravy. This dish, often paired with buttery egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice, is a staple in American and European home cooking. It’s a meal that warms the soul, fills the stomach, and brings families together around the dinner table.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity—tough cuts of beef transform into melt-in-your-mouth bites after hours of slow cooking, soaking in savory broth and aromatic spices.
📝 Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat (or sirloin tips, cut into chunks)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (mixed with 3 tbsp cold water – slurry)
- 12 oz egg noodles (cooked separately)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prepare the beef
- Pat the beef dry with paper towels, season with salt and pepper.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and sear beef cubes until browned on all sides. This locks in flavor.
- Layer the slow cooker
- Add the browned beef, onions, garlic, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and paprika into the slow cooker.
- Cook
- Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until beef is tender.
- Thicken the gravy
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce. Let it simmer.
- Prepare noodles
- Cook egg noodles according to package directions, drain, and lightly toss with butter.
- Assemble & serve
- Serve beef tips and rich gravy over egg noodles. Garnish with fresh parsley.
🔥 Methods
- Slow Cooker Method: Ideal for hands-off cooking, allows the beef to tenderize fully.
- Stovetop Method: Simmer beef in a Dutch oven for 2–3 hours until tender.
- Instant Pot Method: Pressure cook on high for 35 minutes, quick release, then add slurry to thicken.
📜 History
The origins of beef tips with gravy trace back to American Southern and Midwestern cuisine, where tougher cuts of beef (like chuck or round) were used creatively. Slow cooking became a way to tenderize meat, while gravies were born out of necessity—stretching flavors with broth and thickener. Egg noodles were often added by European immigrants, particularly German settlers, who brought noodle-making traditions to the U.S.
🌿 Benefits
- Rich in Protein: Supports muscle growth and energy.
- Iron Source: Beef helps prevent anemia and fatigue.
- Comfort Food: Reduces stress and enhances mood.
- Versatile: Can be paired with noodles, rice, or potatoes.
🏗️ Formation
This dish is formed by layering flavors: searing beef for a caramelized base, simmering with aromatics for depth, and thickening the broth into a luscious gravy. The noodles serve as the perfect vehicle for soaking up every drop of sauce.
❤️ Lovers
This meal is beloved by families, busy home cooks, and anyone seeking hearty comfort food. Kids love the noodles, adults appreciate the rich gravy, and it’s often requested for Sunday dinners, potlucks, and gatherings.
🍽️ Nutrition (per serving, approx.)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Protein: 32g
- Fat: 16g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Iron: 20% DV
🎯 Conclusion
Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Gravy and Egg Noodles is more than just a recipe—it’s a dish that tells a story of comfort, tradition, and family. Its rich flavor, hearty texture, and versatility make it a recipe to cherish.
💕 Conclusion with Lovers
For the food lovers, this dish is a warm hug in a bowl. For beef lovers, it’s a dream come true—tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. And for comfort food lovers, it’s the perfect reminder that sometimes the best meals are the simplest.
Would you like me to also give you a one-pot version (where noodles cook in the same slow cooker with the beef and gravy), so it’s even easier for busy days?