Slow Cooker French Onion Beef Tips

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These Slow Cooker French Onion Beef Tips are melt-in-your-mouth tender and bursting with rich, savory flavor.

Stew beef is seared, slow cooked in a French onion and gravy sauce, then finished with melty Swiss cheese for the ultimate comfort food dish.

It’s hearty, cozy, and perfect served over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles for a dinner that feels restaurant-quality but couldn’t be easier to make at home.

Slow Cooker French Onion Beef Tips

Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 4 hours

A plate of mashed potatoes topped with beef stew and a side of Brussels sprouts, set on a wooden board with fresh parsley in the background.

How To Make Slow Cooker French Onion Beef Tips

A glass bowl of raw beef chunks surrounded by sliced onions, shredded cheese, butter, gravy mix, spices, and a bowl of sauce on a marble surface.

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds stew beef
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed french onion soup
  • 1 (1 ounce) envelope brown gravy mix
  • 1 cup shredded swiss cheese
  • Parsley for garnish
A plate of mashed potatoes topped with beef stew and accompanied by Brussels sprouts, set on a wooden board with kitchen utensils, greens, and a white pitcher in the background.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Toss your stew beef with the garlic powder and paprika.

2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.

3. Brown the stew beef until just browned.

Cubed pieces of browned beef cooking in a frying pan on a white marble surface.

4. Add the stew beef to the slow cooker.

5. Top with the sliced onions.

6. Mix the french onion soup and brown gravy mix.

A slow cooker with sliced onions and meat next to a glass measuring cup containing a seasoned sauce on a marble surface.

7. Pour over the beef tips.

A slow cooker filled with cooked beef chunks, sliced onions, and a brown sauce or seasoning mixture.

8. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

Chunks of beef in a rich brown sauce cook inside a black slow cooker on a white surface.

9. 5 minutes before serving sprinkle with the cheese and parsley and cover to let melt.

Slow cooker filled with beef stew topped with shredded cheese and chopped parsley.
Close-up of a cheesy beef stew topped with shredded cheese and chopped parsley.

10. Serve!

A close-up of a spoon lifting a cheesy, saucy beef dish from a black slow cooker.
Plate of mashed potatoes topped with beef stew, served with Brussels sprouts on the side, on a wooden board with kitchen utensils and greenery in the background.

Tips & Tricks

  • Brown the beef first – Searing adds incredible depth of flavor and locks in juices.
  • Slice onions thin – This helps them caramelize and soften into the sauce while cooking.
  • Don’t skip the gravy mix – It thickens the sauce perfectly and makes it rich.
  • Add cheese at the end – Swiss melts quickly, so sprinkle it on right before serving.
  • Serve with starch – This dish shines over mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or rice to soak up the sauce.
Plate of mashed potatoes topped with beef stew and gravy, served with Brussels sprouts on the side.
Close-up of shredded beef in sauce topped with melted cheese and chopped parsley.

Substitutions

  • Beef – Chuck roast cut into cubes works just as well as stew beef.
  • French onion soup – Use beef broth plus caramelized onions if you prefer homemade.
  • Swiss cheese – Substitute with provolone, mozzarella, or Gruyère for a different cheesy finish.
  • Gravy mix – A packet of onion gravy or au jus mix can be swapped in.
  • Onions – Yellow, sweet, or even red onions will all work in this recipe.
A bowl of mashed potatoes topped with beef stew and served with Brussels sprouts on a wooden board, with fresh parsley in the background.
A spoon lifts cheesy, cooked beef with herbs from a black slow cooker.

Variations

  • Cheesy Bake Style – Transfer to a casserole dish, top with extra cheese and crispy fried onions, and broil for a few minutes before serving.
  • Mushroom Lovers – Add sliced mushrooms with the onions for an earthy boost.
  • Spicy Kick – Stir in a dash of red pepper flakes or cayenne.
  • Creamy Version – Mix in a little sour cream or heavy cream at the end for a creamier sauce.
  • Sandwich Twist – Shred the beef tips and serve on toasted hoagie rolls with extra cheese, French dip–style.
A bowl of mashed potatoes topped with beef stew and served with Brussels sprouts on a wooden board, with fresh parsley in the background.
A fork lifts a serving of cheesy, saucy beef from a black slow cooker.

Slow Cooker French Onion Beef Tips

Print Recipe
A plate of mashed potatoes topped with beef stew and garnished with Brussels sprouts, served on a wooden board.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:4 hours
Total Time:4 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds stew beef
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large onion sliced
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed french onion soup
  • 1 (1 ounce) envelope brown gravy mix
  • 1 cup shredded swiss cheese
  • Parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Toss your stew beef with the garlic powder and paprika.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Brown the stew beef until just browned.
  • Add the stew beef to the slow cooker.
  • Top with the sliced onions.
  • Mix the french onion soup and brown gravy mix.
  • Pour over the beef tips.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
  • 5 minutes before serving sprinkle with the cheese and parsley and cover to let melt.
  • Serve!

Notes

Tips & Tricks

  • Brown the beef first – Searing adds incredible depth of flavor and locks in juices.
  • Slice onions thin – This helps them caramelize and soften into the sauce while cooking.
  • Don’t skip the gravy mix – It thickens the sauce perfectly and makes it rich.
  • Add cheese at the end – Swiss melts quickly, so sprinkle it on right before serving.
  • Serve with starch – This dish shines over mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or rice to soak up the sauce.

Substitutions

  • Beef – Chuck roast cut into cubes works just as well as stew beef.
  • French onion soup – Use beef broth plus caramelized onions if you prefer homemade.
  • Swiss cheese – Substitute with provolone, mozzarella, or Gruyère for a different cheesy finish.
  • Gravy mix – A packet of onion gravy or au jus mix can be swapped in.
  • Onions – Yellow, sweet, or even red onions will all work in this recipe.

Variations

  • Cheesy Bake Style – Transfer to a casserole dish, top with extra cheese and crispy fried onions, and broil for a few minutes before serving.
  • Mushroom Lovers – Add sliced mushrooms with the onions for an earthy boost.
  • Spicy Kick – Stir in a dash of red pepper flakes or cayenne.
  • Creamy Version – Mix in a little sour cream or heavy cream at the end for a creamier sauce.
  • Sandwich Twist – Shred the beef tips and serve on toasted hoagie rolls with extra cheese, French dip–style.
Servings: 4 servings
Shredded beef topped with melted cheese and chopped herbs cooked in a black slow cooker.

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