How Long to Cook Beef Tips in the Oven for Perfectly Tender Meat

Beef tips, also known as beef cubes or stew meat, make for a delicious and comforting meal when cooked just right. When simmered in a flavorful gravy or sauce, these bite-sized pieces of beef become fall-apart tender. But to achieve this melt-in-your-mouth texture, proper cooking time is key. So how long should you cook beef tips in the oven?

Factors that Determine Oven Cook Time for Beef Tips

Several factors impact the oven cook time for beef tips:

• Cut of beef – Beef tips are usually made from chuck, round or sirloin. Chuck takes longer as it has more connective tissue.

• Size of beef pieces – Small 1-inch pieces cook faster than larger 2-inch chunks.

• Temperature of the oven – Higher oven temperatures shorten cook time.

• Cooking method – Braising in a sauce cooks faster than dry roasting.

• Desired doneness – Rare beef tips take less time than well-done.

• Meat temperature – Internal temp, not time, indicates doneness.

• Type of pan – Dark metal pans speed up cooking compared to glass or ceramic.

• Liquid in the pan – More liquid means faster braising.

So oven cook time can range quite a bit based on all these variances. Let’s explore some average cook times.

Oven Cook Time Guidelines for Beef Tips

For 1-inch beef tip cubes from round or sirloin at an oven temp of 325°F, use these cook times as a guide:

• Rare: 20-25 minutes
• Medium Rare: 25-35 minutes
• Medium: 35-45 minutes
• Medium Well: 45-55 minutes
• Well Done: 60-70 minutes

For a large 2-inch beef chuck cubes, add 15 minutes to those times.

These times are for dry roasting only. For braising in gravy or sauce, deduct 10 minutes from the times above.

Always rely on an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness rather than just going by time. Insert into thickest part and verify:

• Rare: 120-125°F
• Medium Rare: 130-135°F
• Medium: 140-145°F
• Medium Well: 150-155°F
• Well Done: 160+°F

Tested Recipe for Oven Baked Beef Tips

This easy recipe for beef tips and gravy cooked in the oven results in fork-tender meat in just 1 hour.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds beef tips (1-inch chunks)
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1⁄2 cup water or ginger ale
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Place beef tips in 9×13 baking dish and season with salt and pepper.
3. In small bowl, mix soup mix, mushroom soup and water/ginger ale.
4. Pour liquid mixture over beef tips.
5. Cover tightly with foil.
6. Bake for 45-60 minutes until beef is fork-tender.
7. Remove foil and bake 5 minutes more to thicken sauce.
8. Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.

The braising liquid helps tenderize the meat. And the foil lock in steam for quick, even cooking.

Tips for Oven Baked Beef Tips

• Generously season beef with salt, pepper and other spices for flavor.
• Brown the beef tips first for better color and caramelized exterior.
• Use lower oven temp (325°F) for fork-tender meat.
• Liquid like broth or soup speeds up oven cook time.
• Keep foil cover on until last 5-10 minutes for steam braising.
• Check for doneness with meat thermometer for best accuracy.
• Let beef tips rest 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.

Best Side Dishes for Beef Tips and Gravy

Once you’ve mastered oven cooking time for beef tips, you’ll want delicious sides to complete your homey meal:

• Fluffy mashed potatoes – Classic comfort!
• Buttery egg noodles – Soak up the rich gravy.
• Rice pilaf – Flavorful and filling.
• Roasted vegetables – Add color and nutrition.
• Buttermilk biscuits – Warm and flakey.
• Green salad – Provides a fresh contrast.

More Oven Baked Beef Tip Recipes to Try

Once you’ve nailed down how long beef tips need to cook in the oven for your preferred doneness, experiment with different seasonings and sauce flavors:

• Beef Tip Joes – Southwest style with onion, peppers and salsa.
• Italian Beef Tips – Tomato sauce, garlic and Italian herbs.
• Beef Tip Stroganoff – Sautéed mushrooms and creamy sour cream.
• Beef Tip Pot Roast – Slow cooked with carrots and potatoes.
• Beef Tips and Rice – Tomato-based sauce with bell peppers over rice.

With the proper oven cook time, you can be sure your beef tips will turn out fork-tender every time. Master this easy method, then get creative with flavors for a hearty, satisfying one-dish meal.