Melt-in-Mouth Crockpot Garlic Butter Beef Tips & Potatoes
Imagine walking through your front door to the rich, savory aroma of slow-roasted beef. This Crockpot Garlic Butter Beef Tips recipe is the ultimate "set it and forget it" solution for busy weeknights. Unlike many slow cooker meals, searing the meat first locks in flavor, while the potatoes absorb all the buttery goodness. Perfect for a hearty comfort food meal or Sunday supper.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker/Crockpot
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
Beef & Potatoes
- 2 lbs Beef Tips / Stew Meat good marbling for tenderness
- 1.5 lbs baby potatoes halved if large
- 2 tbsp olive oil high smoke point
- 1 tsp salt plus more to taste
- 1 tsp black pepper freshly cracked
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika optional
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 6 cloves garlic minced fresh
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh
- 1 tsp dried rosemary or 1 tbsp fresh
- 1/2 cup beef broth low sodium preferred
- 1 tbsp cornstarch optional, for thickening
Instructions
- Season the Beef: Pat the beef tips dry with paper towels to remove moisture. In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Toss the beef in this mixture until evenly coated.
- Sear for Flavor: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef tips in batches until they develop a deep brown crust on all sides (no need to cook through). This Maillard reaction is key for flavor.
- Layer the Crockpot: Place baby potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker (closest to the heat source). Layer the seared beef tips directly on top.
- Create Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same skillet (don't wipe it out!), melt the butter over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic for 1-2 mins. Whisk in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary. Simmer gently, scraping up the browned bits from the pan.
- Slow Cook: Pour the hot sauce over the beef and potatoes. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until beef is tender.
- Thicken and Serve (Optional): For a thicker gravy, whisk cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water. Stir into the crockpot 30 mins before serving. Garnish with parsley.
Notes
The active prep time is significantly quicker than traditional beef bourguignon. Don't skip the searing step—it provides the depth of flavor that rivals a steakhouse meal.