Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon with One-Pour Wine Mixture Recipe
This Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is a rich, comforting French stew made with tender beef chuck, aromatic vegetables, and a flavorful one-pour wine mixture. Slow cooked to perfection, the dish features succulent meat infused with red wine, beef broth, tomato paste, garlic, and thyme, all thickened into a luscious sauce. Ideal for a cozy meal, it requires minimal hands-on time and delivers deep, hearty flavors in every bite.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Seasoning
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, for browning if desired)
One-Pour Wine Mixture
- 1 1/2 cups dry red wine (such as Pinot Noir or Merlot)
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (remaining)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (remaining)
Vegetables
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 8 ounces cremini or white mushrooms, halved or quartered
Thickening and Finishing
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional, for richness)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Season the Beef: Place the beef chuck cubes in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Toss the meat well to evenly coat with the seasoning, and set aside while preparing the other components.
- Prepare the Wine Mixture: In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the red wine, beef broth, tomato paste, minced garlic, thyme, remaining 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Whisk thoroughly until the tomato paste is fully dissolved, forming a flavorful one-pour mixture for the stew.
- Layer Vegetables in Slow Cooker: Spread the chopped onion, sliced carrots, and mushrooms evenly at the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker to create a vegetable bed that will cook and flavor the beef.
- Add Beef to Slow Cooker: Arrange the seasoned beef cubes on top of the bed of vegetables, trying to keep the pieces in a single layer as much as possible for even cooking.
- Pour Wine Mixture Over: Slowly drizzle the prepared wine and broth mixture over the beef and vegetables, ensuring all meat is coated and nestled in the flavorful liquid base.
- Slow Cook the Stew: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is very tender and the vegetables are soft and fully cooked.
- Thicken the Sauce: About 20 minutes before serving, mix cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl until smooth to make a slurry. Stir this slurry gently into the slow cooker, mixing it well into the cooking liquid. Add butter if using for extra richness. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 15 to 20 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Final Seasoning and Serving: Taste the dish and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Serve the beef bourguignon hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired, alongside your favorite sides for a complete meal.
Notes
- For more depth of flavor, brown the beef cubes in olive oil in a skillet before adding them to the slow cooker, though this step is optional.
- Use a full-bodied dry red wine like Pinot Noir or Merlot to complement the beef’s richness.
- This dish pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or buttered egg noodles.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days and freeze nicely for up to 3 months.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by modulating the amount of cornstarch slurry added.
Keywords: Beef Bourguignon, Slow Cooker Beef Stew, French Beef Stew, Slow Cooker Recipes, Comfort Food, Red Wine Stew
