Instant Pot Best Ever Beef Tips–tender bites of beef with deliciously rich gravy made fast in your Instant Pot or braised all day in your slow cooker.
Note; the SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below

Instant Pot Best Ever Beef Tips
Comforting and savory and delicious! These Instant Pot (or Crockpot!) beef tips were eaten up in no time at my house. The recipe is quite easy too. The Instant Pot or Crockpot takes tough meat and braises it until it is fork tender. That’s the magic of the pot!
What ingredients do I need?
- Oil for browning the beef. I used olive oil.
- Beef stew meat or you can buy a pot roast and cut it into cubes. Make sure to pat the meat dry with a paper towel to help with the browning process.
- Onion for flavor
- Water to bring the pot to pressure
- Low sodium soy sauce make sure to use low sodium so it’s not too salty
- Worcestershire sauce for lots of tangy, savory, sweet, and salty flavor
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Brown gravy mix I used 3 Tbsp from a big McCormicks container of gravy mix. You can also use one packet of brown gravy. Another choice is to make your own gravy mix from scratch.
- Cornstarch to thicken the gravy
How to make beef tips
- Brown beef: Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the stew meat and brown for about 3-5 minutes on each side (you can also do this step on the stovetop in a pan so that the beef isn’t as crowded).
- Saute onions: Add in the onions and saute for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
- Add ingredients: Pour in the water and scrape the bottom of the pot so that nothing is sticking. Pour in the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and pepper.
- Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 20 minutes on high pressure. When time is up let pot sit for 10-20 minutes and then move valve to venting and remove the lid (you can leave the lid on for as long as you need to, the meat will be just fine on warm for several hours).
- Thicken the gravy: Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Whisk in the gravy mix. Make a cornstarch slurry by stirring together 2-3 Tbsp of cornstarch with 3 Tbsp of cold water until smooth. Stir the mixture into the pot. Once gravy has thickened turn off Instant Pot.
- Enjoy: Serve the beef and gravy over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Notes/Tips
- Equipment: I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo*. You can make this with no changes in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- What cut of beef for beef tips? If you’re cooking beef tips on the stove you would use a different cut than when you cook them in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. For my version I recommend buying a package of beef stew meat. You can also buy a chuck roast, rump roast or brisket and cut it in to cubes.
- What do I serve with beef tips and gravy? Serve the beef and gravy over hot cooked egg noodles, mashed potatoes or rice. Serve a green vegetable on the side like steamed broccoli.
- How to store leftovers: Store in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
More Amazing Beef Recipes…
Instant Pot Korean BBQ Burrito
Instant Pot Steak Diane Casserole
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc. Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.

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Instant Pot Best Ever Beef Tips
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
Tender bites of beef with deliciously rich gravy made fast in your Instant Pot or braised all day in your slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp canola or olive oil
- 2 pound beef stew meat, patted dry
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3 Tbsp brown gravy mix (1 packet)
- 2–3 Tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the stew meat and brown for about 3-5 minutes on each side.
- Add in the onions and saute for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
- Pour in the water and scrape the bottom of the pot so that nothing is sticking. Pour in the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and pepper.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 20 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10-20 minutes and then move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Whisk in the gravy mix. Make a cornstarch slurry by stirring together 2-3 Tbsp of cornstarch with 3 Tbsp of cold water until smooth. Stir the mixture into the pot. Once gravy has thickened turn off Instant Pot.
- Serve the beef and gravy over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- In a large skillet heat oil over medium high heat. Add in the stew meat and brown for about 3-5 minutes on each side.
- Add in the onions and saute for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent. Transfer mixture into the slow cooker.
- Pour in the water, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, pepper and gravy mix.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until beef is fork tender.
- Make a cornstarch slurry by stirring together 2-3 Tbsp of cornstarch with 3 Tbsp of cold water until smooth. Stir the mixture into the crockpot. Cook without the lid for 20 minutes, or until gravy has thickened.
- Serve the beef and gravy over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
My go to beef tip recipe! It is so easy to make especially when I’m exhausted from work and all my kids and husband approve!
★★★★★
So glad to hear it! Thanks for the 5 stars Jessica!
I’d like to add the noodles as one reviewer said but I cannot buy frozen egg noodles in any grocery store near here. How much time would you suggest for dry noodles? The package says to cook 8-12 minutes on the stove.
I would only pressure cook egg noodles for 2 minutes. You’ll have to pressure cook separately from the meat or add in after the beef tips are done and bring back up to pressure.
A new family favorite. It’s so good on a cold rainy/snowy day. I added baby carrots before sealing the lid. Then I stirred in cooked frozen peas before serving. It’s better than any stew I’ve ever made. The meat is so tender and it’s so flavorful. Yum!!
★★★★★
Thank you for your nice review Kim! I appreciate it!
Can I add in small potatoes
Like small whole potatoes? Yes you could do that!
Has anyone used mushrooms in this recipe? I’m thinking about doing a fast release then add the mushrooms and more julienned onions. 0 minute pressure cook then slow release for 20 minutes…
I did and it was wonderful! Great over rice or mashed potatoes!
★★★★★
Good plan! I bet that will be great.
I made this last night and omg it was DELICIOUS!!!
★★★★★
So glad to hear that you enjoyed it Nancy!!!
Can you cook frozen noodles along with this? How would you go about doing it?
I would pressure cook 10 minutes then add the noodles in. Then pressure cook for another 10 minutes with a natural pressure release
Unfortunately that ship has sailed. I just cooked them separately. I will do what you suggested for the future cuz ima make this again 🙂 Thank you.
★★★★★
Okay! sounds like a plan!
Would this also work in a crock pot? I would brown the meat and put in crockpot following the rest of the recipe. Cook it until the meat is tender.
Yes:
Slow Cooker Instructions:
In a large skillet heat oil over medium high heat. Add in the stew meat and brown for about 3-5 minutes on each side.
Add in the onions and saute for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent. Transfer mixture into the slow cooker.
Pour in the water, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, pepper and gravy mix.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until beef is fork tender.
Make a cornstarch slurry by stirring together 2-3 Tbsp of cornstarch with 3 Tbsp of cold water until smooth. Stir the mixture into the crockpot. Cook without the lid for 20 minutes, or until gravy has thickened.
Serve the beef and gravy over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Wondering if there’s an acceptable replacement for the 3 TBS brown gravy mix?
You could make your own: https://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/brown-gravy-mix-recipe.htm
Karen, do you also use the instant pot air fryer, and have recipes /
Yes I do. Here are the recipes that I’ve used with an air fryer or air fryer lid: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/recipes/?fwp_method=crisplid-or-air-fryer
Hi Karen, can I use frozen stew meat for this recipe and, if so, do I need to adjust the water and/or cooking times for the instapot?
Yes you could do that. I would keep the same cooking time of 20 minutes.
Hi Karen, can I use frozen stew meat? If so do I need to change the cooking time?
Thank you so much!
Yes you could do that. I would keep the same cooking time of 20 minutes.