Before you start
Set up the first moves
Start by having beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes, bacon, cut into lardons, and bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (burgundy or pinot noir) ready, then preheat oven to 325°F.
Photo: ZhengZhou / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
3 hr
Total Time
3 hr 30 min
Servings
6
6 servings
Difficulty
Advanced
Cost
Moderate
$$
Recipe at a glance
Makes 6 servings · Technique: Stovetop, Oven
Julia Child's beloved French stew: beef chuck braised in Burgundy with bacon, mushrooms, and pearl onions until fork-tender.
30m
Prep Time
180m
Cook Time
210m
Total Time
6
Servings
Hard
Difficulty
Moderate $$
Cost
Recipe by RecipePool Editorial Team
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Beef bourguignon is a French stew of beef chuck braised in red wine with bacon, mushrooms and pearl onions until fork-tender. It serves 6 and takes about 3.5 hours; the flavor improves overnight, so make it a day ahead and serve it with crusty bread or compare with red wine braised short ribs.
Kitchen intelligence
Kitchen notes for Beef Bourguignon
Timing read
3 hours 30 minutes, mostly cooking
Plan for 30 minutes prep and 3 hours cooking. Midway check: Add wine, scraping up all browned bits.
Flavor logic
Built around beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes
beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes, bacon, cut into lardons, bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (burgundy or pinot noir), and beef stock carry the main flavor and texture, so measure them before you adjust seasoning or heat.
Serving plan
6 servings
For French and Main Course, the finish should match this final cue: Remove bay leaves and thyme stems.
Visual checkpoints
What to look for as you cook
Reference
Finished dish reference
Beef Bourguignon should look close to this before serving: distinct textures, clear color contrast, and a ready-to-eat finish.
Cue
Prep
Prep checkpoint
Have 3 lb beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes, 6 oz bacon, cut into lardons, 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (burgundy or pinot noir) measured and ready before heat goes on. Preheat oven to 325°F.
Cue
Finish
Final cue
Remove bay leaves and thyme stems.
Ingredients
- 3 lb beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes
- 6 oz bacon, cut into lardons
- 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Burgundy or Pinot Noir)
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 tbsp tomato pasteMore Tomato Paste
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 carrots, dicedMore Carrots
- 1 large onion, dicedMore Onion
- 4 cloves garlic, mincedMore Garlic
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, quarteredMore Mushrooms
- 12 pearl onions, peeledMore Onion
- 2 tbsp olive oilMore Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp butterMore Butter
- 2 bay leavesMore Bay Leaves
- 4 sprigs fresh thymeMore Fresh Thyme
- Kosher salt and black pepperMore Kosher Salt
- Fresh parsley, to serve
Ingredient notes
Ingredients worth checking
Shopping focus
Prioritize beef chuck
Beef chuck, bacon, bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (burgundy or pinot noir), and beef stock carry most of the flavor. Spend attention there first.
Prep notes
Prep in recipe order
Set up the ingredients in list order and keep time-sensitive items nearby.
Adjustment logic
Red wine can flex
If needed, use Beef stock with 2 tbsp red wine vinegar in place of Red wine. Less complex but still good for a weeknight version.
Optional items
Keep the core intact
Keep the main items intact; use garnish, heat, or acidity for small adjustments.
Shopping guide
Shopping notes for Beef Bourguignon
Buy first
Check beef chuck quality
Beef chuck is the ingredient most likely to affect freshness and texture.
Package check
Match package size to the recipe
Bacon, bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (burgundy or pinot noir), and beef stock may come in larger containers than needed; confirm amounts before buying backups.
Cost control
6 moderate-cost servings
Use store brands, pantry staples, or simpler sides before changing the core ingredients.
Storage planning
Shop with leftovers in mind
Keeps refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Useful Kitchen Picks
Gear and pantry options that fit this recipe
These are optional, recipe-relevant searches for tools or pantry staples that can make this specific recipe easier to repeat.
DepthPantry
Helpful Pick
Tomato Paste
Pantry upgrade
Why the tomato paste matters
Tomato paste concentrates sweetness and savory depth quickly. A tube format also makes it easier to use a spoonful without wasting the rest of a can.
This is a small pantry move that helps sauces taste more developed.
- Adds body and savory sweetness
- Useful in soups, braises, pasta sauces, and stews
Tomato paste is one of the most useful low-cost pantry staples to keep ready.
Shop tomato paste for this recipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links are included when they are directly relevant to the recipe.
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 325°F. Pat beef dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
- 2
Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon. Sear beef in batches in the bacon fat until deeply browned on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
- 3
Add olive oil to the pot. Sauté carrots and onion for 5 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir 1 minute.
- 4
Add wine, scraping up all browned bits. Simmer 2-3 minutes. Return beef and bacon to pot. Add stock, bay leaves, and thyme. Liquid should nearly cover the meat.
- 5
Cover and braise in the oven for 2.5-3 hours until beef is fork-tender.
- 6
Meanwhile, sauté mushrooms and pearl onions in butter until golden. Stir into the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- 7
Remove bay leaves and thyme stems. Skim excess fat if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve garnished with parsley.
Technique notes
Technique checkpoints
Key method moments pulled from the written steps.
Prep phase
3 steps
Key move
Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp.
Why it matters
Add toppings after cooking so fresh, crunchy, or acidic finishes stay distinct.
Watch for
Plate while the main dish is still hot, then add crunchy, acidic, or fresh garnishes right before serving.
Cook phase 1
3 steps
Key move
Cover and braise in the oven for 2.5-3 hours until beef is fork-tender.
Why it matters
Keep the moisture steady here so the main ingredients soften before final seasoning.
Watch for
Move on after this instruction is complete: cover and braise in the oven for 2.5-3 hours until beef is fork-tender.
Finish phase
1 step
Key move
Remove bay leaves and thyme stems.
Why it matters
Add toppings after cooking so fresh, crunchy, or acidic finishes stay distinct.
Watch for
Plate while the main dish is still hot, then add crunchy, acidic, or fresh garnishes right before serving.
Doneness cues
Doneness checks for Beef Bourguignon
Look for
Beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes should look ready
Remove bay leaves and thyme stems.
Heat cue
Control heat before adjusting
If the surface is changing too fast before the center or sauce is ready, lower the heat and give the recipe time to catch up.
Timing cue
3 hours cook window
Use the 30 minutes prep window to get organized so the cooking stage can move without rushed substitutions.
Final adjustment
Taste and adjust at the end
Read through Beef Bourguignon once before you start.
Troubleshooting
Fixes while cooking Beef Bourguignon
Texture check
If the texture seems off
Check this step before adding heat or liquid: Add wine, scraping up all browned bits.
Timing check
Built around 3 hours of cooking
Beef Bourguignon starts with about 30 minutes prep. Change heat, liquid, or timing one step at a time.
Seasoning check
Adjust late, not early
Before changing seasoning, check this tip: Use a wine you'd drink — cheap cooking wine makes a flat sauce.
Leftover check
Keep leftovers useful
Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of stock if the sauce has thickened too much.
Scaling guide
Scaling notes for Beef Bourguignon
Half batch
Plan for about 3 servings
For Beef Bourguignon, halve the main ingredients evenly and season lightly until the final taste check.
Double batch
Scale toward 12 servings
For Beef Bourguignon, use a wider pan, larger pot, or second tray so the larger ingredient list has room.
Timing changes
Expect the cook time to stretch
Start from the 3 hours cook window and add time only if the larger batch is crowded.
Leftover math
6 servings
Keeps refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Make-ahead timeline
Make-ahead notes for Beef Bourguignon
Earlier in the day
Start early enough for the full cook
Start with this setup step: Preheat oven to 325°F.
Before serving
3 hours 30 minutes total planning window
Plan around 30 minutes of prep and 3 hours of cooking so the final step lands near serving time.
Leftover plan
6 servings to manage
Keeps refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Reheat without damage
Use gentle heat
Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of stock if the sauce has thickened too much.
Serving Suggestions
Ways to Serve This Dish
Serve alongside a fresh baguette and salted butter
Pair with a crisp green salad with Dijon vinaigrette
Meal fit
Meal pairings for Beef Bourguignon
Meal role
Comfort meal for 6
Pair this main course and soup & stew with sides that add contrast: crisp, fresh, acidic, or starchy as needed.
Best timing
3 hours 30 minutes make-ahead or weekend window
Hands-on timing for Beef Bourguignon. Add a small buffer if serving guests.
Diet fit
Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free
Keep the sides aligned with gluten-free and dairy-free: vegetables, grains, sauces, or garnishes should follow the same constraint.
Occasion fit
Weeknight Dinner and Date Night
Good for weeknight dinner and date night when sides can be handled while the main recipe cooks.
Substitutions
Red wineBeef stock with 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
Less complex but still good for a weeknight version.
Pearl onionsFrozen pearl onions
Thaw and pat dry before sautéing — saves significant prep time.
Beef chuckBeef short ribs
Richer and more luxurious; increase cook time by 30 minutes.
Tips & Storage
Pro Tips
Use a wine you'd drink — cheap cooking wine makes a flat sauce.
Don't crowd the pan when searing beef; work in batches for proper browning.
Make it a day ahead — the flavor improves dramatically overnight.
Pearl onions can be blanched for 1 minute to make peeling easier.
Storage
Keeps refrigerated for up to 4 days. Flavor improves on day two. Freezes well for up to 3 months.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of stock if the sauce has thickened too much.
Cooking Notes
Editor's Note
Read through Beef Bourguignon once before you start. The method timing is a guide—texture and seasoning matter more than the clock.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (1 serving)
Calories480
LowModerateHigh
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Protein42g
Carbohydrates12g
Fat22g
Fiber2g
Sugar4g
Sodium780mg
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What wine do you use for beef bourguignon?
- A dry red such as Burgundy or Pinot Noir. Use a wine you would drink; cheap cooking wine makes a flat sauce.
- What cut of beef is best for beef bourguignon?
- Beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes.
- Why brown the beef in batches?
- Do not crowd the pan, so the beef sears and browns properly.
- Can I make beef bourguignon ahead?
- Yes. The flavor improves dramatically overnight, and it keeps up to 4 days refrigerated.
- Can beef bourguignon be frozen?
- Yes, for up to 3 months.
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