I’m so excited to share one of my family’s favorite recipes today – Beef Bourguignon! It all started when I tried this recipe on TheKitchn.com. It was a huge hit, BUT even their slow cooker version was fairly labor intensive. So I took that recipe and both combined and cut out a few steps (my favorite thing to do with recipes!) to make it an easy weeknight meal that is now a go-to for my family. And especially as the weather is getting cooler, this is the epitome of comfort food. I’ll be making it many times this winter!
What’s your go-to weeknight meal?
Weeknight Beef Bourguignon
Ingredients
Instructions
- In your largest skillet, cook the bacon on medium heat until brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels and remove all but about 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease from the pan. Crumble the cooked bacon into the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Sear the cubed beef for a few minutes on medium high until golden brown on the top and bottom. Add to the slow cooker on top of the bacon.
- Deglaze the pan by adding the wine and turning up the heat to high while scrapping the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Cook for a few minutes until reduced by half, then pour into the slow cooker.
- Add a tablespoon of olive oil (or bacon grease if you have extra) to the pan and cook the veggies on medium heat for 2 - 3 minutes while stirring occasionally. Add the veggies to the slow cooker along with the seasonings and broth and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve over whole-grain noodles and enjoy. --->For a real treat, make gravy with the liquid when it’s done cooking. That’s how it was done for the picture above!
Recipe Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
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I have noticed that you use wine in a lot of recipes. Can you replace the wine with anything? Thanks
If you do experiment with replacing wine with vinegar, you’ll definitely want to use less vinegar than the amount of wine called for and make up the difference with water or broth. – Jason
Depending on the recipe, you can try red or white wine vinegar or possibly chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. – Nicole
I made this last night and found it to be quite watery and bland. Did everyone make gravy with broth before eating it?
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Looks delicious! I was wondering if I could substitute something for the red wine?
Thanks :)
Hi. This might help: https://chefindisguise.com/2012/05/14/alcohol-free-beef-bourguignon-daring-cooks-may-2012/.
Red wine is a migraine trigger for me. I often use pomegranate juice as a substitute. It works very well.
Hi, I have this recipe cooking now in the Crockpot. Turns out my dinner crowd is going to be smaller than anticipated. Will this dish freeze well after it’s been cooked? And any suggestions for reheating if I froze the leftovers? Thanks!
Apologies for my late reply as this one slipped by me. :( How did it all turn out and what did you do? I’ve not frozen this one before but I would think it would freeze well.
Just made it last night- loved it!!
What type of meat is “stew beef”, exactly? Thanks!
Hi. This is more than you asked for
but good info to have: http://www.thekitchn.com/quick-tip-choos-160558 :)
Do you think this recipe would work for a beef brisket? I know I have one in the freezer, and I wasn’t sure what to make with it.
Hi. I think Brisket will work though we’ve not tried.
Hello. I am hoping to make this tomorrow but would like to make it in a Dutch oven instead. Tips or thoughts on how long and what temperature to cook the dish? Thanks!
Hi. Sorry, we rarely can answer in real time. How did it go?
Curious, if I’m short on time and just want to dump it all in the crock pot without sautéing first, will that make a huge difference?
I rarely brown anything first. Try it and see. It certainly wont be inedible. You can decide if its worth all that cooking a meal before cooking the meal lol
Hi. I would not skip that step. It really locks in flavor and moisture.
I made this for our Mini-pledge week one dinner. It was so good! I made it leaving out the wine and using beef broth in its place. I personally cut up the veggies too small and next time I will leave them a bit bigger and use a couple extra carrots. The carrots cooked in that juice and then mixed with the bacon is so delicious. I made gravy using the butter and flour method and that was delicious. I added in a dash of garlic and thyme and pepper. I also ate it with mashed potatoes instead of pasta. Over all it was amazing. Husband approved! 4 year old and 1.5 year old approved!
I can’t get the link to the “gravy” to work.
I just made this for my family, and my children (all picky eaters in their own ways, of course) ate everything on their plates, and said that it was so good because it was made with lots of love( I think it was the bacon, but I am not about to turn down a compliment). I am happy to have found a recipe that they ALL like. I followed the recipe exactly and also followed the gravy recipe using butter and the juices from the pot. Thank you so much!
Just perfect!!! I also did a bechamel sauce and mixed it with the remaining liquid of the crockpot and used it for the pasta sauce. My family really loved it!
This dish was delicious and tasted like I put in much more effort then was required. I am so thankful to have this resource as a new mother. Trying to navigate through recipes and make healthy choices for my family can be daunting but I know I can always trust your site and your recipes have never failed to impress. Thank you Lisa and team. All your effort is so appreciated and you have broadened my thinking in regards to what I am feeding my family. Much gratitude!
Lisa said she would cook it on high for 2 hours and then how many hours on low?
Hi Carol. 3-4.
I made this for my family and they loved it! Our kids (4, 7, 8, & 9) only complaint was the whole grain pasta. But they still went back for seconds of the beef and veggies, which I consider a win. I will definitely be making this again.
You could try mixing white and whole-wheat pasta next time :)
What about muchrooms? When would you suggest adding those? And garlic?
Hi Kelly. Sure.
This looks great. Would venison work???? Maybe I would have to add a little more bacon for the fat since venison is so lean? What do you think. Thanks
Hi. We’ve not tried that. If you do, let us know how it goes.
We always have a freezer full of venison and often substitute for beef. Used it the first time I tried this recipe and we all loved it! I did use a little bit of extra bacon grease along with the olive oil when I browned the meat.
Fun to make and a hit at the dinner table for our family of 6! I’m so glad to have a new recipe that uses stew beef!