Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (2024)

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Katerina

5 from 11 votes

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This easy Beef Bourguignon will wow your family and delight your appetite! A classic dish of tender beef stew simmered in a hearty sauce prepared with red wine, beef broth, bacon, and mushrooms. It’s old fashioned comfort food at its finest.

Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (2)

Thanks to the fun foodie tale, Julie and Julia, you may be familiar with Julia Child’s famous recipe for Boeuf Bourguignon, pronounced booff-boar-gone-yawn, and also known as Beef Burgundy. Similar to its sister dish, Coq Au Vin, this recipe is a labor of love. However, as awesome as that is, I’ve cut the recipe down to the essentials so that you can make this stew in just a fraction of the time!

Why You’ll Love Beef Bourguignon

  • Classic Flavor Fusion: Combines essential flavors of beef stew like onions, carrots, chuck roast, mushrooms, herbs, wine, and bacon for a rich, traditional taste.
  • Streamlined Recipe: Simplifies Julia Child’s classic recipe, maintaining deliciousness while reducing complexity.
  • Simplified Yet Rich: Retains the depth and richness of a traditional stew but with fewer steps for a rewarding yet easier cooking experience.
Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (3)

Ingredients For Beef Bourguignon

  • Bacon: I use 5 slices of thick cut bacon, diced.
  • Chuck Roast: You’ll need 2 ½ pounds of boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes.
  • Flour: For coating the beef.
  • Carrots: You’ll need a pound of carrots, sliced into ¼-inch rounds.
  • Onion: I use a yellow onion, but you can substitute 8 to 10 pearl onions to make it more authentic or use a white onion.
  • Mushrooms: This recipe uses halved 8 ounces of fresh white mushrooms; if you wish, you can use baby bellas (crimini mushrooms) instead.
  • Fresh Garlic: Mince the garlic, or put it through a garlic press.
  • Tomato Paste: Be careful not to get tomato sauce, which is less concentrated and not as flavorful.
  • Red Wine: Red Burgundy wine is preferred, or Pinot Noir, but you can use any good quality dry red wine.
  • Beef Broth: I recommend using low-sodium broth or making your own beef broth ahead of time. You’ll need 1 ½ cups for the beef and ¼ cup to thicken the sauce.
  • Fresh Parsley, Bay Leaf, and Thyme Sprigs
  • Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce.
Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (4)
Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (5)

How To Make Beef Bourguignon

  1. Sauté the Bacon. Set a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the bacon pieces and cook them for about 6 minutes or until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving the bacon drippings in the Dutch oven.
  2. Brown the Beef. Sprinkle flour over the beef chunks; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Set the Dutch oven on the heat again over medium-high. Working in batches, brown half of the beef cubes on all sides. Then brown the other half. This will take about 3 minutes per batch. Set the beef aside.
  3. Sauté the Veggies. Add the carrots and onions to the Dutch oven and cook for 5 minutes or until the onions soften. Stir in the garlic and the mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add the tablespoon of tomato paste and stir to coat.
  4. Add Remaining Ingredients and Simmer. Add the wine, broth, parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, beef, bacon and bay leaf; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook for 50 to 60 minutes, or until beef is tender.
  5. Remove Herbs and Thicken Sauce. Remove the parsley, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the ¼ cup of beef broth and the cornstarch to make a slurry. Add the slurry to the pot and whisk to combine. Simmer for 2 to 4 more minutes or until sauce is thickened.
  6. Finish the Dish. Remove the stew from the heat, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve.
Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (6)

Recipe Tips And Variations

  • Beef Choices: We tried this with stewing beef and chuck roast; the chuck roast yielded juicier and overall better results.
  • Wine: Beef Bourguignon is traditionally made with red burgundy.
  • Use a Dutch oven: Dutch Ovens are the traditional choice for stews, and this recipe works particularly well with a Dutch Oven. The reason is because of the heavy thickness of the Dutch oven, as well as the tight-fitting lid. It’s easy to brown meat and veggies thoroughly, bring soups and stews to a boil, and simmer quietly for low-and-slow recipes.
  • Cook Times Are Approximate: Keep in mind that it may take a longer or shorter amount of time to cook the beef until tender, so keep an eye on it to prevent over/undercooking. I usually start to test around the 45-minute mark.
  • Let It Rest: It’s best to give the stew a slight rest before serving it, about 10 to 15 minutes. This allows the flavors to mellow and blend properly.

Serving Suggestions

My Slow Cooker Country Style Garlic Mashed Potatoes or these easy Mashed Potatoes always make a perfect partner to beef bourguignon. You could also go low-carb with Creamy Mashed Cauliflower or Mashed Turnips. Consider serving it with my Radish Cucumber Tomato Salad or my Kale Quinoa Salad. I think chocolate is great anytime, and I recommend a slice of this Chocolate Mousse Cake, or maybe a bite of Keto Chocolate Fudge Cake, or a hot cup of my Thick and Creamy Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate.

Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (7)

Storing Leftovers

  • To refrigerate, cover tightly or store in airtight containers. This stew will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
  • To reheat, place the desired portion of stew in a covered saucepan over medium heat. Cook until just heated through.

More Beef Recipes

  • Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Gravy
  • Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
  • Rosemary Garlic Roast Beef
  • Irish Guinness Beef Stew
  • Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf

Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (8)

Beef Bourguignon

Katerina | Diethood

A wonderfully classic dish of Beef Bourguignon simmered in a hearty sauce prepared with red wine, beef broth, bacon, and mushrooms.

5 from 11 votes

Rate this Recipe!

Servings : 8

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 5 slices thick cut bacon, diced
  • pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound carrots, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 8 ounces white mushrooms, halved
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • cups red Burgundy wine, like Pinot Noir, or use your favorite dry red wine
  • cups low sodium beef broth
  • 4 sprigs fresh parsley
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¼ cup beef broth, for the slurry
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch, for the slurry
  • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  • Set a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced bacon to the Dutch oven and cook for 6 to 7 minutes or until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside; reserve bacon drippings in the Dutch oven.

  • Sprinkle flour over the beef chunks; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine.

  • Set the Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

  • Working in batches, add half of the cubed beef chunks to the Dutch oven and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until browned on all sides.

  • Remove the browned beef and set aside. Add remaining beef cubes and brown on all sides; remove beef and set aside with the rest.

  • Set the Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add olive oil, if needed. To the heated oil, add carrots and onions; cook for 5 minutes or until onions are just softened. Stir in the garlic, then stir in the mushrooms and cook for 1 minute.

  • Add tomato paste and stir to coat. Stir in the wine, broth, parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, beef, prepared bacon, and bay leaf; bring to a simmer.

  • Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook for 50 to 60 minutes, or until beef is tender.

  • When done, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf from the stew.

  • In a small mixing bowl, combine the beef broth and cornstarch; whisk to combine.

  • Add the slurry to the Dutch oven; stir well to combine and simmer for 2 to 4 more minutes or until the sauce is thickened.

  • Remove from heat. Taste the stew for salt and adjust accordingly.

  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Equipment

Notes

Slow Cooker Method:

  • Sprinkle flour over the beef chunks, season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.
  • Add diced bacon to a large skillet and cook until crispy; transfer it to the slow cooker. Return the skillet to the burner and sear the beef cubes in batches until browned. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker.
  • Return the skillet to the burner over medium-high heat and add olive oil; saute the carrots and onions for 3 minutes or until the onions are just softened. Add in the garlic and mushrooms and cook for a minute. Stir in the tomato paste.
  • Add wine, broth, parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf; bring to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the stove and stir it into the slow cooker.
  • Cover with the lid and cook on HIGH for 6 hours or on LOW for 8 to 9 hours.

Tips For Success:

  • Use a Dutch Oven: A Dutch Oven is great for this stew, thanks to its thick structure and snug lid. It’s ideal for browning ingredients, boiling soups, and slow-cooking dishes.
  • Beef Choices: We tried this with stewing beef and chuck roast; the chuck roast yielded juicier and overall better results. Brisket, chuck steak, and stewing beef work best.
  • Cook Times: Keep in mind that it may take a longer or shorter amount of time to cook the beef until tender, so test it from time to time to prevent overcooking or undercooking. I usually start to test around the 45-minute mark.
  • Let It Rest: It’s best to give the stew a slight rest before serving it, about ten to fifteen minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 478 kcal | Carbohydrates: 13 g | Protein: 33 g | Fat: 29 g | Saturated Fat: 11 g | Cholesterol: 116 mg | Sodium: 738 mg | Potassium: 947 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 4 g | Vitamin A: 9585 IU | Vitamin C: 7 mg | Calcium: 50 mg | Iron: 4 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: French

Keyword: beef bourguignon, beef bourguignon recipe, beef stew, beef stew recipe, best beef stew recipe, easy beef stew, how to make beef stew

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Categories:

  • Beef Recipes
  • Christmas
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Holidays
  • One Pot Meals
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  • Soups
Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe - Old Fashioned Comfort Food! (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is best for beef bourguignon? ›

Boeuf Bourguignon consists of beef (usually a tough, inexpensive cut like chuck), red wine, beef stock, carrots, aromatics like garlic and onion, pearl onions, mushrooms, and bacon.

What's the difference between beef stew and beef bourguignon? ›

Both beef bourguignon and beef stew are delicious! It's all in preparation. Stew is a cooking method, and beef bourguignon is a classic French dish that uses beef stewed in wine to create its characteristic flavor. The difference between stew and beef bourguignon is not just one of taste but also one of the methods.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

8 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Beef Stew
  1. Braising the Beef In Water.
  2. Using "Stew Meat"
  3. Not Searing the Beef.
  4. Including Thickeners.
  5. Overcooking the Veggies.
  6. Not Using Any Bacon.
  7. Forgetting the Acid.
  8. Serving It Right Away.

How do you thicken beef bourguignon sauce? ›

If sauce is too thin after cooking, simmer uncovered in the slow cooker until reduced. You can also thicken sauce using 1 to 2 tablespoons flour; mix 1/4 cup sauce with flour in a small bowl until no lumps remain, then whisk into the slow cooker and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.

Do you serve beef bourguignon in bowl or plate? ›

I like to ladle portion of the Beef Bourguignon into a shallow dish ( I love my Le Creuset Pasta bowls for this)then top with a few potatoes before spooning more Beef Bourguignon over the top for more sauce. The sauce is sooo good! Top with a small pinch of French Sea Salt.

Should beef bourguignon be thick or thin? ›

Stews like boeuf bourguignon should ideally be thick and glossy enough that the liquid coats the back of a spoon, a process aided by collagen-rich cuts of meat and a long, slow simmer.

Can you overcook beef bourguignon? ›

Can you overcook beef bourguignon? Although this is a sturdy dish that can withstand hours of cooking, depending on the cut and size of the meat pieces, it is possible to overcook it as all the melting fat renders out of the meat, leaving it quite dry to bite into.

What can I use instead of red wine in beef bourguignon? ›

If you're seeking a substitute for red wine, consider replacing one-for-one with:
  • Alcohol-free red wine.
  • Beef broth.
  • Chicken broth.
  • Red wine vinegar (use ½ vinegar and ½ water for similar flavor results)
  • Cranberry juice*
  • Pomegranate juice*
Aug 8, 2023

What wine is good for beef bourguignon? ›

Red Burgundy is the traditional match for Beef Bourguignon, Merlot dominated blends from both Australia and Bordeaux. Red Bordeaux in particular, can be enjoyed more fully. A weighty Pinot Noir or a robust Ribera del Duero. Tempranillo wine is also fine.

What gives beef stew the best flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

When should you add celery to a stew? ›

Once the meat is tender - but not falling apart, add the potatoes, celery, carrots and butternut squash. Pour over another 2 cups of beef broth and enough water to cover the vegetables. Raise heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for about 30 minutes - until the vegetables are tender.

Why add vinegar to beef stew? ›

The addition of the vinegar adds subtle acidity that balances well with the soy sauce and the honey giving this otherwise super hearty beef stew a nice lightness to it.

What is a bourguignon sauce? ›

'Burgundy sauce') is a French sauce with a base of red wine with onions or shallots, a bouquet garni (parsley, thyme and bay leaf), reduced, strained, and mixed with some espagnole sauce. Just before serving it is mounted with butter and seasoned lightly with cayenne pepper.

Why is my beef bourguignon watery? ›

This usually happens when you've added too much liquid to your mix, essentially turning your stew into a soup.

How to make beef stew more flavorful? ›

I almost always add some beef bouillon crystals to my stew, it helps oomph (yes, a technical term) the beefiness of the stock. Sometimes also use a few shots of worcestershire sauce or soy sauce - both will also add some oomph to the flavor.

What is the best piece of meat for beef stew? ›

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

Can you use ribeye steak for Beef Bourguignon? ›

The Ribeye's rich, buttery taste, when paired with the complex layers of Beef Bourguignon red wine, herbs, and aromatics, creates a symphony of flavors that's both opulent and robust. Imagine the tender, juicy Ribeye embracing the hearty depth of the dish, infusing every bite with its signature succulence.

What is the most tender cut of beef to cook? ›

The most tender of all cuts of beef, tenderloin steaks are lean and known for their delicate, butter-like texture and thick cut.

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