Rich, hearty, and effortlessly fancy, this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon brings all the flavours of a posh French bistro straight to your kitchen—minus the need for a passport. Tender beef, smoky bacon, and a deep, rich red wine sauce all come together in a slow cooker to do the hard work for you. Voilà!
Slow cooker beef bourguignon is basically the James Bond of stews—rich, sophisticated, and effortlessly smooth.
It’s French, so of course, it sounds posh, but don’t be fooled. At its heart, it’s a humble beef stew that just happens to bathe in a bit of red wine (who wouldn’t?).
Traditionally, you’d have to stand by the stove for hours, stirring and pretending you’re Julia Child. But who has time for that?
Enter the slow cooker, your trusty sidekick that makes you look like a pro while you get on with your life.
The beef gets ridiculously tender, the sauce thickens into a rich, glossy dream, and the flavours? Ooh là là! Serve it over mash, rice, or just grab a spoon and go straight in. I won’t judge.
What is Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon?
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is a slow-cooked French beef stew that takes all the fancy flavours of the traditional dish and makes them ridiculously easy.
It’s made with stewing beef, bacon, onions, carrots, mushrooms, red wine, and herbs, all simmered together into a deep, rich sauce.
The slow cooker does all the work, gently breaking down the beef until it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender. The result? A hearty, comforting dish that tastes like a Michelin-star meal with zero effort.
Pre-Cooking Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon for Flavour
One of the most important (and totally non-negotiable) steps in making a proper Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is pre-cooking the onions, bacon, and garlic.
Why? Because of a little thing called the Maillard reaction. Sounds fancy, but it’s just science-speak for the magical transformation that happens when food browns. When you fry the onions, bacon, and garlic before slow cooking, you create deep, complex, savoury caramelised flavours that simply can’t be achieved by chucking everything into the slow cooker raw.
Skipping this step would be like going to Paris and only eating at McDonald’s—a tragic waste of potential. This quick browning stage adds a layer of richness to the stew, ensuring every bite is packed with that slow-cooked, rustic goodness. It’s the difference between a nice meal and one that makes you want to weep with joy. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.
The Importance of Reducing Wine – No One Likes a Boozy Stew
If you’ve ever made a slow cooker dish with wine and ended up with a meal that smells like a pub floor, you probably skipped this step. Big mistake. Huge.
Reducing the wine before adding it to the slow cooker is absolutely essential for two reasons:
✅ It intensifies the flavour: As the wine reduces, the fruity, earthy, and spicy notes become more concentrated, giving your stew a deep, luxurious taste.
✅ It burns off the alcohol: Slow cookers don’t get hot enough to properly evaporate alcohol, which means if you skip this step, your Bourguignon might end up tasting harsh and boozy rather than rich and smooth.
By simmering the red wine for a few minutes before adding it to the slow cooker, you remove that raw alcohol taste and create a velvety sauce that perfectly complements the beef, bacon, and veggies.
It’s a small step with massive flavour payoffs—so don’t skip it!
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon Main Ingredients
Smoked Bacon: 300g of smoked bacon, trimmed of fat, lays the foundation for a deep, smoky flavour, integral to the dish.
Onions: The inclusion of two chopped onions contributes a sweet, aromatic base, enhancing the richness of the beef.
Red Wine: In this Beef Bourguignon Recipe Slow Cooker approach, the wine (traditionally a Burgandy although I used whatever I had in the kitchen) is key!
Lean Stewing Beef: A kilogram of cubed lean beef is the heart of the dish, becoming irresistibly tender as it slow cooks.
Cornflour: Cornflour helps to thicken the sauce, ensuring a luscious texture that beautifully complements the beef.
Thyme: This herb, with its subtle, earthy notes, is key to the recipe, adding depth to the stew.
Tomato Purem: Tomato puree enriches the sauce, balancing the flavours with its tangy sweetness.
Mushrooms: Mushrooms add an earthy touch, completing the flavour palette of this classic stew.
Rich, hearty, and effortlessly fancy, this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon brings all the flavours of a posh French bistro straight to your kitchen—minus the need for a passport
Total Time:8 hrs and 5 mins
Yield:61x
Ingredients
UnitsScale
1 tsp. olive oil
300 g packet of smoked bacon (fat removed)
2 onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
300ml of red wine
1kglean stewing beef, cubed
30gcornflour
1 tbsp. thyme
20gtomato puree
1/2 tsp salt
3 carrots, chopped
150gmushrooms, halved
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and brown the bacon and onions. This makes them taste about ten times better.
Add the garlic and fry for 30 seconds.
Pour in the wine and let it reduce by a third—basically, let it bubble away and get all intense and yummy.
Tip everything into the slow cooker, then add the beef, cornflour, thyme, tomato purée, salt, carrots, and mushrooms.
Give it all a good stir, put the lid on, and walk away for 8 hours while your house starts to smell like a Parisian bistro.
Serve with mash, rice, crusty bread, or just a spoon and a dream.
Author:Scott Baptie
Prep Time:5 mins
Cook Time:8 hrs
Category:Meat
Method:Slow Cooker
Nutrition
Serving Size:1
Calories:377
Fat:13g
Carbohydrates:17g
Protein:48g
Recipe Video
Keeping Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon Fresh
To Store
The beef bourguignon keeps well in the fridge in an air-tight container.
To Reheat
Place the dish in the microwave, cover and zap until fully heated throughout.
Go for a dry, full-bodied red wine like a Burgundy, Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon. Basically, something you’d actually drink—not that questionable £3 bottle you’ve had lurking at the back of the cupboard. If you wouldn’t sip it, don’t stew with it.
Can I use beef stock instead of wine?
Yes! If you’d rather keep it alcohol-free, replace the wine with beef stock and add a splash of balsamic vinegar or Worcestershire sauce to mimic the depth and acidity of wine. It won’t be exactly the same, but it’ll still taste amazing.
My sauce is too thin—how do I thicken it?
Cornflour to the rescue! Mix 1 tablespoon of cornflour with a little cold water, then stir it into the stew about 30 minutes before serving. Keep the lid off for the final half hour to help it thicken naturally.
Can I add more vegetables?
Absolutely! Swiss chard, cavolo nero, parsnips, or even potatoes work well. Just be mindful that some veggies (like courgettes) will turn mushy if cooked for 8 hours, so choose hearty ones that can handle the long, slow simmer.
What’s the best way to serve Beef Bourguignon?
It’s amazing with creamy mashed potatoes (or pomme purée if you’re feeling fancy). Crusty bread is also a winner, and some people love it with buttered noodles or rice. Basically, anything that soaks up that glorious sauce is a good idea.
Can I cook this on high instead of low?
You can, but the magic happens on low heat. If you’re in a rush, cook it on high for 4-5 hours, but for the best, most tender beef, go for the full 8 hours on low.
Slow Cooker Beef Casserole. This Slow Cooker Beef Casserole is hearty, high in protein, and gloriously fuss-free. Inspired by my viral chicken version, it’s rich, comforting, and the perfect “set it and forget it” meal. Tender beef, earthy veg, and a smoky tomato base — pure winter bliss in a bowl
Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur: This Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur is a healthier twist on a classic French dish, using lean chicken breasts instead of fattier cuts and reducing oil. But don’t worry, it’s still rich and comforting, with a white wine, mushroom, and herb-infused sauce that’s oh-so-slowly simmered to perfection.
Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole. This slow cooker chicken casserole is a hearty, high-protein marvel bursting with tender chicken, chunky veg, and a sneaky splash of wine.
Carbonnade Flamande: This dish is a celebration of Belgian beer, which is used to braise the beef, creating a sauce that's deep, complex, and utterly satisfying.
Leave A Comment About Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon Below
Loved the recipe? Got your own little tweaks and twists? I am all ears! Feel free to drop a comment below and share your cooking experiences with me.
I've got this in the slow cooker now, without actually reading anything but the ingredients and the timing.
But now I'm a bit concerned.
Surely just 300 ml of wine won't give the juicy finish shown in your pics.?
I'm going to have some stock on the side. Just in case.
Scott is the owner and founder of Food For Fitness. He is a fat loss coach, speaker and fitness writer with a masters (MSc) degree in Applied Sports Nutrition.
I'm a Nutritionist and Sunday Times Bestselling recipe book author who makes high-protein recipes for busy families, fitness enthusiasts or people just trying to eat healthier!
I bought the high protein handbook 6 and it has been a great slow cooker recipe book that the whole family has enjoyed. The recipes always come out well with a good consistency for the sauce and taste delicious. I have now purchased the remaining books and can’t wait to try new recipes! Thanks
Scott
At Food For Fitness we help families lose weight the simple way - with high-protein recipes, realistic nutrition advice, and no fads. Find easy meals, expert guidance, and tools that make healthy eating effortless.
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I've got this in the slow cooker now, without actually reading anything but the ingredients and the timing.
But now I'm a bit concerned.
Surely just 300 ml of wine won't give the juicy finish shown in your pics.?
I'm going to have some stock on the side. Just in case.
This was absolutely delicious , will definitely be making again and again. Thank you
Thanks Nikki, great to hear it was a hit. Thanks for the comment and review.