Here’s a Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon recipe—rich, tender, and full of classic French flavors, made easy by the slow cooker.
🥩 Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Ingredients (Serves 6)
- 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1 ½-inch cubes
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2–3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups red wine (Burgundy or any dry red)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or 2–3 sprigs fresh)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 lb small mushrooms, halved or quartered
- 1 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Brown the Beef
- Season beef cubes with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Brown the beef on all sides (work in batches).
- Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker.
2. Cook the Bacon & Veggies
- In the same skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté onions, carrots, and garlic in the bacon fat until onions are translucent.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
- Pour in red wine and scrape up browned bits from the pan.
3. Combine in Slow Cooker
- Add sautéed veggies, bacon, beef broth, thyme, and bay leaf to the slow cooker.
- Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until beef is tender.
4. Add Mushrooms
- About 30–45 minutes before the end of cooking, add mushrooms.
- Continue cooking until mushrooms are tender.
5. Thicken the Sauce (Optional)
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp flour with 2 tbsp cold water to make a slurry.
- Stir into the slow cooker and cook an additional 10–15 minutes on HIGH.
6. Serve
- Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs (if using fresh).
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or crusty bread.
✨ Tips
- Wine: Use a decent dry red; cooking concentrates the flavors, so it doesn’t have to be expensive.
- Beef: Chuck roast is ideal—it becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Make ahead: This dish tastes even better the next day. Reheat gently on the stove.
- Vegetables: Pearl onions can be added for an extra touch of classic Bourguignon.
If you want, I can give you a “super easy 5-ingredient slow cooker version” or a pressure-cooker / Instant Pot version that cuts cooking time in half.
Do you want me to do that?
