Back in the day, I good ole bowl of rice and gravy would be a bomb weeknight dinner. It wasn’t too hard to make either. I added a little meat to mine so the bowl is hearty. With some beef tips simmered in a homemade gravy that’s rich and thick, it’s a hit when you pour it over some rice. Plus I make the meat extra juicy y’all. If you love recipes like my smothered steak or smothered pork chops, this recipe will also be a hit.
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How to Make Rice and Gravy
PRO TIP: Remove the beef from the fridge about 30 minutes prior to cooking. It will cook better when it’s warmed up a bit rather than cooked cold straight from the fridge.
Cook the Beef Tips
- Cook the Beef Tips. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add in half of the pieces of beef and cook for one minute to sear the outside. Turn to the other side and cook for another 1-2 minutes until you get a deep brown color on the beef. Remove the beef from the pan, set it aside, and repeat with the remaining beef tips.
- Cook the Vegetables. Add the butter and cook the onions and bell pepper until almost tender.
- Add Some Flavor. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for an additional minute.
- Cook the Flour. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and then use a wooden spoon to hydrate the flour and coat the vegetables.
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Finish the Beef Gravy
- Make the Gravy. Add the beef broth in small increments, about half a cup at a time, scraping the bottom to release the brown bits. Stir constantly to keep the gravy smooth.
- Cook the Beef. Add the beef tips and any juices. Add the Worcestershire sauce and cook over low heat to finish cooking the beef and give the gravy time to thicken.
- Add the Finishing Touches. Add the parsley and check your seasonings.
- Serve. Spoon the beef and gravy over cooked rice.
Southern Rice and Gravy Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ -1 ½ pounds top sirloin cut into 1-inch pieces
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup yellow onion diced
- ½ cup bell pepper diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 ½ cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- Cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- Remove beef from fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking. Pat dry. Season with salt and pepper.
- In large Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add in half of the pieces of beef. Sear for about 1 minute, then turn on another side and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, getting deep brown color on the beef. Remove beef from pan and set aside.
- Add ½ tablespoon oil to pan repeat with remaining beef tips.
- Once the second batch is seared off, take it out of the pan and set aside with the rest of the beef, reduce heat to medium and add butter. Once it begins to foam, add onions, bell pepper. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until almost tender, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and cook for an additional minute.
- Sprinkle flour over vegetables. Using a wooden spoon, stir to make sure flour is fully hydrated and coating the vegetables.
- Slowly pour in beef broth, about half cup at a time, scraping the bottom to release the brown bits and stirring constantly to keep the gravy smooth. Do not add broth all at once.
- Increase heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Add beef tips and any juices. Add Worcestershire sauce and reduce heat to a simmer, allowing beef to finish cooking and gravy to thicken, about 40-50 minutes.
- Stir in parsley and serve over cooked rice.
Notes
How to Store & Reheat
Store in an airtight container after cooling and place it in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through. If the gravy thickens too much when stored you can add a bit more broth during reheating.How long will rice and gravy last in the fridge?
When stored properly it will last up to four days.Can I freeze sirloin beef tips and gravy?
Yep. Place them in a freezer-safe container and store it for up to three months. Thaw them out in the fridge overnight before reheating. Nutrition notes: Calculated on the beef and gravy only.Nutrition
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan. This way your beef cooks up quickly and gets a better sear on the outside.
- Add the Broth Slowly. This helps your gravy end up smooth. Continue to stir constantly until you’ve finished adding all the broth.
- Temperature is Key. Make sure your pan and oil are hot before you start cooking the beef tips. You will get a better sear and browning on the outside. Then turn down the temp when making the gravy so the beef tenderizes in the sauce.
- Check the Seasonings Before Serving. All broths vary so you gotta taste and adjust.
- Avoid Using a Nonstick Pan. We want the little bits stuck to the pan because they will make a more flavorful gravy. Make sure you use a wooden spoon to scrape up all those browned bits.
- Different Cuts of Beef. You can swap in ribeye or strip steaks if the sirloin isn’t available but it will be a bit more expensive.
- Thicker Gravy. Just add less broth to have it thicker. If you decide at the end of cooking, it’s not quite thick enough you can make a cornstarch slurry with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and water. Stir it into the gravy and continue cooking until it thickens more.
Recipe Help
This dish isn’t easily fixed if your gravy is a bit lumpy. The most common fix is to strain the gravy to remove any lumps but this gravy contains bits of veggies so it won’t work. You can definitely avoid it by adding the liquid slowly and stirring well as you add it. If it ends up lumpy you can try stirring with a whisk to break up the lumps a bit. As a last result, you can attempt to remove any large lumps with a spoon.
More Beef Dinner Recipes
- Slow Cooker Italian Beef
- Salisbury Steak
- Best Meatloaf Recipe
- Chicken Fried Steak
- Steak and Ale Pot Pie
- Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
- Taco Spaghetti Recipe
- Beef Tips Recipe
*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!
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It really tasted great but need to add more flour, gravy was more like soup.
Thanks for the feedback!
Had a craving for gravy and rice. So glad i found this recipe. Instant favorite, thank you!
You’re so welcome, boo!
Classic flavors, and so easy. Thank you for this recipe!!
This is such a really comforting and satisfying meal! My whole family enjoyed it! Thanks!
My entire family loved this meal. It came together really quickly too. I will be making it again!
This was such yummy comfort food for me. I really enjoyed it. Reminds of when I lived in the South when I was a kid.
This is a really comforting dish. Tender meat with a delicious sauce and so easy to make too.