Description
French comfort food at its finest — tender beef in a velvety red wine sauce with mushrooms, carrots, and herbs. Slow-cooked to perfection, this Beef Bourguignon is luxurious yet surprisingly easy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 cups pearl onions (or peeled small onions)
- 4 carrots, sliced into thick chunks
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups dry red wine (Pinot Noir or Burgundy)
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 lb mushrooms, halved or quartered
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving drippings in the pan.
- Season beef with salt and pepper. Sear in batches in bacon drippings until browned on all sides. Transfer to slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, sauté carrots, pearl onions, and mushrooms for 5 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute.
- Deglaze pan with red wine, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Transfer vegetables, bacon, and wine mixture to slow cooker. Stir in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Cover and cook on low 8–10 hours or high 5–6 hours, until beef is fork-tender.
- About 30 minutes before serving, whisk flour with some hot broth until smooth; stir into slow cooker to thicken sauce.
- Remove bay leaves, adjust seasoning, and garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- For a wine-free version, replace wine with more beef broth plus 1–2 tbsp balsamic vinegar.
- Don’t skip browning the beef — it adds deep flavor.
- Make ahead — the flavors deepen after a night in the fridge.
- Use cremini, button, or a mushroom mix for best flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8–10 hours (low) or 5–6 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: Varies with broth and bacon
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: Varies with cut of beef
- Unsaturated Fat: Varies
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: Varies
Keywords: beef bourguignon, slow cooker beef stew, French beef recipe