Hearty & Tender: The Best Crockpot Beef Tips with Wine and Thyme Recipe
There’s a distinct feeling in the air when the seasons begin to shift, a gentle crispness that signals the arrival of autumn. For many, this marks the perfect time to embrace the cozy comforts of home cooking, especially those dishes that simmer slowly, filling the kitchen with inviting aromas. The cooler mornings and refreshing breezes are a clear invitation to dust off the slow cooker and prepare something truly special. And what could be more comforting, more soul-satisfsatisfying, than tender beef tips, slow-cooked to perfection with the rich notes of red wine and fragrant thyme?
While the daytime temperatures might still hover in the warmer ranges, that undeniable hint of fall whispers promises of hearty meals to come. This is precisely why my slow cooker has become my trusted companion in the kitchen. For those who, like me, don’t always gravitate towards elaborate soups or stews, this recipe for Crockpot Beef Tips with Wine and Thyme is a game-changer. It’s the kind of dish that makes you wonder why you don’t make comforting, gravy-rich beef more often. Every time I prepare it, I’m reminded of the sheer joy and simplicity it brings to the dinner table.
Why This Crockpot Beef Tips Recipe Stands Out
This isn’t just any slow cooker meal; it’s a culinary masterpiece in simplicity. Beef tips, mingling with earthy mushrooms and aromatic thyme, are gently braised in a flavorful broth and a generous splash of red wine. The magic truly happens when these ingredients slowly meld together over hours, transforming humble beef into an incredibly tender and deeply flavored dish that melts in your mouth. This Crockpot Beef Tips with Wine and Thyme is the epitome of classic comfort food, made effortlessly convenient.
The beauty of this slow cooker beef tips recipe lies in its ability to deliver rich, complex flavors with minimal hands-on effort. The slow cooking process ensures that even tougher cuts of beef become incredibly tender, breaking down connective tissues and infusing every piece with the delicious essence of wine, broth, and herbs. But the secret to its profound depth of flavor starts long before the slow cooker lid is placed. Searing the beef first creates a beautiful, caramelized crust and locks in moisture, forming the foundation of a truly exceptional gravy. This crucial step, often overlooked in slow cooker recipes, is what elevates this dish from good to absolutely phenomenal.
Key Ingredients for Unforgettable Flavor
- Beef Tips: While the recipe calls for beef tips, you can easily substitute stew beef. Look for cuts like chuck roast or round steak, cut into 1-2 inch pieces. The slow cooking process will ensure they become fork-tender.
- Red Wine: Choose a dry red wine that you enjoy drinking. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Pinot Noir all work wonderfully, adding a sophisticated depth and richness to the gravy. The alcohol cooks off, leaving behind only the exquisite flavor.
- Mushrooms: Sliced white button mushrooms are specified, but cremini (baby bellas) would also be fantastic, adding a deeper umami flavor. Sautéing them until nicely browned brings out their best taste.
- Thyme: Fresh thyme sprigs and leaves are essential. Thyme imparts a warm, earthy, and slightly peppery aroma that complements beef and wine perfectly. Don’t skimp on fresh herbs here; they make a significant difference.
- Beef Broth: A good quality beef broth forms the liquid base, contributing to the savory foundation of the dish.
- Flour and Butter (Beurre Manié): This simple mixture is added at the end to thicken the sauce into a luxurious, velvety gravy, coating every piece of beef beautifully.
Achieving Perfect Tenderness and Rich Gravy
The beauty of the crockpot is its ability to transform simple ingredients into a meal that tastes like it’s been simmering for days. For these Beef Tips with Wine and Thyme, the process is straightforward, but each step plays a vital role in the final flavor:
1. Searing the Beef: The Foundation of Flavor
This step is non-negotiable for a truly flavorful stew. Browning the beef in batches creates the Maillard reaction, developing deep, savory flavors and a beautiful crust. Don’t overcrowd the pan; give the beef space to sear properly. This initial searing creates fond – those delicious browned bits at the bottom of the pan – which are packed with flavor.
2. Deglazing with Red Wine: Capturing Every Ounce of Goodness
After searing the beef, red wine is added to the hot pan. This isn’t just for the wine’s flavor; it’s also about deglazing. As the wine simmers, it helps scrape up all those flavorful brown bits (fond) from the bottom of the pan. This concentrated flavor then becomes part of your gravy, adding incredible depth and complexity that would otherwise be lost.
3. Sautéing Aromatics and Mushrooms: Layering Flavors
Onions and mushrooms are sautéed separately to ensure they get proper browning, which intensifies their natural sweetness and umami. This step prevents them from simply steaming in the slow cooker and ensures they contribute their maximum flavor to the overall dish.
4. Slow Cooking: The Magic of Time
Once all the components are in the crockpot, the slow cooker takes over. The low and slow cooking environment gently breaks down the beef fibers, resulting in incredibly tender meat that easily pulls apart. This extended cooking time also allows all the flavors to marry and deepen, creating a harmonious and robust stew.
5. Thickening the Gravy: The Finishing Touch
Towards the end of the cooking process, a beurre manié (a paste of flour and butter) is stirred in. This simple technique effortlessly thickens the cooking liquid into a rich, glossy gravy that clings perfectly to the beef tips. It’s this luscious gravy that truly ties the entire dish together, making it an irresistible comfort food.
Serving Suggestions for an Epic Meal
The result of all this gentle simmering is beef that’s unbelievably tender and flavorful – a dish so rich and satisfying it’s almost impossible to describe! But I can tell you this: it pairs perfectly with a few classic accompaniments. My absolute favorites include:
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes: The velvety gravy is divine when spooned over a mound of fluffy mashed potatoes, creating a truly comforting experience.
- Buttered Egg Noodles: For a different texture, serve these beef tips over broad, buttered egg noodles. They soak up the gravy beautifully.
- Crusty Bread: This is a must-have! A generous loaf of crusty bread is perfect for soaking up every last drop of that rich, savory gravy. Don’t underestimate the satisfaction of a good bread and gravy combination.
- Roasted Vegetables: A side of roasted carrots, green beans, or asparagus adds a touch of freshness and color to this hearty meal.
Crockpot Beef Tips with Wine and Thyme
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Ingredients
- 2 lb beef tips you may substitute stew beef
- 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour divided
- 3 Tbsp + 2 t extra virgin olive oil divided
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 14 oz can beef broth
- 1 medium onion diced
- 8 oz sliced white button mushrooms
- ¼ tsp fresh cracked pepper
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme + 2 t fresh thyme leaves divided
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
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In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on high heat. Toss half the stew meat in 1 tablespoon flour and add to the pan. Brown the meat well, turning to get all sides. Transfer the meat to a crockpot. Repeat with the remaining beef, 1 tablespoon flour, and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
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To the saute pan, carefully add the red wine (it will steam and boil!) Use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up all the browned yum-yums from the meat. Cook a minute or so until the wine is reduced to 1/2 to 2/3 c cups. Transfer this mixture to the crockpot.
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Heat a new saute pan on high heat with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Add the onion cook until lightly browned. Transfer to the crockpot.
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Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in the pan used for the onions. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are browned. Transfer to the crockpot.
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To the crockpot, add the beef broth, pepper, and thyme sprig. Cook on low 6-7 hours or until meat is very tender.
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In a small bowl, use a fork to mash together the remaining 2 tablespoons flour and the butter to make a beurre marnier. Stir into the crockpot (this will thicken and flavor the gravy). Let cook another 30-60 minutes and serve. Season to taste (mine needed 1/2 t kosher salt) and add the remaining 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves. Serve over mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles.
Tips for Success with Your Crockpot Beef Tips
To ensure your Crockpot Beef Tips with Wine and Thyme turn out perfectly every time, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t Skip the Searing: As mentioned, this step is crucial for flavor development. It creates a rich, complex taste that you won’t get from simply adding raw beef to the slow cooker.
- Batch Cooking: If your pan isn’t large enough to sear all the beef in a single layer without crowding, do it in batches. Crowding the pan will steam the meat instead of browning it.
- Good Quality Wine: Use a red wine that you would enjoy drinking. You don’t need an expensive bottle, but avoid “cooking wines” which often contain added salt and preservatives and lack good flavor.
- Fresh Herbs: Fresh thyme is highly recommended over dried. Its vibrant, earthy notes truly shine in this dish.
- Taste and Adjust Seasoning: Always taste your food before serving. Slow-cooked dishes often benefit from a final seasoning adjustment. The amount of salt needed can vary based on the broth used and personal preference.
- Rest the Meat: While not strictly necessary for slow-cooked meat, allowing the beef to rest for a few minutes after cooking can help redistribute juices, though in a stew, it’s often served immediately.
Variations to Customize Your Beef Tips
This recipe is wonderfully versatile. Feel free to experiment with these variations:
- Add More Vegetables: Carrots, celery, or small potatoes can be added to the slow cooker along with the broth. Add them during the last 2-3 hours of cooking to ensure they don’t become too mushy.
- Different Herbs: Rosemary or bay leaves would also complement the beef and wine beautifully. Add a sprig of rosemary along with the thyme.
- Make it Gluten-Free: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend or cornstarch for thickening. If using cornstarch, mix it with a small amount of cold water to create a slurry before stirring it into the hot liquid.
- Creamier Finish: For an extra rich gravy, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of sour cream during the last 30 minutes of cooking (after thickening).
- Spice it Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a subtle warmth if you like a little heat.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Crockpot Beef Tips with Wine and Thyme often taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld. To store:
- Refrigeration: Allow the beef tips to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: This dish freezes beautifully. Once cooled, transfer to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Gently reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of beef broth or water if the gravy has thickened too much. Alternatively, reheat individual portions in the microwave.
There’s nothing quite like a hearty, flavorful dish that brings warmth and comfort, especially as the days grow shorter. This Crockpot Beef Tips with Wine and Thyme perfectly embodies that feeling, offering a simple yet incredibly satisfying meal that everyone will love. Its rich flavors and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness make it an instant classic, and the ease of the slow cooker means you can enjoy a gourmet-tasting meal with minimal effort. So, embrace the season, fire up your crockpot, and prepare to delight your taste buds with this unforgettable beef tips recipe!
