Bourbon Gravy Green Bean Tenderloin Tips

This slow cooker dinner delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort. Tender beef tenderloin tips, fresh green beans, and russet potatoes cook low and slow in a rich bourbon-mushroom gravy until everything is melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Just layer the ingredients, set the timer, and let the slow cooker work its magic. Serve over fluffy white rice for a complete, satisfying meal that feels special any night of the week.

The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity. Everything goes into the slow cooker in layers—no browning, no sautéing, no fuss. The beef tenderloin tips become incredibly tender as they simmer in the savory gravy, while the green beans and potatoes soak up all the flavor.

The bourbon adds a subtle sweetness and depth that elevates the sauce from ordinary to memorable. This is the kind of dinner that makes a busy weeknight feel like a weekend feast.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

Slow cooking is the secret to transforming a lean cut like beef tenderloin into fork-tender perfection. The low heat and long cooking time gently break down the connective tissues, leaving the meat moist and succulent.

The gravy, enriched with butter, creates a velvety sauce that clings to every bite. This method requires almost no hands-on time, making it ideal for busy cooks.

Layering the ingredients in the order specified ensures even cooking. The beef sits at the bottom where it's closest to the heat source, while the vegetables on top steam and soften without becoming mushy.

The bourbon gravy infuses everything with its deep, complex flavor, and the butter adds a luxurious finish. The result is a harmonious one-pot meal that tastes like it simmered all day—because it did.

Notes and substitutions

Beef tenderloin tips are the star here, but you can substitute sirloin or chuck cut into bite-size pieces if needed. Look for pre-cut tips at the butcher counter to save time. Fresh green beans are best, but frozen (thawed) work well in a pinch. Russet potatoes hold their shape during long cooking; waxy potatoes like red or Yukon Gold also work if that's what you have.

Bourbon mushroom gravy is available in jars at most supermarkets, but you can also use homemade or a good-quality brown gravy with a splash of bourbon. Salted butter adds seasoning, but unsalted works if you adjust the salt later. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles—the gravy is generous enough to coat them all.

• beef tenderloin tips: sirloin steak, cut into bite-size pieces
• fresh green beans: frozen green beans, thawed
• bourbon mushroom gravy: brown gravy with a splash of bourbon
• salted butter: unsalted butter plus a pinch of salt

Equipment

• 6-quart slow cooker
• Cutting board
• Chef's knife
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Serving spoon