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Crockpot Beef Bourguignon: A Delicious French Classic Made Easy

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Crockpot Beef Bourguignon: A Delicious French Classic Made Easy

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đŸ·đŸ„© Experience the elegance of Crockpot Beef Bourguignon without the hassle! This French classic is made easy by your trusty slow cooker, delivering tender beef, aromatic vegetables, and a deep, wine-infused sauce. 🍇✹ Rich, hearty, and oh-so-satisfying, it’s perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a cozy evening at home. One bite, and you’ll be hooked on this comforting, flavorful dish! đŸ˜‹đŸœïž

#EasyGourmet #BeefBourguignonLove #CrockpotDelight #FrenchClassics #SlowCookerComfort #RichAndFlavorful #DinnerInStyle #SavoryMeals #HomeCooking #WineInfusedGoodness

  • Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 lbs Beef Stew Meat (Cubed)

  • Beef stew meat is an ideal choice for this recipe because it’s a tougher cut of beef that becomes tender when slow-cooked. The long cooking time in the crockpot breaks down the meat’s fibers, transforming it into something tender, juicy, and full of flavor. It’s essential to cube the beef into even pieces to ensure uniform cooking. You can use cuts like chuck or round, which are perfect for braising and stewing.

1 Cup Red Wine

  • Red wine is a key ingredient in Beef Bourguignon and imparts a rich, complex flavor to the dish. Burgundy wine is the traditional choice, but any dry red wine will work well. The wine not only adds depth of flavor, but its acidity helps tenderize the beef as it cooks. As the wine simmers in the crockpot, it blends with the broth and herbs, creating a savory, rich sauce that will coat every piece of meat and vegetable.

1 Cup Beef Broth

  • Beef broth provides the necessary liquid for the dish, helping to create the flavorful base of the stew. It also adds richness to the sauce. If you prefer a lighter version, you can substitute with vegetable broth or chicken broth, but beef broth gives the dish its signature depth. You can also use homemade broth for an even richer flavor.

1 Onion (Chopped)

  • Onion adds a savory sweetness to the dish. As it cooks, it softens and releases its natural sugars, enhancing the overall flavor of the stew. A yellow or white onion works well in this recipe. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use shallots instead of onions, as they are more delicate and subtle in taste.

2 Garlic Cloves (Minced)

  • Garlic is a must-have for adding an aromatic punch to the dish. When minced and cooked in the crockpot, garlic infuses the stew with its warm, savory flavors. Garlic complements the beef and wine beautifully, making the entire dish smell irresistible as it simmers.

8 oz Mushrooms (Sliced)

  • Mushrooms are a classic addition to Beef Bourguignon, adding an earthy flavor and a lovely texture. As the mushrooms cook, they absorb the flavors of the wine and beef broth, adding complexity to the sauce. Any type of mushroom can be used, but cremini or button mushrooms are the most commonly used in Beef Bourguignon for their mild flavor and firm texture.

2 tbsp Tomato Paste

  • Tomato paste adds a rich, umami depth to the sauce, helping to balance the flavors and thicken the stew slightly. It’s an essential ingredient in many French stews, where it enhances the overall flavor without overpowering the other ingredients. If you don’t have tomato paste, you can substitute it with tomato sauce, although it will have a slightly different texture.

2 tbsp Flour

  • Flour is used to help thicken the stew slightly, allowing the sauce to cling to the beef and vegetables. This is especially important in a dish like Beef Bourguignon, where you want a thick, luscious sauce that coats everything. If you prefer a gluten-free option, you can substitute with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend.

1 tsp Thyme

  • Thyme is a fragrant herb commonly used in French cooking. It’s earthy and slightly peppery, providing the perfect complement to the beef and wine. Fresh thyme is preferable, but dried thyme can be used in a pinch. The herb infuses the sauce with its warm aroma as the dish slowly simmers in the crockpot.

Instructions

Step 1: Brown the Beef

  • Begin by heating a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little oil or butter and brown the beef stew meat in batches, ensuring the pieces are evenly seared on all sides. This step is crucial because it adds a layer of caramelized flavor to the beef, enhancing the overall taste of the stew. Once the beef is browned, transfer it to the crockpot.

Step 2: Prepare the Sauce

  • In the same skillet used to brown the beef, add the red wine and beef broth. Scrape the bottom of the skillet to release any browned bits (known as fond), which will contribute even more flavor to the sauce. Stir in the tomato paste, minced garlic, and thyme. Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors.

Step 3: Assemble the Stew

  • Pour the wine and broth mixture over the beef in the crockpot. Add the chopped onion, sliced mushrooms, and flour. Stir everything together, ensuring the beef is well coated in the sauce. The flour will help thicken the stew as it cooks.

Step 4: Slow Cook

  • Set the crockpot to low and cook for 8 hours. This slow cooking allows the beef to become incredibly tender and the flavors to meld together beautifully. Don’t worry about stirring the stew too often; the crockpot will do most of the work for you.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

  • After 8 hours, the beef should be tender, the sauce thickened, and the flavors beautifully developed. Serve the Beef Bourguignon with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or buttered noodles for a truly satisfying meal. The rich sauce pairs perfectly with these sides, and each bite of beef is tender and flavorful. Don’t forget to garnish with fresh parsley or thyme for a pop of color and freshness.

Notes

Wine Substitutions

If you prefer not to cook with wine, you can substitute it with additional beef broth or a combination of beef broth and grape juice or cranberry juice. While these substitutions will change the flavor profile slightly, they will still create a flavorful stew.

Adding Bacon or Lardons

For an even more indulgent dish, you can add bacon or lardons (small cubes of pork belly) to the stew. Bacon adds a smoky depth to the flavor, complementing the richness of the beef and wine. Brown the bacon before adding it to the crockpot along with the beef for the best results.

Vegetables

Feel free to add more vegetables to your stew. Carrots, parsnips, and pearl onions are traditional additions to Beef Bourguignon. Simply chop the carrots into rounds and add them to the crockpot along with the mushrooms. Pearl onions can be added whole or halved for extra sweetness.

Serving Suggestions

Beef Bourguignon is traditionally served with mashed potatoes, which help soak up the rich sauce, but you can also serve it with buttered noodles or creamy polenta. For a more rustic touch, serve it with crusty bread to dip into the sauce. A side of sautéed greens, like spinach or green beans, pairs beautifully with the richness of the stew, offering a fresh contrast.

  • Author: Rosa
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 hours

Beef Bourguignon is one of the most celebrated French dishes, famous for its deep, rich flavors and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Traditionally a slow-cooked stew that requires hours of attention, this dish, brimming with tender beef, earthy mushrooms, and aromatic herbs, has become synonymous with French comfort food. While the authentic preparation of Beef Bourguignon might feel intimidating to some, a slow-cooker (crockpot) version offers the opportunity to enjoy all the complex flavors with far less effort.

This recipe brings you all the comfort and sophistication of the classic dish without the labor-intensive preparation. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a special dinner, crockpot Beef Bourguignon allows you to enjoy a flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth stew that will surely impress family and friends.

The Appeal of Crockpot Beef Bourguignon

Crockpot Beef Bourguignon is not only delicious, but it also brings with it an air of rustic elegance. Despite its somewhat humble ingredients, such as beef stew meat, mushrooms, onions, garlic, and wine, the dish feels luxurious. The beauty of this recipe lies in the way the crockpot melds the flavors over hours of slow cooking, turning the beef into a tender, flavorful delight, while the wine and herbs transform into a savory, aromatic sauce. It’s a dish that pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or buttered noodles—each bite rich, complex, and deeply comforting.

What makes this recipe even more appealing is the fact that it’s essentially a “set it and forget it” meal. Simply brown the beef, toss everything into the slow cooker, and let time and the magic of the crockpot work their wonders. The result is a deeply satisfying, rich dish without needing to hover over the stove for hours. The slow cooking allows the ingredients to meld together, creating a symphony of flavors that would normally require more attention. You can go about your day and return to a perfectly cooked, restaurant-quality dish.

The History of Beef Bourguignon

Before we dive into the recipe itself, it’s worth touching on the rich history of Beef Bourguignon. This dish is a classic example of French provincial cooking and originates from the Burgundy region of France. The term “Bourguignon” refers to anything made in the style of Burgundy, known for its wine, mustard, and rich, hearty stews. In its original form, Beef Bourguignon was made by simmering beef in Burgundy wine, which was reduced to tenderize the meat and create a flavorful sauce. The traditional recipe also includes onions, carrots, and sometimes bacon, with a final touch of pearl onions and mushrooms.

While Julia Child’s famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, made Beef Bourguignon a household name in the United States, the dish itself has been enjoyed in French homes for centuries, evolving into a symbol of French culinary sophistication. The classic preparation involved simmering tough cuts of beef in red wine for several hours, breaking down the meat to achieve that beautiful tenderness. The beauty of the dish lies in its simplicity—it’s made with just a few ingredients, but when prepared with care, the result is nothing short of extraordinary.

Ingredients Breakdown

To recreate this French classic in a crockpot, you’ll need the following ingredients:

2 lbs Beef Stew Meat (Cubed)

  • Beef stew meat is an ideal choice for this recipe because it’s a tougher cut of beef that becomes tender when slow-cooked. The long cooking time in the crockpot breaks down the meat’s fibers, transforming it into something tender, juicy, and full of flavor. It’s essential to cube the beef into even pieces to ensure uniform cooking. You can use cuts like chuck or round, which are perfect for braising and stewing.

1 Cup Red Wine

  • Red wine is a key ingredient in Beef Bourguignon and imparts a rich, complex flavor to the dish. Burgundy wine is the traditional choice, but any dry red wine will work well. The wine not only adds depth of flavor, but its acidity helps tenderize the beef as it cooks. As the wine simmers in the crockpot, it blends with the broth and herbs, creating a savory, rich sauce that will coat every piece of meat and vegetable.

1 Cup Beef Broth

  • Beef broth provides the necessary liquid for the dish, helping to create the flavorful base of the stew. It also adds richness to the sauce. If you prefer a lighter version, you can substitute with vegetable broth or chicken broth, but beef broth gives the dish its signature depth. You can also use homemade broth for an even richer flavor.

1 Onion (Chopped)

  • Onion adds a savory sweetness to the dish. As it cooks, it softens and releases its natural sugars, enhancing the overall flavor of the stew. A yellow or white onion works well in this recipe. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use shallots instead of onions, as they are more delicate and subtle in taste.

2 Garlic Cloves (Minced)

  • Garlic is a must-have for adding an aromatic punch to the dish. When minced and cooked in the crockpot, garlic infuses the stew with its warm, savory flavors. Garlic complements the beef and wine beautifully, making the entire dish smell irresistible as it simmers.

8 oz Mushrooms (Sliced)

  • Mushrooms are a classic addition to Beef Bourguignon, adding an earthy flavor and a lovely texture. As the mushrooms cook, they absorb the flavors of the wine and beef broth, adding complexity to the sauce. Any type of mushroom can be used, but cremini or button mushrooms are the most commonly used in Beef Bourguignon for their mild flavor and firm texture.

2 tbsp Tomato Paste

  • Tomato paste adds a rich, umami depth to the sauce, helping to balance the flavors and thicken the stew slightly. It’s an essential ingredient in many French stews, where it enhances the overall flavor without overpowering the other ingredients. If you don’t have tomato paste, you can substitute it with tomato sauce, although it will have a slightly different texture.

2 tbsp Flour

  • Flour is used to help thicken the stew slightly, allowing the sauce to cling to the beef and vegetables. This is especially important in a dish like Beef Bourguignon, where you want a thick, luscious sauce that coats everything. If you prefer a gluten-free option, you can substitute with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend.

1 tsp Thyme

  • Thyme is a fragrant herb commonly used in French cooking. It’s earthy and slightly peppery, providing the perfect complement to the beef and wine. Fresh thyme is preferable, but dried thyme can be used in a pinch. The herb infuses the sauce with its warm aroma as the dish slowly simmers in the crockpot.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Now that we’ve covered the ingredients, let’s dive into the simple steps to make your crockpot Beef Bourguignon.

Step 1: Brown the Beef

  • Begin by heating a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little oil or butter and brown the beef stew meat in batches, ensuring the pieces are evenly seared on all sides. This step is crucial because it adds a layer of caramelized flavor to the beef, enhancing the overall taste of the stew. Once the beef is browned, transfer it to the crockpot.

Step 2: Prepare the Sauce

  • In the same skillet used to brown the beef, add the red wine and beef broth. Scrape the bottom of the skillet to release any browned bits (known as fond), which will contribute even more flavor to the sauce. Stir in the tomato paste, minced garlic, and thyme. Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors.

Step 3: Assemble the Stew

  • Pour the wine and broth mixture over the beef in the crockpot. Add the chopped onion, sliced mushrooms, and flour. Stir everything together, ensuring the beef is well coated in the sauce. The flour will help thicken the stew as it cooks.

Step 4: Slow Cook

  • Set the crockpot to low and cook for 8 hours. This slow cooking allows the beef to become incredibly tender and the flavors to meld together beautifully. Don’t worry about stirring the stew too often; the crockpot will do most of the work for you.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

  • After 8 hours, the beef should be tender, the sauce thickened, and the flavors beautifully developed. Serve the Beef Bourguignon with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or buttered noodles for a truly satisfying meal. The rich sauce pairs perfectly with these sides, and each bite of beef is tender and flavorful. Don’t forget to garnish with fresh parsley or thyme for a pop of color and freshness.

Flavor, Texture, and Aroma

As the Beef Bourguignon cooks, your kitchen will be filled with the incredible aroma of slow-simmering wine, garlic, and herbs. The beef becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender, and each bite is an explosion of deep, savory flavors. The mushrooms absorb the wine and broth, developing a rich, earthy taste that complements the beef perfectly. The sauce itself is velvety, coating each piece of meat and vegetable, with the perfect balance of acidity from the wine and richness from the beef broth.

The dish’s texture is luxurious, with the beef falling apart at the slightest touch, and the mushrooms adding a delightful, slightly chewy contrast. The sauce is thick and luscious, making it perfect for mopping up with a slice of warm, crusty bread.

Tips for Ingredient Substitutions and Variations

While this crockpot Beef Bourguignon recipe is delicious as written, there are plenty of ways to customize it to your taste.

Wine Substitutions

If you prefer not to cook with wine, you can substitute it with additional beef broth or a combination of beef broth and grape juice or cranberry juice. While these substitutions will change the flavor profile slightly, they will still create a flavorful stew.

Adding Bacon or Lardons

For an even more indulgent dish, you can add bacon or lardons (small cubes of pork belly) to the stew. Bacon adds a smoky depth to the flavor, complementing the richness of the beef and wine. Brown the bacon before adding it to the crockpot along with the beef for the best results.

Vegetables

Feel free to add more vegetables to your stew. Carrots, parsnips, and pearl onions are traditional additions to Beef Bourguignon. Simply chop the carrots into rounds and add them to the crockpot along with the mushrooms. Pearl onions can be added whole or halved for extra sweetness.

Serving Suggestions

Beef Bourguignon is traditionally served with mashed potatoes, which help soak up the rich sauce, but you can also serve it with buttered noodles or creamy polenta. For a more rustic touch, serve it with crusty bread to dip into the sauce. A side of sautéed greens, like spinach or green beans, pairs beautifully with the richness of the stew, offering a fresh contrast.

A Perfect Dish for Special Occasions

This dish makes a perfect centerpiece for a cozy dinner or a special occasion. Whether it’s a family Sunday supper or a dinner party, the ease of preparation combined with the sophisticated flavors will have everyone impressed. The rich aroma and tender beef create a memorable dining experience.

Conclusion

This crockpot Beef Bourguignon is a delicious, comforting dish that brings the best of French cuisine into your home without the fuss. With its tender beef, savory sauce, and rich, aromatic flavors, it’s sure to become a family favorite. The beauty of this recipe is that you can set it and forget it, and the crockpot will transform simple ingredients into a luxurious meal. Serve it with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or buttered noodles, and let the savory flavors take center stage. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner in the kitchen, this recipe is a surefire way to create a dish that’s both impressive and comforting. Bon appĂ©tit!

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