Slow cooker French beef tips is an amazingly flavorful dish. This super easy-to-assemble recipe is the perfect meal to come home to after a long and busy day.
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Welcome to your new favorite slow cooker recipe! Think I am exaggerating? Try it once and let me know if I am wrong!
This easy slow cooker beef tips recipe is a hearty meal that is downright addicting! The sweet and savory flavor is out of this world. But the ingredients are simple and easy to find in any grocery store.
The prep work for this family favorite is minimal. It can cook all day long. PLUS, all the ingredients can be tossed together the night before and stored in the refrigerator. It is all the things that are so great about slow cooking wrapped up in one easy recipe!
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📝Shopping list
To make this delicious meal you will need these simple ingredients:
- stew meat - cut into bite-sized chunks
- French dressing - a darker colored, bottled French or Catalina dressing. The flavor is not quite as incredible with a creamy dressing.
- French onion soup mix - any standard packet of dry onion soup mix will do. OR, if you are feeling ambitious, you can make your own.
- garlic and onion powder - for added flavor
What is stew meat?
Beef that is labeled "stew meat" is generally cut into smaller chunks. It is made up of small pieces that the butcher had left over when cutting larger pieces of tougher meats. I love to use this type of meat in my slow cooker for several reasons:
- 1. It is one of the most cost effective ways to buy meat
- It is already cut up so it saves a step with recipes like this one.
- It is perfect for slow cooking because it can cook all day - becoming more tender as it goes.
Other less expensive cuts of meat work for this recipe just as well. The best cuts to use for slow cooking are: chuck roast, skirt steak, rump roast, eye of round roast, shank, and brisket.
Some other great slow cooker recipes to make with stew meat include Spanish beef stew, Korean beef bulgogi, Hawaiian beef & pineapples, and tomato beef barley soup.
🔪How to make it
Preparing Your Slow Cooker
Prepare your slow cooker by coating it in a non-stick agent of some sort. You can use a nonstick cooking spray or oil of choice.
NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. It is still recommended that you use a nonstick agent. However, oil is recommended over spray to protect the longevity of the surface.
Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.
Cooking
Add all ingredients on the list to your greased or lined slow cooker and stir to combine. Your dish is now ready to cook!
Crockpot beef tips are best cooked low and slow! This will give you the most tender beef dish with the most flavor. 8-10 hours on the low setting is average, but you can go a little longer if you like. If your beef isn't fall-apart tender, it probably needs to cook longer.
If you are crunched for time, you can cook this on the high setting for 4-5 hours. However, longer cooking at a lower temp will always yield the best results.
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🍽Serving suggestions
These crock pot beef tips make a ton of delicious, flavorful gravy. To make sure you don't miss a drop, try serving it over a mound of creamy mashed potatoes! Egg noodles, riced cauliflower (pictured) and sticky rice also make great serving beds for these homemade beef tips.
A crisp garden salad and crusty heel of bread can round your meal out perfectly.
🔁Substitutions
If you prefer not to use pre-cut stew meat, the different cuts mentioned above are great too. You can choose to cut your meat into chunks prior to cooking. Or, you can shred the fork tender beef after it is cooked.
If you love this recipe...
Please let me know in the comment section below!
Storing leftovers
Store leftover beef tips in an airtight container or zip top bag. they will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator or about 3 months in the freezer. Reheat defrosted meat gently in the microwave.
😉Hints & hacks
- Using a slow cooker liner is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
- This is one of those great slow cooker meals for when your people will be eating at different times. When your cooking is done, turn your slow cooker to the warm setting. Everyone can have a warm and filling meal with minimal effort no matter when their dinner time is.
- This is a great recipe to double for a crowd. The ingredients should all be doubled in the same proportions, but the cooking time will not change.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Always double check to make sure your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! There is nothing worse than coming home to a slow cooker that was never properly turned on!
❓❔❓FAQ
Many recipes call for browning beef before adding it to your slow cooker. Browning can add a bit of extra flavor to your recipe. However, I have never really noticed a big enough difference to justify the extra work.
This sauce has so much rich flavor, I don't feel there is a good reason to brown the beef. If you feel differently, you can brown your beef stovetop before adding it to your slow cooker.
A lazier option (always my preference!!) is to purchase a slow cooker with a browning function. This will allow you to make delicious recipes that call for browned beef without any extra mess.
I called this recipe "French beef tips" because they are made with French dressing and French onion soup mix. This recipe is not authentically French.
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker French Beef Tips
Equipment
- Mixing Spoon
Ingredients
- 3 lbs stew meat cut into bite-sized chunks
- 16 oz bottle French dressing
- 1 cup water
- 1 packet French onion soup mix
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- nonstick cooking agent of choice
Instructions
- spray or grease slow cooker with nonstick cooking agent of choice (I use avocado oil)nonstick cooking agent of choice
- add beef chunks to slow cooker3 lbs stew meat
- add in all remaining ingredient and stir to combine16 oz bottle French dressing, 1 cup water, 1 packet French onion soup mix, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder
- cover and cook on low until meat is falling apart tender (mine are perfect after about 10 hours or so)
- serve over something that will catch all of the amazing sauce such as mashed potatoes, rice or quinoa.
Notes
- this recipe can be easily doubled for a larger crowd
- I prefer to use a French dressing that is darker in color rather than a creamier version for this recipe.
- If your beef is tough, it most likely needs to cook longer.
Nutrition
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