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Crockpot and Instant Pot Beef Tips with Pearl Onions and Mushrooms Recipe

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3.9 from 12 reviews

This Crockpot Beef Tips recipe is a comforting and hearty meal featuring tender beef tips cooked slowly with pearl onions, mushrooms, and flavorful seasonings in a rich tomato and beef broth sauce. Perfect served over mashed potatoes, mashed parsnips, cauliflower, or noodles, this dish delivers a melt-in-your-mouth experience whether prepared in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot.

Ingredients

Beef and Seasonings

  • 2 lbs beef tips (cubed sirloin) or cubed beef stew meat (1- to 2-inch pieces)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Vegetables and Liquids

  • 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen pearl onions (add while still frozen)
  • 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced or coarsely diced
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 1 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth

Thickening Agent

  • 2 to 4 tablespoons cornstarch

Cooking Oil (for Instant Pot version only)

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil, divided

For Serving (optional)

  • Cooked mashed potatoes, mashed parsnips or cauliflower, or noodles
  • Snipped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: In a 6- to 7-quart slow cooker, place beef tips, frozen pearl onions, tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir well to coat the beef and onions evenly with tomato paste and seasonings.
  2. Add Mushrooms and Broth: Add the sliced or diced mushrooms and pour the low-sodium beef broth over everything.
  3. Cook in Slow Cooker: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours until the beef is tender and flavors meld.
  4. Prepare Cornstarch Slurry: To thicken the sauce, place 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a small bowl. Ladle ¼ cup of the hot liquid from the slow cooker into the bowl and whisk until smooth and slurry-like.
  5. Thicken the Gravy: Pour the cornstarch slurry back into the slow cooker, mix well, set to high, cover, and cook for 30 minutes or until the liquid thickens to a gravy consistency.
  6. Optional Additional Thickening: For a thicker gravy, repeat the slurry step with 2 more tablespoons of cornstarch. The gravy will continue to thicken as it cools.
  7. Serve: Spoon the beef tips and gravy over cooked mashed potatoes, mashed parsnips, cauliflower, or noodles. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
  8. Store Leftovers: Transfer any leftovers to a covered container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
  9. Instant Pot - Sauté Beef: Select the ‘Sauté’ function on the Instant Pot. When hot, add ½ tablespoon avocado oil. When oil shimmers, add half of the beef (1 lb) and cook for 2 minutes on each side until browned. Remove to plate and repeat with remaining oil and beef. Remove beef to plate.
  10. Instant Pot - Sauté Vegetables: Add ½ cup beef broth to the pot and scrape the bottom to deglaze. Add mushrooms, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, then press ‘Cancel’.
  11. Instant Pot - Add Remaining Ingredients: Add beef back to the pot along with frozen pearl onions, remaining 1 cup broth, and tomato paste. Stir well to combine.
  12. Instant Pot - Pressure Cook: Lock lid in place and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. After cooking, allow 10 minutes natural pressure release, then carefully vent remaining pressure.
  13. Instant Pot - Thicken Sauce: Make cornstarch slurry by mixing 2 tablespoons cornstarch with ¼ cup hot liquid from pot until smooth. Pour slurry into Instant Pot, press ‘Cancel,’ then switch to ‘Sauté’ and stir for a few minutes until thickened.
  14. Instant Pot - Additional Thickening: If desired, repeat slurry step with 2 more tablespoons cornstarch for extra thick gravy. The sauce thickens more as it cools.
  15. Serve and Enjoy: Serve beef tips and thickened gravy over mashed potatoes or preferred sides.

Notes

  • You can prepare this recipe in either a slow cooker or Instant Pot depending on your preferred cooking time and equipment.
  • For the slow cooker version, cooking on low for 6 to 8 hours results in very tender beef.
  • The cornstarch slurry is key to achieving a rich, thick gravy; adjust amounts for preferred thickness.
  • Frozen pearl onions are added directly without thawing to retain texture.
  • Leftover beef tips taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld.
  • Great served over mashed potatoes, noodles, or vegetable mashes like cauliflower or parsnips.
  • Avocado oil is recommended for Instant Pot searing because of its high smoke point.
  • Beef cuts like sirloin or stew meat work well for this recipe.

Find it online: https://recipefeastful.com/crockpot-and-instant-pot-beef-tips-with-pearl-onions-and-mushrooms-recipe/