Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon isn’t just dinner — it’s the kind of cozy, stick-to-your-ribs meal that makes you want to linger at the table a little longer. In this recipe, tender chunks of beef chuck roast soak up a rich red wine sauce while carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and herbs meld together in the slow cooker. The result? A melt-in-your-mouth French beef stew that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen, when in reality, your slow cooker did all the heavy lifting.
This has become my go-to dish for chilly weekends, lazy Sundays, and anytime I want something hearty without fussing over the stove. And yes — it’s even better the next day.
If you want the perfect sidekick to this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon, serve it with warm, crusty bread that can soak up every last drop of that glorious sauce.
Jump to
- What is Beef Bourguignon?
- Ingredients for Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon (and Why They Matter)
- Step-by-Step: How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
- Variations & Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
- FAQ
- Storage & Reheating
- Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon Recipe Card
- More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes You’ll Love
- Final thoughts
What is Beef Bourguignon?
Beef Bourguignon, also known as Boeuf Bourguignon, is a traditional French stew hailing from the Burgundy region. Unlike your everyday beef stew, Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon gets its signature depth of flavor from red wine — usually a full-bodied Burgundy or Pinot Noir.
Classic versions often require hours of stovetop or oven simmering, but with the slow cooker, you can achieve the same rich, velvety sauce and fork-tender beef with minimal hands-on work. The bacon, wine, and herbs give it a savory, slightly smoky profile, while slow cooking ensures the flavors marry beautifully over time.
Where a standard stew might just use broth, this French beef stew slow cooker recipe blends broth with wine, tomato, and sometimes soy sauce for an umami boost. And let’s be honest — any dish that involves bacon drippings and wine is bound to be a winner.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon (and Why They Matter)
Here’s what you’ll need to make your Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon sing:
Ingredient | Role in the Dish |
---|---|
Beef Chuck Roast (cut into 1-inch cubes) | Perfect for low-and-slow cooking, becomes tender and juicy. |
Bacon | Adds smoky, salty richness to the base. |
Red Wine (Burgundy, Pinot Noir, or Chianti) | Deglazes the pan, deepens flavor, and tenderizes the meat. |
Chicken Broth | Lightens the sauce while still adding savory depth. |
Tomato Sauce | Adds body and subtle sweetness. |
Soy Sauce | Brings umami complexity. |
Flour | Thickens the sauce to a silky consistency. |
Carrots | Sweet earthiness and color. |
Baby Potatoes | Hearty texture, soaks up sauce. |
Crimini Mushrooms | Meaty bite with earthy flavor. |
Garlic | Aromatic backbone. |
Fresh Thyme | Herbaceous lift. |
Parsley | Bright garnish. |
For a lighter, fresh contrast to this hearty dish, pair it with Fresh & Easy Cucumber Tomato Salad.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Step 1 – Crisp the Bacon
Cook diced bacon in a skillet until golden and crispy. Transfer to the slow cooker, leaving the drippings in the pan. Those drippings are flavor gold.
Step 2 – Sear the Beef
Season your beef chuck cubes with salt and pepper, then sear in batches in the bacon fat until browned on all sides. Don’t overcrowd — you want that deep caramelization, not steaming. This is key for a rich, savory base.
Step 3 – Deglaze with Wine
Pour red wine into the hot skillet, scraping up all those brown bits (fond) stuck to the bottom. This step layers in flavor before everything even hits the slow cooker.
Step 4 – Build the Sauce
Whisk in chicken broth, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and a bit of flour to the wine mixture until smooth. Pour over the beef and bacon in the slow cooker.
Step 5 – Add Veggies & Herbs
Toss in carrots, baby potatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and fresh thyme sprigs. Gently stir to coat everything in the sauce.
Step 6 – Slow Cook
Cover and cook on Low for 8–10 hours or High for 6 hours, until beef is fall-apart tender and vegetables are cooked through.
Step 7 – Garnish & Serve
Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve your Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon with mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or Cheesy Ranch Potatoes for a hearty brunch twist.
Variations & Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
- Bacon Alternatives – Try pancetta for a saltier bite or turkey bacon for a leaner option.
- Wine-Free Version – Replace wine with beef broth plus 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar.
- Mushroom Choices – Crimini mushrooms add depth; white button mushrooms are milder.
- Extra Flavor – Add bay leaves or rosemary for more herbal complexity.
- Potato Swap – Use small Yukon golds or even sweet potatoes for a twist.
For a seasonal upgrade, pair your beef bourguignon with Honey sweet potato summer salad
.
FAQ
Yes — simmer gently on the stove for 2–3 hours or bake in a Dutch oven at 325°F for about the same time.
Beef chuck roast is ideal, but brisket or stew meat works too.
Burgundy, Pinot Noir, or Chianti are top picks. Choose one you’d enjoy drinking.
Mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or crusty baguette. For true French flair, try boeuf bourguignon with baguette.
Storage & Reheating
One of the best parts about Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is how well it keeps. In fact, it’s even tastier the next day as the flavors deepen.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stove or in the slow cooker until heated through.
End the meal on a light note with Peach fruit salad with honey lime dressing.
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 3 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups red wine
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 cup flour
- 4 carrots, cut into chunks
- 1 lb baby potatoes
- 8 oz crimini mushrooms, halved
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crisp; transfer to slow cooker.
- Sear beef in bacon drippings; add to slow cooker.
- Deglaze skillet with wine, scraping up browned bits.
- Stir in broth, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and flour until smooth. Pour over beef.
- Add carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and thyme.
- Cook on Low 8–10 hrs or High 6 hrs.
- Garnish with parsley before serving.
Nutrition (per serving): ~181 kcal, 22g carbs, 7g protein, 8g fat, 3g fiber.
More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes You’ll Love
If you loved this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon, try my other cozy, low-effort dinners:
- Rustic French beef stew crockpot style
- Slow-cooked beef wine stew with pearl onions
- Classic beef bourguignon in slow cooker with mushrooms

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Description
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is a rich, hearty French beef stew where tender beef chunks, smoky bacon, and vegetables slowly cook in a luscious red wine sauce for the ultimate comfort meal.
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 3 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups red wine (Burgundy, Pinot Noir, or Chianti)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 cup flour
- 4 carrots, cut into chunks
- 1 lb baby potatoes
- 8 oz crimini mushrooms, halved
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crisp; transfer to slow cooker.
- Sear beef in bacon drippings; add to slow cooker.
- Deglaze skillet with wine, scraping up browned bits.
- Stir in broth, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and flour until smooth. Pour over beef.
- Add carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and thyme.
- Cook on Low 8–10 hrs or High 6 hrs.
- Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
Use a full-bodied red wine for best flavor. This stew tastes even better the next day as the flavors develop.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 181
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 35mg


Final thoughts
I started making Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon as a “special occasion” dish, but it’s since become a weeknight comfort food in my house. It’s the kind of meal that fills your kitchen with the most mouthwatering aroma and gets everyone excited for dinner. Trust me — once you make it, you’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again.
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