Are you in search of a comforting and tasty dish that’s simple to make? Look no further than beef bourguignon cooked in a slow cooker. This traditional French stew brims with tender beef hearty vegetables, and a rich red wine sauce. This guide provides all you need to create this classic dish in your slow cooker, from prep tips to step-by-step directions.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Beef Bourguignon
- 2 pounds beef chuck cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped fine
- 4 large carrots peeled and cut into slices
- 2 cups mushrooms cut into slices
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 bouquet garni (thyme, bay leaf, and parsley bundled together)
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Garnish
- Fresh parsley chopped (if you like)
- Crusty bread or boiled potatoes (if you like)
How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Step 1: Make the Beef Brown
First, warm up the olive oil in a big frying pan on medium-high heat. Put the beef cubes in the pan in small groups, so they don’t crowd each other. Cook the beef until it’s brown on all sides. This step gives the stew more flavor. Move the cooked beef to your slow cooker.
Step 2: Cook the Vegetables
In the same pan, add more oil if you need to and cook the onions until you can see through them. Add the garlic and let it cook for one more minute until it smells good. Add the carrots and mushrooms, and cook them until they’re a bit soft. Put the vegetables in the slow cooker with the beef.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
In a bowl, combine the red wine, beef broth, tomato paste, and flour until smooth. Add this mixture to the beef and vegetables in the slow cooker. Mix to blend all the ingredients.
Step 4: Add the Bouquet Garni
Place the bouquet garni in the slow cooker. This bundle of herbs will give the stew a delicious smell and taste. Add salt and pepper to the mixture as needed.
Step 5: Slow Cook the Beef Bourguignon
Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. The beef should be soft and the sauce should have thickened to a rich texture.
Serving Your Beef Bourguignon
When the cooking time ends, take out the bouquet garni from the slow cooker. Give the stew a stir and add more seasoning if you need to. If you want, sprinkle some fresh chopped parsley on top. Enjoy your beef bourguignon with a chunk of crusty bread or some boiled potatoes for a hearty meal.
Tips for the Best Beef Bourguignon
- Use Quality Beef: Pick beef chuck or another cut with good marbling. This makes sure the meat stays tender and has lots of flavor.
- Choose a Good Red Wine: The wine plays a big part in this dish so use one you’d like to drink. A dry red wine such as Pinot Noir or Burgundy works great.
- Brown the Meat: Browning the beef has an influence on the depth of flavor making your stew tastier.
- Cook Time Flexibility: Cooking times might change based on your slow cooker and beef chunk size. Check that the beef is soft before you serve.
Stew Variations to Consider
Adding Potatoes
To make a fuller meal, you can put potatoes in the slow cooker. Cut them into pieces and add them in the last 2 hours of cooking. They will soak up some stew flavors and give a filling boost.
Using Different Vegetables
Try out other veggies like parsnips, turnips, or pearl onions. Just tweak the cooking time as needed for the veggies you pick.
To Make a Thicker Sauce
If you want a thicker sauce, you can make it denser. Mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Stir this into the sauce in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Nutrition Facts
It helps to know what’s in your food when you eat a rich meal like beef bourguignon. Here’s a rough guide per serving (1 cup):
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 30g
Keep in mind that nutritional values might change depending on the exact ingredients you use.
Storage and Reheating
Storage
Put any remaining beef bourguignon in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. To freeze, allow it to cool before moving it to containers that can go in the freezer.
Reheating
For reheating, let frozen beef bourguignon thaw in the fridge overnight. Heat it up in a saucepan on low, giving it a stir now and then, until it’s hot all the way through. If you prefer, you can use the microwave, but remember to stir it halfway.
Conclusion
A slow cooker makes beef bourguignon easy to cook. This classic cozy dish needs just a few steps and some time to create. You’ll end up with a rich tasty stew that fits any event. Whether you cook it for your family or friends, everyone will love it. Have fun making it and enjoy eating it!