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

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

FAQs

How to add more flavor to Beef Bourguignon? ›

Of course, picking the right wine is key. Other small touches include the addition of mellow, cooked garlic, star anise and bacon to intensify the rich taste of this stew. Adding a little flour to the sauce helps to achieve a beautiful velvety texture.

What is the best cut of meat for Beef Bourguignon? ›

Tough, marbled boneless chuck roast is the best cut of beef for beef Bourguignon. Don't worry, it becomes tantalizingly tender during cooking. You could swap another stewing beef, such as top round roast or bottom round roast.

What's the difference between beef stew and Beef Bourguignon? ›

The difference between typical beef stew and beef bourguignon has to do with wine. Standard beef stew is normally made with water, broth, and a tomato product for the sauce. However, beef bourguignon is always made with red wine. And for it to truly be considered bourguignon the wine should be a red Burgundy wine.

How can I thicken up my Beef Bourguignon? ›

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.

What gives beef stew depth of flavor? ›

Aromatics. Like rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves. The base of the stew also uses onion and garlic for the best depth of flavor. I prefer to use fresh herbs when I can (though I haven't been able to find a fresh bay leaf in years), but include notes in the recipe to substitute dried herbs.

What to add to beef stew to make it amazing? ›

Vegetables: small chopped carrots, celery, and onion or shallot practically melt into the sauce. Mushrooms: button mushrooms are a nod to the quartered mushrooms many classic beef stew recipes call for, but are thinly sliced instead of being left in bigger pieces. Garlic: minced garlic brings lots of cozy flavor.

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.

Why is the beef in my beef bourguignon tough? ›

If you use leaner meat (and usually more expensive), it ends up being tough and chewy. Skipping the Sear: Do not skip the step of searing the beef. It does take a little extra time, but it is so important in a recipe like this one. Be sure to sear it, not just brown it.

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

Why does my beef bourguignon taste bitter? ›

Don't over cook your Beef bourguignon. It will turn bitter because you cooked the red wine too long. If you find your beef bourguignon to be bitter, try adding a little butter and sugar, but it may or may not work.

Is beef bourguignon served in a bowl or plate? ›

Once the beef is ready, remove the herb bouquet. Assemble a plate or shallow bowl with the meat, carrots, and sautéed mushrooms and pearl onions.

What to eat with beef bourguignon? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Beef Bourguignon are mashed potatoes, mushroom risotto, grilled asparagus, jasmine rice, butternut squash, green beans almondine, polenta, garlic bread, roasted Brussels sprouts, steamed broccoli, roasted carrots, French baguette, sweet potato fries, and quinoa.

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.

Do potatoes thicken stew? ›

This gives your stew a creamier body, particular if you're using starchy vegetables like potatoes. Starches are an excellent way to thicken up your stew, as individual starch molecules start to absorb water immediately upon hitting hot liquid, eventually bursting and causing the liquid to thicken.

How to improve the flavour of beef stew? ›

Laurence further reveals that "adding wine or other alcohol brings out different flavors (those that are alcohol-soluble) that wouldn't otherwise be expressed in the dish. There are flavors in tomatoes that are alcohol-soluble, so adding red wine along with tomato paste also helps to enhance beef stew."

How do you increase the flavor of beef? ›

Beef tastes great when seasoned with oregano, rosemary, sage, garlic or a combination of these seasonings. Poultry gets an added burst of flavor with spices like paprika, lemongrass and saffron.

How to fix bland beef stew? ›

Add plenty of pepper and some salt and it should taste better. Using beef stock or red wine is better than water for the liquid. Use just enough to cover the meat and vegetables. It's better to use less liquid if possible so you don't end up having to thicken the stew later with corn starch or similar.

What can I add to tasteless beef stew? ›

Other herbs, spices, and ingredients that complement rosemary and beef are parsley, sage, thyme, onion, garlic, red wine, and carrots.

References

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