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Crock-Pot Beef Bourguignon reduces time spent in the kitchen without taking short-cuts on flavor. Beef, bacon, mushrooms, carrots, and onions are slow-cooked to perfection in a rich red wine sauce.
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Crock-Pot Beef Bourguignon is a special occasion dinner recipe because it's feast-worthy, much like our slow cooker beef shoulder roast. It sounds like something you would sit down to for New Year's Eve Dinner, Valentine's Day or an anniversary.
I'm sure Julia Child would agree. It was one of her specialties, so you know it's good.
Although I'm not sure how Julia would feel about cooking it all day in a slow cooker, I'm sure she would appreciate the reasoning behind this method...more time with family and friends!
Not that you need to wait for a holiday to make it. It's weeknight-friendly because it has a time-saving twist!
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Best Beef to Use
We use a beef shoulder roast, cut into 2-inch cubes for this recipe. It's also known as shoulder clod roast. It's a type of chuck roast that is lean.
You'll often find stew meat already prepared and that will also work in this recipe.
Should you sear beef cubes first?
Yes! It will caramelize the outside of the beef and seal in the flavor. It's worth the extra step, especially if you're making Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon for a special dinner.
Use the grease that remains in the pan used to cook the bacon or add a little olive oil to do the job.
To sear the beef cubes, blot them dry and then place them in the pan heated over medium-high heat. Cook each cube for 1-3 minutes on each side or until they brown and have a slightly crispy crust.
The Best Red Wine
A critical ingredient in this dish is good red wine. First, never cook with anything that you wouldn't drink! The bottles you find on the grocery aisle have lots of added salt. Yuck!
Instead, buy one of these red wines:
- Burgundy
- Pinot Noir
- Merlot
How to Thicken the Sauce
Another important step in this recipe occurs at the very end. Make a slush of water and flour (or cornstarch to keep it gluten-free.) Stir the mixture into the slow cooker about 30 minutes before serving time. Magically...a beautiful, smooth and velvety red wine sauce will develop!
What to Serve with Crock-Pot Beef Bourguignon
One of the best things about this recipe is that it's truly a complete meal. Even so, consider adding these sides to the meal:
- Mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower to sop up that wonderful sauce!
- Side salad to stretch out the meal.
- A decadent dessert, like Flourless Chocolate Cake.
And, if you happen to have leftovers, make Mini Beef Pot Pies with Crescent Rolls the next day!
Would you like more easy, healthy, carb-conscious recipes?
📋 Recipe
Crock-Pot Beef Bourguignon
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 pounds beef shoulder roast cut into 2 inch cubes
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 3 carrots cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 pound mushrooms quartered
- 1 cup broth chicken, beef or vegetable
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup red wine such as Pinot Noir, Merlot or Hearty Burgundy
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 Tablespoons flour or cornstarch
- ⅓ cup cold water
Instructions
- Cook bacon over medium-high heat until crispy.
- Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, leaving excess grease in the pan.
- Blot meat dry with a paper towel and then transfer it (in batches) to the pan with bacon grease
- Sear beef cubes for 1 to 3 minutes on each side over medium-heat.
- As beef cubes are done, transfer them to a crock pot.
- Add bacon, onions, carrots, and mushrooms to the crock-pot.
- Pour broth over the beef and vegetables.
- Sprinkle thyme, salt and pepper over the beef and vegetables.
- Stir tomato paste, wine and garlic together in a small bowl and then pour over beef and vegetables.
- Tuck bay leaf into the crock pot.
- Cook 4-5 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
- About 30 minutes before serving time, stir together flour and cold water.
- Add flour mixture to the crock pot and stir into beef and vegetables.
- Remove bay leaf and enjoy.
Nutrition
Darla says
Always wanted to make Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon, but, honestly, I was too lazy! haha This recipe made it super easy in, basically, 2 simple steps: fry/sear & slow-cook. Not only was it easy, it was DELICIOUS!!!
I recently purchased a Beef Shoulder Roast & had never made one before, so I was looking up recipes & came across the "Beef Shoulder Roast with Red Wine Mushroom Sauce" on this site & at the bottom of that recipe were "Other Shoulder Roast Recipes" with a link to this "Crock-Pot Beef Bourguignon" recipe & boy, am I glad I clicked on it!!!
Followed the directions to a T, slow-cooked on HIGH for 5.5 hours & the beef was falling apart as I would try to get it on my fork!!!! Served it was mashed potatoes & we gobbled it up!!! Since I had a 3lbs. beef shoulder roast, I adjusted the 'Servings' in the recipe & frozen the leftovers for later this month.
Thanks so much for such an ELEGANT, EASY, & DELICTABLE dish!!!
Marjory Pilley says
Thanks so much for your comments. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
This is our favorite dish! everyone always asks for seconds!
Marjory says
Thanks so much for commenting!
Nellie Tracy says
Love this recipe! Beef Bourguignon is a definite favorite!
Marjory says
Thank you so much!
B. says
So there is a blizzard with 19 inches of snow here in Chicago, and I came across this recipe. It's in the slow cooker now, so we shall see. I'm excited.
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
I love beef bourguignon, but what a great idea to do it in the crock pot. This is one we'll have to try!
Susan says
The crock-pot is definitely the way to go for beef bourguignon. I can only imagine how amazing your house smelled after a few hours of this simmering away.
Amy Kim says
A classic dish! I hear you regarding reality and fantasy! I remember staying up all night after Christmas Eve dinner putting together a play kitchen AND a train table! Gifts are much simpler and smaller these days...