Juicy, tender, and flavorful beef tips are the stars of one of the best Southern comfort foods out there – Rice and Gravy. If you haven’t had this before, you’re missing out big time! These tender tips simmer in a homemade beef gravy that’s rich, thick, and just bursting with flavor and juiciness. And let me tell you, it’s pure perfection served over a bed of fluffy rice.
Recipe by Lindsay Autry
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Looking for a beef recipe that’s sure to get rave reviews at dinner time but won’t require tons of time to prepare? This rice and gravy is it! Seriously, ya’ll it’s the bomb dot com. It’s easy to make yet tastes like you spent hours cooking it up!
If you love it, then you definitely are going to love my smothered steak recipe and Salisbury steak noodle skillet.
Why You’ll Love Beef Tips with Rice and Gravy
- From Scratch Recipe. Enjoy the delicious homemade beef gravy and tender beef tips, all cooked from scratch for the BEST flavor.
- Budget-Friendly Beef Dish. This recipe uses a cheaper cut of beef so you’ll feel less impact on your pocketbook. The beef is cut into cubes and cooked in a gravy which is perfect for stretching a few more servings from the meal if needed.
- Tender Beef Tips. The beef cooks in the broth transforming it into tender morsels.
Ingredients
This comfort food dish is made using simple, wholesome ingredients found in most grocery stores. Here’s what you need:
- Vegetable oil: You can use your preferred neutral oil for cooking.
- Beef tips: I recommend using top sirloin and cutting it up into pieces. It works best for this method of cooking and will turn out deliciously tender.
- Butter: I prefer using unsalted butter especially when cooking with broth and sauces that contain salt. It simply gives more control over the saltiness of the dish.
- Veggies: Yellow onion and bell pepper are sauteed until soft and add more layers of flavor to the beef gravy.
- Flavor: Fresh garlic and dried thyme enhance the flavor even more.
- All-purpose flour: Added to the vegetables in order to thicken the beef broth into a silky smooth gravy.
- Beef broth: Infuses the beef gravy with. more intense beef flavors.
- Worcestershire sauce: This savory sauce adds an additional splash of umami to the gravy.
- Parsley: Adds some color and flavor. Make sure to add right at the end of cooking.
- Cooked rice: Serve up cooked white rice, brown rice, or your favorite rice recipe.
Be sure to check the recipe card for the complete list and quantities of each.
How to Make Rice and Gravy
Most of the cooking time for beef tips in gravy is hands-off. Let’s take a look at the main steps.
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.
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.
Tips for Making the Best Beef Rice and Gravy
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan. This way your beef cooks up quickly and gets a better sear on the outside. Just make sure you don’t overcrowd that pan and slow down progress.
- Add the Broth Slowly. This way you keep your gravy silky smooth boo. As your adding it be sure to continue to stir almost 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. That way it will quickly sear and brown on the outside of the beef. However, when cooking the beef in the gravy you want to use a LOW temperature so the meat simmers slowly, tenderizing as it cooks.
- Check the Seasonings Before Serving. All broths may be seasoned a bit differently so be sure to give things a taste and adjust as needed.
- Avoid Using a Nonstick Pan. Yep, it’s so much easier to clean but you want the little bits stuck to the pan because they will make for a more flavorful gravy. Later on, as you cook the gravy, be sure to use a wooden spoon to scrape up all those browned bits.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Different Cuts of Beef. Ribeye and strip steaks make a flavorful alternative to the top sirloin steak but they are both a bit more expensive. If you need something even more budget-friendly use ground beef instead of the tips.
- Serve It Over Noodles. These beef tips in gravy will taste great served up over a bed of egg noodles instead.
- Add Some Mushrooms. Mushrooms go great with beef and gravy! Cook them in the pan right after you sear the beef tips to brown the outside. Then set aside with the beef tips and add them to the gravy at the same time.
- Thicker Gravy. If you’re craving a thicker gravy you can increase the amount of flour or add less broth. 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.
- Add Some Herbs. You add fresh or dried herbs to season your beef tips even more. Rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, or sage work well with beef.
What to Serve with Southern Rice and Gravy Recipe
- Serve With Potatoes. If you’re craving potatoes instead of rice, serve up your beef tips over a serving of mashed potatoes or over the top of a baked potato.
- Add Some Southern Veggies. Consider cooking some collard greens, fried green tomatoes, or fried okra.
- Cornbread to Sop Up All the Juices. There are lots of options but you can stick with a traditional Southern cornbread, hot water cornbread, or corn muffins.
- Don’t Forget the Sweet Tea! No Southern meal is complete without an ice cold glass of sweet tea or you can try my sweet peach tea!
- Enjoy Something Sweet. Turn weeknight dinner into something special with a simple sweet like this blueberry pancake cobbler, a skillet brownie, or honey apple bars.
How to Store & Reheat Rice and Gravy
Store in an airtight container after cooling and place it in the fridge. Reheat the beef and gravy 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 sure enough, beef tips and gravy freeze great. Place them in a freezer-safe container and store it for up to three months. Thaw them out in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. While it may seem strange to some, rice and gravy is a popular Southern dish, especially in Louisiana where it’s sometimes served up with spicier flavors. It’s an easy meal that’s hearty and satisfying which is why it’s such a popular comfort food dish.
You want to choose a cut that’s both flavorful but also will cook up tenderly. Top sirloin is the best choice that is both of these but is also on the less expensive side. You can also use other types of sirloin steak. Other options that work well are ribeye or tenderloin beef but can cost a bit more. Chuck and round steak are slightly tougher cuts of beef that are full of flavor but they can work well in dishes that you plan to slow cook.
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. Otherwise, try to enjoy your results and figure out what went wrong so the next time you make the dish it doesn’t happen again.
You simply can’t go wrong with Southern rice and gravy for dinner. It hits all the high points! It’s delicious, satisfying, and won’t take you all night to cook it up! My fam can’t get enough of this and I guarantee you will get down on this for reals.
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
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Southern Rice and Gravy
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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
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan. This way your beef cooks up quickly and gets a better sear on the outside. Overcrowding drops the heat too much and also doesn’t allow each piece of beef contact with the pan.
- Add the Broth Slowly. This way you keep your gravy smooth. As your adding it be sure to continue to stir almost 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. That way it will quickly sear and brown on the outside of the beef. However, when cooking the beef in the gravy you want to use a LOW temperature so the meat simmers slowly, tenderizing as it cooks.
- Check the Seasonings Before Serving. All broths may be seasoned a bit differently so be sure to give things a taste and adjust as needed.
- Avoid Using a Nonstick Pan. Yes, it’s so much easier to clean but you want the little bits stuck to the pan because they will make for a more flavorful gravy. Later on as your cooking the gravy, be sure to use a wooden spoon to scrape up all those browned bits.
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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.