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Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Merlot

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A rich and elegant slow cooker dish featuring tender beef tips simmered in a luxurious Merlot wine sauce. Perfect for cozy dinners or special occasions, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs beef stew meat or sirloin tips
  • 1 cup Merlot wine
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp dried thyme (or 2 sprigs fresh)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. Season beef with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown beef tips in batches, then transfer to slow cooker.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1–2 minutes.
  4. Deglaze skillet with Merlot wine, scraping up browned bits.
  5. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, thyme, and bay leaf. Stir and pour over beef in slow cooker.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until beef is tender.
  7. Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Stir into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes to thicken sauce.
  8. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning, and serve over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.

Notes

  • Browning the beef first adds depth of flavor, but can be skipped if short on time.
  • Merlot provides a rich base, but Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir also work well.
  • For a no-wine option, use extra beef broth with a splash of balsamic vinegar.
  • Add mushrooms, carrots, or pearl onions for extra flavor and texture.
  • The sauce thickens best if the slurry is added in the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/slow-cooker-beef-tips-with-merlot/