There are few dinners that are more comforting and delicious than beef that’s been slow-cooked until it falls apart at the touch of a fork. And if you add in a salty, savory mushroom gravy? Well, nothing else even has a chance of competing with that. That’s the ultimate comfort food meal right there, especially if you pair it with mashed potatoes. But a whole roast can be a little pricy and give you more food than you really need, so it doesn’t always make sense for your average dinner.
You know what does? Beef tips. They’re very economical but they’re also a tough cut that stands up well to slow-cooking so the end results are super tender, and here they’re simmered in an amazing beefy, mushroom sauce that relies on a few things you have in your pantry but no shortcut ingredients like canned soup or flavor packets. That means this tastes like true homemade comfort, and there’s nothing better.
We’ve got both pressure cooker and slow cooker instructions for you here and either method turns out falling apart, melt in your mouth beef. This slow cooker might edge out the pressure cooker in texture, but the Instant Pot will get this done for you a couple of hours sooner and you can sear your beef and cook down your onions right in your pressure cooker. There are pros and cons to weigh, but you’re going to love the result no matter which cooking method you choose.
While you technically can skip searing the beef, it really does add a flavor that you can’t capture just with slow cooking, so I highly recommend taking the time to do it. (Maillard reaction for the win!) Once the beef is browned and the onions are soft, the real cooking starts and that only involves dumping sliced mushrooms, a few spices and seasonings (thyme, rosemary, a bouillon cube), beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, and pepperoncini into your cooking appliance of choice.
In the Instant Pot, this needs thirty-five minutes of cooking on high pressure. In the slow cooker, it needs about three hours on high or six hours on low. Either way, you end up with the most tender, succulent beef and a gravy so good that people will be begging you to make it again after just one bite.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 lbs sirloin beef tips
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 white onion, diced
- 8 oz sliced cremini mushrooms
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncinis
- 1 1/2 cups-2 cups beef stock
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
PREPARATION
- Season beef with salt and pepper and toss in flour to coat.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, or in the insert of your instant pot if you’re using that, melt butter. Add beef in batches and sear on all sides until brown and crusty. Remove to a plate and continue searing beef until complete.
- Add onions and cook briefly, just 2 minutes or so, scraping up bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon.
TO MAKE IN THE SLOW COOKER:
- Transfer beef and onions to slow cooker and add mushrooms, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, bouillon cube, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, pepperoncinis, and 2 cups beef stock. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
- 30 minutes before cooking time is over, whisk cornstarch into 3 tablespoons water and add to slow cooker. Cover and continue cooking for remaining 30 minutes. Season to taste and enjoy!
TO MAKE IN THE INSTANT POT:
- Add beef back to Instant Pot (with onions) and add mushrooms, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, bouillon cube, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, pepperoncinis, and 1 1/2 cups beef stock.
- Cover and select “Meat/Stew” setting. Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes. Once cooking time is up, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before switching the pressure release valve to “venting” to release any remaining pressure.
- Turn on “Sauté” setting. Stir cornstarch into 3 tablespoons water, then stir into cooking liquid in Instant Pot.
- Let simmer until gravy thickens, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Enjoy!