This meal tastes way more complex than it is to make – thanks, in great part, to the use of a packet of Au Jus Gravy mix (if you don’t want to use a prepacked mix, feel free to make gravy as you normally would). While I didn’t put mushrooms in this dish (my youngest doesn’t care for mushrooms), it would be delicious with mushrooms.

I started with one thinly sliced onion and some garlic. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – most delicious things start with onion and garlic! I cooked the onion and garlic in a hot pan, with a bit of olive oil and butter. I let them cook until soft.

Then I added in the meat – I used beef stew meat and it worked great – and browned it. Then I added in the remaining butter and stirred through, before adding in the Au Jus mix and broth.

I let the broth come to a boil, then I reduced the heat to a simmer, covered the pan and allowed it to simmer for 45 minutes.

To finish the gravy, I added in some heavy cream and let it thicken. If it isn’t as thick as you’d like – you can also do a simple slurry to thicken it.

I served it over mashed potatoes (I’ve blogged about my mashed potatoes before – when I made Cheeseburger Pie – I’m very particular about mashed potatoes). You can check out the recipe for the potatoes on that blog post.

Paired with some asparagus, and it was a fantastic meal!

Beef and Gravy with Mashed Potatoes

Total prep and cooking time approx 1 hour 15 minutes

2 – 2 1/2 lbs beef tips (or beef stew meat)
1 onion, sliced thin
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 pack Au jus gravy mix
1 1/2 cups stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp olive oil

Mashed Potatoes – you can find my recipe for mashed potatoes as part of this blog post.

• In hot pan, add olive oil and 1/2 of the butter
• Add in the onion and garlic, cook until soft
• Add in meat and brown, add in the remaining butter and stir through
• Add in the au jus gravy mix and then the stock, lower to a simmer – cover and cook for 45 minutes
• Add in cream and allow to thicken (if it doesn’t thicken as much as you’d like, you can make a slurry and stir in until it is to your desired thickness)

Serve over mashed potatoes (Or rice, is you prefer!)