Beef Bourguignon Recipe (2024)

This Beef Bourguignon is a delicious French stew that’s actually easy to make.

This stew has a deep rich broth, tender chunks of beef, cozy vegetables, and bacon. It’s all simmered together for the perfect meal.

It’s a dish that Julia Child was well known for, and while it does need some time, most of the time is spent simmering.

Beef Bourguignon Recipe (1)

A Delicious Stew

Beef Bourguignon (pronounced “beef bur-gee-nyon,”) or beef burgundy is a version of beef stew. The difference between this recipe and our usual beef stew is the richness of the broth due to bacon and red wine.

Carrots, onions, mushrooms, and garlic round out this one-pot meal. The whole thing bakes in the oven until tender.

Ingredients for Beef Bourguignon

This recipe is a simplified version of Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon, with the steps somewhat simplified (and ingredients slightly adapted).

Beef – When choosing meat for stew or bourguignon, choose chuck roast for the most tender meat. Stewing meat will works as well but may need a little bit of extra time to become tender.

Vegetables – I add potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms but any root vegetable will work in this recipe. Replcae the regular onions with pearl onions if you can find them.

Baby potatoes are great as they hold shape and need no peeling. Yukon gold or reds work too. You can skip the potatoes and serve this dish over mashed potatoes instead.

Seasonings – Herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf enhance the flavor of this slow-cooked masterpiece. Fresh or dried will work.

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Wine for Beef Bourguignon

The addition of wine makes beef bourguignon. Choose a dry red, like pinot noir, burgundy, cabernet sauvignon, or merlot., this adds the rich flavor that makes this recipe so famous! Wine for cooking doesn’t need to be expensive but choose a wine you wouldn’t mind drinking. Do not use cooking wine in this recipe, the flavor isn’t great.

No Wine?

Most often, I include a replacement for wine in recipes, however, wine is a forward flavor in this dish (just likecoq au vin). In this case, I would suggest making a classic beef stew recipe or Hungarian Goulash.

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How to Make Beef Bourguignon

  1. Crisp the bacon in a large Dutch oven per the recipe below.
  2. Sear the beef in small batches. Add the onions and carrots.
  3. Stir in the wine, beef, broth, and herbs and bake according to the recipe.

Top the stew with crumbled bacon and serve with crusty bread or even spooned into a bowl of mashed potatoes.

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Beef bourguignon can be cooked in the slow cooker or Instant Pot following the cooking times for beef stew.

Tips for Perfection

Beef Bourguignon sounds super fancy, but with just a few tricks and tips it can be super easy!

  • Brown the beef in small batches and don’t stir too much.
  • Cook bourguignon low and slow in the oven for the best flavor and tender beef.
  • You can thicken the sauce with a little bit of cornstarch slurry (mix equal parts cornstarch & cold water) if desired.
  • Add in the bacon at the end but leave a little bit to garnish too!

Like chili and lasagna, this recipe tastes just as good (or almost better) the next day!

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What to Serve With Beef Bourguignon

  • If you don’t add potatoes to the stew, you can serve this over garlic mashed potatoes or homemade egg noodles.
  • Beef Bourguignon pairs well with more elegant side dishes like roasted asparagus with tarragon vinaigrette or sauteed brussel sprouts.
  • Definitely perfect with a side of homemade French bread or cheese puffs.

More Ways to Cook Beef

If you’ve got stewing beef or chuck beef, here are a few favorites!

Beef

Vegetable Beef Soup

Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

Slow Cooker

Beef and Noodles

Beef

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4.97 from 142 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Beef Bourguignon Recipe

Beef Bourguignon is an elegant, flavorful dish full of fresh veggies and tender beef.

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ReviewPrint

Beef Bourguignon Recipe (14)

Prep Time 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Beef Bourguignon Recipe (15)

Servings 6

Beef Bourguignon Recipe (16)

Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ½ pound bacon chopped
  • 3 pounds chuck cubes or stewing beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups beef broth or beef stock, heated
  • 2 cups red wine
  • 12 ounces mushrooms
  • 1 pound baby potatoes optional
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon thyme leaves
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary or ½ teaspoon dry rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • parsley for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F.

  • In a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon until it's crisp. Transfer the bacon to a bowl leaving the fat in the pot.

  • Gently dab the beef dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper. Sear the beef in small batches over medium-high heat until browned. Once browned, transfer to a plate.

  • In the same pot, sauté onions and carrots for about 2-3 minutes, or until the onions start to turn translucent. Return the browned beef to the pot and sprinkle with flour, stirring to coat, and let it cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

  • Add the broth, wine, mushrooms, potatoes (if using), tomato paste, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Cover the pot and bake the stew for 2 ½ to 3 hours.

  • Remove bay leaf and stir in ¾ of the bacon. Taste and season with additional salt & pepper if desired. Garnish with remaining bacon.

Notes

Potatoes can be added to this stew or you can leave them out and serve the stew over mashed potatoes. Use baby potatoes, red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes.

Choose a dry red wine, like Pinot Noir, Cabernet, or Merlot.

Add in the bacon at the end but leave a little bit to garnish too!

To Thicken stew further after baking, combine equal parts cornstarch and water. Add to simmering stew a little bit at a time while whisking to reach desired consistency.

4.97 from 142 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 773 | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 64g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 194mg | Sodium: 1589mg | Potassium: 2049mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3584IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Beef Bourguignon Recipe (18) Course Beef, Dinner, Entree, Main Course

Beef Bourguignon Recipe (19) Cuisine American, French

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

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FAQs

What cut of meat is best for beef bourguignon? ›

What Is the Best Meat to Use for Beef Bourguignon? Beef bourguignon typically features both pork—in the form of lardons, small strips of fatty, thick-cut bacon—and stewing beef, usually beef chuck diced into 2-inch cubes, though any lean cut (like brisket) is acceptable.

What's the difference between beef stew and beef bourguignon? ›

Both beef bourguignon and beef stew are delicious! It's all in preparation. Stew is a cooking method, and beef bourguignon is a classic French dish that uses beef stewed in wine to create its characteristic flavor. The difference between stew and beef bourguignon is not just one of taste but also one of the methods.

Which red wine is best for beef bourguignon? ›

Red Burgundy is the traditional match for Beef Bourguignon, Merlot dominated blends from both Australia and Bordeaux. Red Bordeaux in particular, can be enjoyed more fully. A weighty Pinot Noir or a robust Ribera del Duero. Tempranillo wine is also fine.

What is special about boeuf bourguignon? ›

The dish originates from Burgundy and combines two of the region's top products: red wine and Charolais beef. The white cattle, famous for their gentle temperament as well as tender meat, hail from the Charolles region of southern Burgundy and offer the perfect complement to the area's rich red wine.

What do the French eat with boeuf bourguignon? ›

Bœuf à la bourguignonne is traditonally served with a garlic toast, but it can be also served with potatoes, carrots, green beans, pasta, or with a Burgundy garnish, consisting of mushrooms, bacon, and onions stewed until brown.

Can you overcook Beef Bourguignon? ›

Of course. You can overcook anything. Originally Answered: When braising beef in a dish like beef bourguignon, is it possible to overcook the meat so that the chunks go beyond tender and become tough again?

Why is my beef bourguignon so bitter? ›

My beef Bourguignon tastes bitter

If your beef Bourguignon tastes disappointingly butter, it could be overcooked. A good tip to try is adding a spoonful of redcurrant jelly or a little sugar to add a little sweetness. Deglazing the pot with ¼ cup (60ml) brandy to the dish will add an extra layer of flavour.

Can you use cabernet sauvignon for beef bourguignon? ›

Some recipes are worth the wait and Beef Bourguignon is one of them. There is a reason this French beef stew is a culinary cult classic, so it only makes sense to pair it with one of our iconic wines like our 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Should beef bourguignon be thick or thin? ›

Stews like boeuf bourguignon should ideally be thick and glossy enough that the liquid coats the back of a spoon, a process aided by collagen-rich cuts of meat and a long, slow simmer.

Is beef bourguignon better the next day? ›

We want to allow enough time for the salt to penetrate deep into the meat. If you do not have Brandy on hand, simply substitute with 2 extra tablespoons of wine. This recipe gives you 4 large servings, and if you have any leftovers, just know a Beef Bourguignon tastes even better reheated the next day.

Is Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon better for beef bourguignon? ›

Pinot Noir is great for stew recipes and is the primary wine used in dishes like Beef Bourguignon. (Bourguignon calls for red Burgundy, a wine made from Pinot Noir grapes.)

Is Pinot Noir OK for beef bourguignon? ›

Pinot Noir is the traditional wine used in Beef Bourguignon. It's the red wine that the Burgundy region of France is most famous for, reflecting the origins of this dish which is also known as “Beef Burgundy”. There's no need to splurge on expensive wine here.

Is beef bourguignon served in a bowl or plate? ›

Set aside until ready to serve. Once the beef is ready, remove the herb bouquet. Assemble a plate or shallow bowl with the meat, carrots, and sautéed mushrooms and pearl onions.

What is the difference between Bordelaise and beef bourguignon? ›

Bourguignon. Similar to Bordelaise, but the difference is in the type of wine used; Bordelaise uses Bordeaux whereas Bourguignon uses Burgundy wine. Bourguignon is a red wine sauce with onions. Typically used in Boeuf Bourguignon.

What is the best piece of meat for beef stew? ›

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

Can you use ribeye steak for Beef Bourguignon? ›

So, can you cook Beef Bourguignon with Ribeye? Absolutely! While it might veer from tradition, this fusion of flavors and textures is a delicious deviation that's worth every bite.

What is the most tender cut of beef to cook? ›

The most tender of all cuts of beef, tenderloin steaks are lean and known for their delicate, butter-like texture and thick cut.

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