Can I Use Sirloin Tips for Beef Stew? Everything You Need to Know

Beef stew is a hearty, comforting dish that’s perfect for chilly weather and feeding a crowd. Traditional cuts used for stew include chuck roast, bottom round, and brisket. But if you’ve spotted sirloin tips in the meat case, you may wonder – can I use sirloin tips for beef stew?

Keep reading to learn all about substituting sirloin tips in your next beef stew recipe

What are Sirloin Tips?

Sirloin tips, sometimes labeled “flap meat”, come from the sirloin primal cut, which is located near the hip/rear of the cow. They are triangular shaped muscles cut from the boneless top sirloin butt.

Sirloin tips are fairly lean, but have more marbling than cuts like eye of round or top sirloin steak They are moderately tender thanks to some light connective tissue. Many grocers sell them pre-cut into bite-sized pieces for stir fries, kabobs, or stews.

Benefits of Using Sirloin Tips for Stew

At first glance lean sirloin tips may not seem like the ideal choice for beef stew compared to fattier chuck or round cuts. However, they offer several advantages

• Easy prep: No need to cut up a large roast yourself. Sirloin tips come pre-cubed in ready-to-use stew-sized pieces.

• Quick cooking time: Being on the leaner side, sirloin tips cook faster than fattier cuts. Great when you want hearty beef stew without the 3+ hour cook time.

• Budget friendly: Sirloin tips are often more affordable per pound than chuck or rump roast. An economical way to make a big batch of beef stew.

• Tender texture: Thanks to moderate marbling and connective tissue, sirloin tips develop a pleasantly tender, meaty texture perfect for stew.

So if you want a time and money saving stew shortcut, sirloin tips are a smart substitute for traditional stewing cuts. Their uniform shape also makes for beautiful bowlfuls of stew.

Tips for Making Tender Sirloin Tip Stew

Follow these tips to end up with fork-tender bites of sirloin tip beef in your stew:

• Choose the right size: Opt for sirloin tip pieces that are 1 – 1 1⁄2 inches big to mimic classic stew chunks.

• Brown the beef: Take time to sear the meat well in batches. Browning adds tons of flavor and helps break down connective tissue.

• Use a flavorful braising liquid: Boost the savory flavors with beef broth, red wine, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, etc. This adds moisture and infuses the meat.

• Simmer low and slow: Even though they’re leaner, simmer sirloin tips for 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours on low heat until fork tender.

• Let it rest: Allow the stew to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the meat to reabsorb all the delicious braising juices.

Follow this basic recipe for tender, juicy sirloin tip beef stew every time:

Sirloin Tip Beef Stew Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds sirloin tip cubes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 ribs celery, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1⁄4 cup flour
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1⁄2 cup red wine (optional)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 pound potatoes, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions:

1. Pat beef cubes dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sear cubes on all sides until well browned, about 2-3 minutes per batch. Set aside.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining oil, onion, carrots and celery. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
4. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes.
5. Whisk in broth, wine, tomato paste, thyme, salt, pepper and bay leaves, scraping any browned bits from bottom of pan.
6. Add browned beef and any accumulated juices back to pot. Bring to a simmer.
7. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours, until beef is very tender.
8. Add potatoes and simmer 20 minutes more.
9. Stir in peas, cook 5 more minutes until heated through.
10. Remove bay leaves. Adjust seasoning as needed. Serve stew warm.

This recipe results in a rich, savory stew with melt-in-your-mouth beef and vegetables in every spoonful. The sirloin tips become fork tender after braising.

Additional Tips for Sirloin Tip Stew

• For more richness, sprinkle beef with a bit of flour before browning.
• Add sliced mushrooms with the onions and aromatics.
• Stir in a bit of red wine vinegar or splash of brandy right before serving to brighten flavors.
• Garnish bowls of stew with fresh parsley or thyme.
• For heartier stew, mix in diced turnips or parsnips along with the potatoes.
• Serve stew over buttery noodles or mashed potatoes.

The Bottom Line

While sirloin tips aren’t the first cut that comes to mind when making beef stew, they can be an amazing alternative to traditional braising cuts. Thanks to their lean yet moderately tender texture, sirloin tips develop a perfect meaty bite after low and slow simmering.

Their smaller, ready-to-go size also cuts down on prep time significantly. Follow the tips above for full flavor and tenderness, and you can enjoy delicious beef stew with convenient sirloin tips any night of the week.