Name: The Easiest Beef Bourguignon Slow Cooker Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 20 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 5 slices bacon, chopped; 3 lb beef chuck roast, cut into 2" chunks; 1 cup red wine; 2 cups chicken or beef broth; 1/2 cup tomato sauce; 1/4 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoon dried thyme; 5 carrots, sliced; 1 lb baby potatoes; 8 oz mushrooms, sliced; 1/8 cup fresh chopped parsley

Jump to Recipe

You may automatically think of Julia Child when you hear the words beef bourguignon, this recipe is a totally new and still delicious method of preparation. This beef bourguignon slow cooker recipe is the ultimate slow cooker meal that is filled with tender beef, tasty vegetables, and a rich sauce that can't be beaten!

Large white bowl of potatoes and beef with carrots

Beef Bourguignon Slow Cooker Recipe

You may think of this as a classic meal that is baked in the oven. The great thing about the slow cooker is that the versatility makes recipes like this easy to put in place and lets it cook while you work. Despite the different cooking methods, you can still develop delicious flavors with this meal.

If you like recipes with a rich sauce that slowly cooks to tenderize meat or vegetables, then you should also try our slow cooker beef stew, Dutch oven vegetable stew, or pork stew recipe. All are packed with flavor and while complex in flavor are very simple to prepare. You might also enjoy this Instant Pot roast recipe with potatoes and carrots for another yummy beef recipe.

Is Beef Bourguignon French?

You may recognize this as being referred to as boeuf bourguignon. The term directly translates in French to beef burgundy. It originated in Burgundy (Bourgogne), France. This region is well-known for cattle and wine, so the combination created a delicious dish that is known for rich flavors, root vegetables, and tender meat. It was made popular in the cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child and was a very popular meal to serve guests in the 20th century.

Close up picture of beef chunks with carrots and baby potatoes and parsely

Does Beef Bourguignon Have Potatoes?

Most traditional recipes include mushrooms and onions, with the addition of carrots and potatoes being a common option. The meal itself centers around the beef and rich red wine sauce, so it can be made without the potatoes or with them, depending upon your preferences.

What Do You Serve with Beef Bourguignon?

You can serve this with any of your preferred side dishes, but there are a few things that are commonly found alongside this beef recipe. Since this includes carrots and potatoes in the recipe, you can serve just this and have a complete meal, but it is also paired with one or more of the following sides.

Mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, or even a cheesy scalloped potatoes recipe.
Rice or homemade egg noodles.
Side salad, Caesar salad, or wedge salad.
Green peas, garlic parmesan zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, or green beans.
Hot rolls, homemade crescent rolls, potato bread, or biscuits.

White bowl of mashed potatoes beef carrots and sauce on counter

Is Beef Bourguignon Keto?

This recipe, as it is listed, is not keto. However, it is easy to make this a lower carb and keto-friendly recipe. There are three ingredients in this particular recipe of concern.

The first is the flour in the sauce, which can be substituted with low-carb thickeners. The second is the red wine, which in this recipe is not a huge concern as it won't allow for a lot of carbs per serving. The third concern is the potatoes which are easy to remove from the meal. With these changes, you can easily add this to a low-carb or keto diet with zero guilt.

Can You Make Beef Bourguignon Without Wine?

There is some controversy over whether you can make this without wine, but the answer, in my opinion, is definitely yes. Since my family does not typically use alcohol in cooking, I know how to make it taste delicious without sacrificing that rich flavor.

Replace the 1 cup red wine with ¾ cup beef broth, ¼ cup 100% grape juice, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. You can, also, always use non-alcoholic red wine which is readily available in most grocery stores.

Spoon of beef and carrots over slow cooker

Ingredients

Bacon
Beef chuck roast
Red wine
Chicken broth
Tomato sauce
Soy sauce
Flour
Garlic
Dried thyme
Carrots
Potatoes
Mushrooms
Fresh parsley

Handy Kitchen Tools

While the only must-have on this list is the slow cooker and a skillet, these additions to your kitchen make preparing this meal easier for a busy home cook. The options below are some of my personal favorites and recommendations.

How to Make Beef Bourguignon in a Crock-Pot

In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp, then remove and set aside.

Lightly season the beef chunks with salt and pepper.

Sear the beef chunks for 2 minutes per side until just browned, then remove from the pan.

Into the same skillet, add the red wine and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.

Add in the chicken broth, tomato sauce, and soy sauce, then stir to combine.

Hand pouring small glass bowl of tomato sauce into skillet

Whisk in the flour, and simmer over medium heat until thickened (4 to 5 minutes).

Flour and sauce in large skillet on hot plate

In a 6-quart slow cooker, place the bacon, and seared beef then cover with sauce.

Skillet of sauce being poured over bacon and beef in black slow cooker

Add in the garlic, carrots, potatoes, dried thyme, and mushrooms and stir to combine.

Round black crock filled with mushrooms potatoes and carrots

Place the lid onto the slow cooker and set to low heat for 8 to 10 hours, or high heat for 5 to 6 hours.

Round black crockpot filled with beef and vegetables in sauce

Stir well before serving and top with fresh topped parsley.

Round white bowl of beef bourguignon and potatoes on white table

Can Beef Bourguignon Be Made Ahead?

Yes. If you want to make this ahead of time, you can make it and keep it for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. It is best served within 4 days of making, so I would recommend making and serving the next day. You can also cook it for 5 to 6 hours on high heat and then place it on low or warm for an additional 4 to 5 hours to keep it at temperature until ready to serve.

Does Beef Bourguignon Freeze Well?

Yes. You can make this ahead of time, allow it to cool completely, then portion it into freezer storage containers for later meals. Just make sure you properly date and label them so when you pull the meal from the freezer you know not only what is in the container, but also when it was made.

To serve after freezing, it is best to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating in a skillet or microwave until piping hot. After thawing, do not refreeze, but eat within the standard 3 to 4 days recommended.

Collage image of bowl of beef and vegetables with spoon of vegetables in second image

📖 Recipe

Yield: 6