Slow-Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Fork-tender beef in a rich red-wine gravy and nestled with veggies makes the Beef Bourguignon one of the most adored French recipes in the world. But beyond being a pilar of Classic French cooking, the Beef Bourguignon also embodies the essence of “French slow-cooking”, where one takes their time in the kitchen and enjoys the process every step of the way. 

And I truly adore this concept, I really do. But sometimes, opting for short-cuts or more convenient solutions, like a slow-cooker, is just the way to go. The truth is, Beef Bourguignon is one of my favorite dishes, but I don’t make it as often as I would like to because I don’t always have the time. A traditional Beef Bourguignon (as per featured in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking) takes up to 5 hours in the kitchen, where you need to be in and around the kitchen for the majority of the time. 

For these reasons, I decided to forgo tradition and develop this delectable Beef Bourguignon recipe that can be done in a slow-cooker. This makes this big, hearty recipe so much more manageable (there’s no need to watch the stove top or oven), easier, and you can make it any day of the week!

And because a Beef Bourguignon is originally already a slow-simmered dish, adapting the recipe to a slow-cooker only took a few little tweaks. And I think the result is still amazing!

The start of this recipe quite closely follows the steps of the Boeuf Bourguignon, where the meat is first seared and browned in large frying pan and the broth is built on top of the rendered meat fat. I simply could not skip on the initial step, as it is essential to impart flavors to the meat and build layers of flavors within the dish.

The rest of the recipe consists of all the ingredients being placed in the slow-cooker, and little else. Simple enough, right?

This recipe works for the two different settings of a slow-cooker: low or high. On low, it takes between 7h30 and 8h to cook, so this is ideal for preparing it in the morning and coming back to a ready meal after a workday for dinner. On high, it takes between 4h30 to 5h , perfect for preparing it early in the morning and having it ready for lunch.

Whether you opt for a low or high setting, you’ll know your Beef Bourguignon is ready to be enjoyed when the beef is fork-tender, the sauce is rich and fragrant, and the veggies glistening.

There are many recipes for Beef Bourguignon, and this one is likely one of the easiest. But taking a few short cuts and opting for a slow cooker, doesn’t mean you can skip on the quality of the ingredients. In this case especially, choosing the proper beef cut and red wine will make a big difference. So make sure you read these cooking notes before you start the recipe.

Cooking notes:

• What cut of beef to choose? For a Beef Bourguignon, you want to choose a cut of beef that is collagen-rich and that’ll stay juicy and tender after hours of cooking. The best options are: beef chuck (the best, in my opinion), fatty brisket and oxtail.
• What red wine to choose? A medium-bodied, dry and fruity red wine is preferred, and ideally produced in Burgundy, such as a Pinot Noir or Gamay.
• Can’t find cured pork? A Beef Bourguignon traditionally contains cured pork, which is very common to find in France. But thick cut bacon makes for a great substitute.
• What accompaniment? A Beef Bourguignon is traditionally served with baby potatoes (cooked in the stew) or over mashed potatoes. Although, I find it delicious served with egg noodles.

Slow-Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Print Recipe

Serves: 4 people Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 4-8 Hours 4-8 Hours

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.2/5

( 10 voted )

Ingredients

8 ounces cured pork or 5-6 slices bacon, cut in fine strips
2.5 to 3 lbs (1.1-1.4 kg) stewing beef (ie. beef chuck), cubed
1 tsp salt
2 tsp fresh ground black pepper, divided
4 sprigs thyme
4 sprigs rosemary
1 bay leaf
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
4-5 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1lb (0.45kg) cremini mushrooms, halved (white or brown)
1 cup (250ml) red wine
2 tbsp (30ml) brandy
2 cups (500ml) beef broth
2 tbsp (50g) tomato paste
¼ cup (32g) flour
6-7 sprigs parsley, for garnish
Optional: 2 tbsp (15g) cornstarch

Instructions

Step 1 - In a large frying pan, sautee the bacon strips for 5-6 minutes until brown, but not crisp yet. Transfer into the slow-cooker (turned on) and keep the rendered fat into the pan. Pat dry the beef cubes, and season with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper.

Step 2 - Sautee the beef cubes into the frying pan with the thyme, rosemary and bay leaf for 10 minutes, until brown and cooked. Add to the slow cooker with the garlic, onion, carrots, celeri and mushrooms.

Step 3 - Add the red wine and brandy to the frying pan and stir with a wooden spoon to scrape off the remaining beef and bacon bits (full of flavor!). Stir in the beef stock and tomato paste and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the flour and 1 tsp black pepper, and whisk continuously until the flour is fully incorporated and the sauce has slightly thickened. Add the sauce to the slow cooker (it should cover about 2/3 of the meat and vegetables). Stir everything and cook for 4:30-5h (on high) or 7:30 to 8h (on slow), until the beef is fork tender.

Step 4 - Once the beef is fork-tender, test the consistency of the sauce: it should be thick enough to coat the back of your spoon. If you find it too thin, stir 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into ¼ cup of cold water and add to the sauce. Whisk until it thickens.

Season to taste, discard of the thyme, rosemary and bay leaf, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve over ­mashed potatoes, egg noddles or white rice.

If you try this Slow-Cooker Beef Bourguignon recipe let me know!  Leave a comment or share a photo using #pardonyourfrench on Instagram. Bon Appétit!