Description

Tender and flavorful Instant Pot Beef Tips with Gravy is a hearty one-pot meal featuring seared beef stew meat cooked with aromatic onions, garlic, red or white wine, and savory beef broth. Finished with a rich homemade gravy thickened with cornstarch, this comforting dish is perfect served over mashed potatoes, polenta, or egg noodles.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Seasoning

2.5 pounds stew meat or beef tips
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper

Cooking Fat and Aromatics

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large Vidalia (sweet) onion, diced to 1 inch
4 cloves garlic, minced

Liquids and Flavorings

½ cup dry red or white wine (or additional broth)
2 cups low sodium beef broth
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

Herbs and Thickening

2 sprigs fresh thyme, bundled with kitchen twine
1 whole bay leaf
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons water

Instructions

Season the Meat: Pat the stew meat very dry with paper towels to ensure a good sear, then season all over evenly with kosher salt and ground pepper.
Sear the Beef: Press the “Saute” button on the Instant Pot. If your model has temperature settings, select medium and set the timer for 30 minutes. Add olive oil to the pot and heat until it shimmers. Add about one-third of the beef pieces in a single layer and sear for 3 minutes until golden brown crust forms. Remove and repeat with remaining beef batches.
Sauté Onions and Garlic: Add butter to the hot pot and heat until melted and foaming. Toss in diced onions and minced garlic, stirring constantly. Sauté for about 1 minute to soften and release aromas.
Deglaze the Pot: Pour in the wine and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Continue cooking and scraping until the wine stops bubbling and the pot bottom is clean to prevent burn warnings.
Add Remaining Ingredients: Cancel the “Saute” mode. Return all the seared beef and any accumulated juices back to the Instant Pot. Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and stir gently. Place the thyme sprigs bundled in kitchen twine and the bay leaf on top.
Pressure Cook the Beef: Seal the Instant Pot lid and set to cook on “High Pressure” for 25 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for the pot to come to pressure. After cooking, allow natural pressure release for 15 minutes to further tenderize the meat, then carefully release any remaining pressure manually.
Make the Gravy: In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water to create a smooth slurry. Remove the lid from the Instant Pot, opening away from your face to avoid steam burns. Pour in the slurry and stir until combined. Press “Saute” and simmer for 5–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gravy thickens to your liking.
Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste the gravy and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve the beef tips immediately over mashed potatoes, polenta, or egg noodles for a warm and satisfying meal.

Notes

Use stew meat or beef tips with some marbling for the best tenderness and flavor.
If you don’t want to use wine, substitute with extra beef broth.
Bundling thyme sprigs with kitchen twine makes removing the herbs easier after cooking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Instant Pot beef tips, beef stew, beef tips with gravy, pressure cooker beef, easy beef dinner