Instant Pot Beef Tips with Quick Freshness

What Makes Instant Pot Beef Tips So Special

With just a handful of simple ingredients, these instant pot beef tips deliver a deeply satisfying meal that feels like it simmered for hours. We’re talking about incredibly tender beef tips swimming in a rich, savory beef tips gravy, all made effortlessly in your pressure cooker. It’s the ultimate comfort food that answers the question of how to get a hearty dinner on the table with minimal fuss. During our testing, we found that the key to the most flavorful dish is taking the time to properly sear the meat. This one simple step builds a foundation of flavor that makes all the difference. You’re going to be amazed at how the pressure cooker transforms simple ingredients into something truly special.

This post may contain affiliate recommendations. Please see our disclosure policy.

Save

What You’ll Find in This Article

• Ingredients You’ll Need
• Estimated Prep & Cook Time
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Flavor & Texture Notes
• Variations & Substitutions
• Serving Suggestions
• Mistakes to Avoid
• How to Store It
• Final Thoughts & Encouragement
• Frequently Asked Questions

Ingredients for Instant Pot Beef Tips

Here’s everything you’ll need to create this classic comfort food. We love the earthy depth that the beef tips mushrooms add, but feel free to see our variations section if you want to switch things up.

• 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

Save

Cook Time for Tender Beef Tips

One of the biggest wins with this instant pot beef recipe is how quickly it comes together. From start to finish, you can have a restaurant-quality meal on your table in well under an hour. Here’s the breakdown we’ve timed in our own kitchens. Prep time is about 10 minutes. Cook time is approximately 35 minutes, which includes the time for the pot to come to pressure and the natural pressure release. Your total time investment is around 45 minutes, most of which is hands-off.

How to Make Beef Tips Gravy

Follow these simple steps for a foolproof result. We’ve tested this method repeatedly to ensure you get the most tender beef tips every single time.

Step 1: Sear the Beef

Set your Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Add the olive oil and heat until shimmering, then add the beef tips in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Sear until browned on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per batch, to develop a rich flavor.

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

Add the diced onion and sliced mushrooms to the pot and sauté for about 4-5 minutes, until the onions are softened and the mushrooms have released their liquid. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.

Save

Step 3: Deglaze and Season

Pour in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the dried thyme and black pepper.

Step 4: Pressure Cook

Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and pressure cook on High for 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully perform a quick release for any remaining pressure.

Save

Step 5: Create the Slurry

In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth to create a slurry. Set the Instant Pot back to Sauté mode and stir in the slurry.

Step 6: Thicken the Gravy

Simmer the sauce, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes until it thickens to a rich, gravy-like consistency that coats the back of a spoon. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired before serving.

Pro Tips & Tasty Tweaks

We’ve made this instant pot beef tips recipe countless times, and here are our favorite insights to make it even better for you.

• Flavor Swap: For a different herb profile, swap the thyme for a teaspoon of rosemary or herbes de Provence.
• Timing Adjustment: If your beef chunks are larger than one inch, don’t worry. Simply add 3-5 more minutes to the pressure cooking time to ensure they become fall-apart tender.
• Prep Fix: Pat your beef cubes completely dry with a paper towel before searing. This is our number one tip for achieving a perfect, caramelized crust instead of steaming the meat.
• Storage Tip: This dish tastes even better the next day! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth to loosen the gravy.

Flavor & Texture Notes

When you get this dish just right, the experience is pure comfort. The beef tips gravy should be deeply savory and glossy, clinging to each piece of meat. The Worcestershire and soy sauce work together to create a robust, umami-rich base that isn’t overly salty. As for texture, the beef should be so tender that you can cut it with a fork. The mushrooms will be soft and meaty, having absorbed all the wonderful juices from the cooking process. Served over a bed of fluffy beef tips rice, it’s the perfect bite every time.

Variations & Substitutions

We love this classic version, but part of the fun of cooking is making a recipe your own. Here are a few of our favorite twists on these instant pot beef tips.

• For a creamier gravy, stir in a ¼ cup of sour cream or heavy cream after you’ve thickened the sauce, just before serving.
• If you’re out of cremini mushrooms, white button mushrooms work perfectly well. Alternatively, for a more intense flavor, try using sliced shiitake mushrooms.
• To make it a hearty beef tips rice bowl, serve it over jasmine or brown rice. For a low-carb option, cauliflower rice or mashed potatoes are fantastic alternatives.
• Add a splash of balsamic vinegar along with the broth for a subtle tangy sweetness that brightens the entire dish.
• For a bit of heat, include a pinch of red pepper flakes with the thyme and black pepper.

How to Serve Instant Pot Beef Tips

We love how versatile these instant pot beef tips are when it comes to mealtime. Honestly, one of our favorite parts of recipe testing is discovering all the delicious ways to plate this comforting dish. You can truly build an entire meal around it with minimal effort. For a classic comfort meal, we always recommend serving these tender beef tips and their rich beef tips gravy over a bed of fluffy beef tips rice. The rice soaks up every bit of that savory sauce beautifully. Alternatively, creamy mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles make fantastic bases that turn this into the ultimate hearty dinner. Don’t forget the sides! A simple green vegetable like steamed green beans or roasted asparagus provides a nice contrast to the rich main dish. We often whip up a quick side salad with a tangy vinaigrette to balance the deep, umami flavors. For a truly rustic presentation, serve it in a shallow bowl with a slice of crusty bread for dipping into that incredible gravy. During our testing, we discovered that letting the dish rest for about five minutes after thickening the gravy allows the flavors to meld even more beautifully before serving.

Mistakes to Avoid

We’ve made plenty of mistakes ourselves while perfecting this recipe, so we want to help you avoid the common pitfalls that can affect your final dish. After all, we believe sharing our kitchen mishaps is just as important as sharing our successes. One question we often hear is why beef sometimes turns out tough instead of tender. The most common reason is skipping the searing step. When you don’t properly brown the meat first, you miss out on developing those deep, caramelized flavors that make the instant pot beef so delicious. Always take those few extra minutes to sear in batches for the best texture. Another frequent mistake involves the gravy thickness. If you add the cornstarch slurry directly to hot liquid without first mixing it with cold water, you’ll likely end up with lumpy gravy. We always whisk our slurry in a separate bowl until it’s completely smooth before incorporating it. Also, make sure you’re simmering the sauce for the full 2-3 minutes after adding the slurry – this gives the cornstarch time to activate and thicken properly. We’ve also learned that overcrowding the pot during the sauté phase can steam the meat rather than sear it. If you’re working with a standard 6-quart Instant Pot, cook the beef in two batches to ensure each piece gets proper browning. This extra step makes a world of difference in achieving those perfect tender beef tips everyone loves. Finally, don’t rush the pressure release. That 10-minute natural release period is crucial for keeping the meat juicy. If you quick-release immediately, the sudden pressure change can cause the muscle fibers to tighten, resulting in tougher beef.

How to Store Instant Pot Beef Tips

We’re big believers in meal prep, and these instant pot beef tips store beautifully for busy weeks ahead. In fact, we think the flavors improve after a day in the refrigerator as the ingredients continue to meld together. For short-term storage, let the dish cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When reheating, we prefer the stovetop method – simply warm it gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth if the gravy has thickened too much. The microwave works too, but stir every 30 seconds to ensure even heating. This dish freezes exceptionally well for longer storage. Portion the completely cooled instant pot beef into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving about an inch of space for expansion. It will maintain its quality for up to 3 months in the freezer. To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently on the stovetop. During our testing, we found that the beef tips mushrooms hold their texture surprisingly well through freezing and reheating. The gravy might separate slightly when frozen, but a good stir during reheating will bring it back to its creamy consistency.

Try This Instant Pot Beef Tips Yourself

We genuinely hope you’ll give these instant pot beef tips a try in your own kitchen. This is one of those recipes that consistently earns a permanent spot in our regular meal rotations because it delivers so much comfort for relatively little effort. What we love most about this dish is how it transforms simple, affordable ingredients into something truly special. The pressure cooker works its magic to create tender beef tips that taste like they’ve been simmering for hours, yet you can have dinner on the table in under an hour. It’s the perfect solution for busy weeknights when you’re craving something hearty and satisfying. If you’re new to pressure cooking, this recipe is a fantastic starting point. The steps are straightforward, and the results are consistently delicious. For experienced Instant Pot users, it’s a reliable go-to that you can customize with your favorite herbs and vegetables. Either way, we’re confident this will become a new family favorite in your home too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

We hope this guide inspires you to create these comforting instant pot beef tips in your own kitchen. This dish truly represents everything we love about pressure cooking – transforming simple ingredients into a deeply satisfying meal with minimal hands-on time. Whether you serve it over fluffy beef tips rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or buttered noodles, it’s guaranteed to become a family favorite. The rich beef tips gravy and tender meat create the perfect comfort food experience that’s both impressive and approachable. We can’t wait for you to experience how something so simple can taste so extraordinary.