Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon Recipe
A rich and comforting Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon featuring tender beef stew meat simmered with crispy bacon, aromatic vegetables, red wine, and herbs, slowly cooked to perfection. This hearty French-inspired stew is easy to prepare and perfect for a cozy meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Stew
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Bacon
- 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into chunks
- 6 slices of bacon, chopped
Vegetables
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb small potatoes, halved
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups red wine (such as burgundy)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet for added flavor.
- Prepare Beef: Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper. Dredge them in flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a light coating that will help thicken the stew.
- Brown Beef: Using the skillet with reserved bacon fat, brown the beef chunks on all sides over medium-high heat. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding and ensure a nice sear. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the chopped onion, sliced carrots, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables start to soften and release their aromas.
- Deglaze and Combine: Pour in the red wine and beef broth into the skillet, stirring to loosen any browned bits from the bottom. Stir in tomato paste and dried thyme. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then pour it over the beef in the slow cooker.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours until the beef is very tender and flavorful.
- Add Vegetables: About 1 hour before the end of cooking, add the halved potatoes and sliced cremini mushrooms to the slow cooker. Continue cooking until the vegetables are tender.
- Finish: Once cooking is complete, skim off any excess fat from the surface of the sauce for a cleaner finish.
- Serve: Serve the beef bourguignon garnished with the crispy bacon and chopped fresh parsley. This dish pairs beautifully with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or buttered noodles for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Use a good quality dry red wine like Burgundy or Pinot Noir for the best flavor.
- If you don’t have fresh parsley, dried parsley can be used as a substitute.
- To thicken the sauce further, you can remove the lid of the slow cooker in the last 30 minutes and cook on high.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the skillet when browning the beef to ensure proper caramelization.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day and can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Keywords: Beef Bourguignon, Slow Cooker, Stew, French Recipe, Comfort Food, Beef Stew
Find it online: https://cheflenacooks.com/slow-cooker-beef-bourguignon-recipe/
