Amazing slow cooker beef bourguignon: 5 stars

When the weather turns chilly and all you want is something warm and deeply satisfying, nothing beats a hearty bowl of Beef Bourguignon. But let’s be real, the traditional way can be a bit of a project! That’s why I fell in love with making slow cooker beef bourguignon. It’s become one of my go-to comfort food dinners because it totally embodies what Pure Cooking Joy is all about: making incredible, soul-satisfying food that’s actually simple. I remember those days when cooking felt like a chore, but discovering how to unlock all that amazing flavor with a slow cooker – no fancy techniques needed – felt like pure magic. This recipe makes those tender beef chunks and that incredible, glossy sauce achievable any night of the week, bringing everyone to the table with smiles.

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Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Seriously, why wouldn’t you love this French stew recipe? It’s a total game-changer for weeknights!

• Super Easy: All the flavor, way less fuss. Just a little searing, then let your slow cooker do the heavy lifting!
• Incredible Flavor: Red wine, savory beef, and aromatic herbs create a rich, deep taste that feels so special.
• Pure Comfort: This is the ultimate cozy dinner. Tender beef chunks and a luscious sauce are pure happiness in a bowl.
• Busy-Weeknight Friendly: Prep it in the morning and come home to a delicious, ready-to-eat meal. Perfect for meal planning!

Gather Your Ingredients for Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Alright, let’s get our mise en place ready for this amazing crockpot beef stew! It really is all about good ingredients coming together. Here’s what you’ll need to grab:

• Beef Chuck Roast: 3 pounds, cut into nice, chunky 1.5-inch cubes. Chuck roast is your best friend here; it gets super tender!
• Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons. Just enough for searing that beautiful beef.
• Bacon: 4 ounces, chopped up. This adds an amazing depth of flavor that you just can’t skip.
• Onion: 1 large one, chopped. Yellow or white works great.
• Carrots: 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds. They add just a touch of sweetness.
• Garlic: 2 cloves, minced. Because, well, garlic!
• All-Purpose Flour: 2 tablespoons. This helps thicken our sauce later on.
• Red Wine: 1 bottle (750ml). Oh yes, the star! Grab a dry red you actually like drinking, like a Pinot Noir or Merlot. It makes all the difference.
• Beef Broth: 2 cups. This really rounds out the flavor.
• Tomato Paste: 1 tablespoon. It adds a nice bit of richness.
• Dried Thyme: 1 teaspoon. Classic herb for this dish.
• Bay Leaf: 1 whole leaf. Don’t forget to fish it out later!
• Cremini Mushrooms: 8 ounces, quartered. They soak up all that delicious broth.
• Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: To taste. Always season as you go!
• Fresh Parsley: For garnish. It adds a pop of color and freshness at the end.

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Essential Equipment for Your Crockpot Beef Stew

So, what do you actually need to make this amazing crockpot beef stew happen? It’s pretty simple, really! The main stars are the slow cooker, of course, and a good skillet for searing. You’ll also want some basic kitchen tools to help you along the way so you can really focus on all that delicious flavor.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Alright, let’s get this beautiful French stew recipe going! It’s really not complicated, I promise. It’s all about building layers of flavor, and your slow cooker is going to be your best friend for this slow cooker beef bourguignon.

Preparing the Beef and Aromatics

First things first, grab those beef cubes. You want to pat them really, really dry with paper towels. Seriously, don’t skip this! It helps get a gorgeous sear. Then, give them a good sprinkle of salt and pepper. Heat up your skillet with that olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches – important! Don’t crowd the pan, or it’ll steam instead of browning. Once they’re nicely browned, set them aside. Now, toss your chopped bacon into the same skillet and cook it until it’s nice and crispy. Scoop that out too, but leave that glorious bacon fat in the pan. Add your chopped onion and sliced carrots to the skillet. Let them soften up for about 5-7 minutes. Then, toss in the garlic for just a minute until it smells amazing. You’re building such great flavor right from the start! For more tips on searing, check out my crockpot steak bites post.

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Building the Flavor Base

Now, sprinkle that flour over the softened veggies. Stir it all around and let it cook for about a minute. This little step is crucial for thickening our sauce later! Then, pour in your red wine. This is where the magic really happens! Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all those yummy browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan – that’s pure flavor gold! Let the wine simmer for about 5 minutes, letting it reduce just a bit. This concentrates that wonderful red wine taste.

Slow Cooking to Perfection

Okay, time to assemble everything in the slow cooker! Carefully transfer the seared beef, the cooked bacon, and that delicious vegetable-wine mixture into your slow cooker insert. Pour in your beef broth, stir in the tomato paste until it’s all combined, and add your dried thyme and that bay leaf. Give it all a good stir. Now, pop the lid on tight. You’re going to let this cook on LOW for 8-10 hours, or if you’re in a bit of a rush, you can go for HIGH for 4-5 hours. Either way, you want that beef to be unbelievably tender – like, fall-apart tender. It’s amazing how the slow cooker just works its magic and turns these simple ingredients into such a hearty slow cooker meal.

Finishing Touches and Serving

About 30 minutes before you’re ready to serve this incredible crockpot beef stew, stir in your quartered mushrooms. They just need a little time to cook through and soak up all that delicious sauce. Before you serve, don’t forget to fish out that bay leaf! Give it a taste and add more salt and pepper if you think it needs it. And the best part? Serve this rich, comforting stew hot, maybe over some fluffy mashed potatoes (my favorite!), and garnish with some fresh chopped parsley. It’s the perfect way to end any meal.

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Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

You know, even with a slow cooker, a few little tricks can really level up this classic dish. It’s all about maximizing that flavor and getting that perfect texture without a ton of effort. Here are my go-to tips:

• Don’t Skimp on the Sear: Seriously, patting the beef dry and getting a good, deep brown crust on it is *key*. It adds so much richness to the final dish.
• Your Wine Choice Matters: Pick a red wine you’d actually enjoy drinking. Since it cooks down, the flavor concentrates, so using something you love will make your French stew recipe taste so much better.
• Thicken Smartly: If your sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like at the end, you can easily mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water to make a slurry, then stir it into the hot stew. Let it simmer for a few minutes to thicken up!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for French Stew

Alright, let’s chat about some of these ingredients for our delicious French stew recipe because sometimes you need a little flexibility! When it comes to the beef, chuck roast is my absolute favorite for this kind of slow-cooked dish. It has just the right amount of fat and marbling to become incredibly tender and flavorful after a long cook. If you can’t find chuck, a nice beef brisket or even a flavorful beef round could work, just keep an eye on the cooking time as they might vary a bit.

Now, about that red wine! The recipe calls for a 750ml bottle, and honestly, trust me here – use a wine you’d actually love to drink. A Pinot Noir or Merlot are fantastic because they have a nice balanced flavor that complements the beef without overpowering it. If you’re not a wine drinker or prefer to skip it, don’t worry! You can totally substitute with more beef broth, maybe add a splash of red wine vinegar for a little tang, or even use a non-alcoholic red wine. For the beef broth, if you happen to run out, water is okay in a pinch, but the flavor won’t be quite as deep. Broth really adds that savory backbone. Need more ideas for hearty meals? Check out my pot roast!

Make-Ahead and Storage for Your Hearty Slow Cooker Meal

This hearty slow cooker meal is a dream for making ahead! You can actually prepare the whole thing, let it cool completely, and then stash it in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors just get even better overnight, I swear! When you’re ready to reheat, just pop it back into your slow cooker on low for a couple of hours until it’s warmed through, or gently heat it on the stovetop. You could also check out my tips for crockpot pot roast for more make-ahead goodness!

Frequently Asked Questions about Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Got questions lingering about whipping up this amazing slow cooker beef bourguignon? I totally get it! Here are some things people often ask:

Can I use a different cut of beef?

While chuck roast is my absolute favorite because it gets so tender, you can definitely use other cuts! Beef brisket or even a beef round can work. Just remember they might need a slightly different cooking time to get those fork-tender results. Always check your beef for tenderness!

How can I thicken the sauce if it’s too thin?

No worries if your sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like! It happens. The easiest fix is a simple cornstarch slurry. Just whisk together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water until it’s smooth. Stir this into your simmering stew and let it cook for a few more minutes. It’ll thicken up beautifully!

Can I make this Beef Bourguignon without wine?

You sure can skip the wine! If you don’t want to use wine, just use an extra cup or two of beef broth. If you want to add a little brightness back, a tiny splash of red wine vinegar or even balsamic vinegar right at the end can give it a nice zing. It’s still going to be delicious!

What’s the best way to serve this hearty slow cooker meal?

Oh, this is the fun part! My favorite is definitely over creamy mashed potatoes – they soak up all that rich, savory gravy so perfectly. But it’s also fantastic with crusty bread for dipping, egg noodles, or even some fluffy white rice. Whatever makes your cozy winter dinner dreams come true! For more hearty meal ideas, check out my hearty chili recipe.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Alright, let’s talk about the yummy details! Keep in mind these numbers are just estimates, ya know? They can totally change depending on the exact brands you use and how much of everything you heap onto your plate. But generally, for each serving of this glorious slow cooker beef bourguignon, you’re looking at something around 550 calories, with about 30g of fat, 45g of protein, and 25g of carbs. It’s a really satisfying, delicious meal that feels like a treat!

Share Your Pure Cooking Joy!

Did you make this amazing slow cooker beef bourguignon? I’d absolutely love to hear how it turned out for you! Share your thoughts, rate the recipe, or just tell me what you loved about it. You can find out more about my kitchen adventures here!

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

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Enjoy a rich and tender French-style beef stew made easily in your slow cooker. This comforting dish features beef, red wine, mushrooms, and carrots, perfect for a cozy dinner.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 25 min
• Cook Time: 8 hours
• Total Time: 8 hours 25 min
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooker
• Cuisine: French
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 oz bacon, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine (like Pinot Noir or Merlot)
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 oz cremini mushrooms, quartered
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Remove beef and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
4. Add the chopped onion and sliced carrots to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
5. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute.
6. Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes to reduce slightly.
7. Transfer the beef, cooked bacon, and vegetable-wine mixture to your slow cooker.
8. Add the beef broth, tomato paste, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Stir to combine.
9. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is very tender.
10. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the quartered mushrooms.
11. Remove the bay leaf before serving. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
12. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley. This dish is excellent served over mashed potatoes.

Notes

• For a richer flavor, you can sear the beef in batches in your slow cooker insert if it is stovetop safe.
• Ensure your red wine is one you would enjoy drinking; its flavor will concentrate in the stew.
• If you don’t have beef broth, you can use water, but the flavor will be less intense.
• This recipe is a great make-ahead dinner; the flavors meld beautifully overnight.
• Consider this a hearty slow cooker meal that rivals any meal planning service.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 550
• Sugar: 8g
• Sodium: 450mg
• Fat: 30g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 45g
• Cholesterol: 150mg