Name: Beef Bourguignon: The Ultimate French Comfort Food Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Ingredients: 3 lbs (1.4 kg) beef brisket or chuck roast, cut into 2-inch cubes; 6 strips thick-cut meat (about 6 oz), chopped; 1 large yellow onion (8 oz), diced; 2 large carrots (6 oz), sliced into rounds; 6 garlic cloves, minced; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine (Pinot Noir or Burgundy); 2 cups low-sodium beef broth; 2 bay leaves; 4 fresh thyme sprigs (or 2 tsp dried); 1 lb pearl onions, peeled; 2 tablespoons olive oil; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 1 lb mixed mushrooms (cremini, button, or baby bella), quartered; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons butter, softened

When it comes to classic French cuisine, few dishes capture the heart and soul of comfort cooking quite like Julia Child’s legendary Beef Bourguignon. This globally cherished masterpiece transforms simple ingredients into something truly extraordinary – tender beef that practically falls apart, slowly simmered in a rich, wine-infused sauce that’s nothing short of magical.

While this iconic dish requires time and genuine care, every single step proves absolutely worthwhile. Furthermore, we’ve made this culinary adventure more accessible by including four different cooking methods to suit any kitchen setup: the traditional oven method, stovetop preparation, slow cooker convenience, and the modern Instant Pot approach.

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The Art of Beef Bourguignon
Ingredients
Step by Step Beef Bourguignon (instructions)
What We Did Differently
What Meat Is Best for Beef Bourguignon?
Tips for Incredible Beef Bourguignon
What to Serve with Beef Bourguignon
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Other Delicious Beef Recipes

The Art of Beef Bourguignon

This remarkable adaptation draws directly from Julia Child’s bestselling cookbook « Mastering the Art of French Cooking. » However, our goal here is to elevate what might seem like a simple beef stew into a true culinary art form, while simultaneously ensuring that you don’t need to be a professional chef to achieve spectacular results.

Despite its sophisticated reputation, this recipe isn’t difficult at all. In fact, once you understand the basic principles, you’ll discover that creating restaurant-quality Beef Bourguignon at home is entirely achievable.

Ingredients

3 lbs beef brisket or chuck roast, cut into 2-inch pieces
6 strips thick-cut meat, chopped
1 large onion, diced
2 carrots, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 bottle red wine
2 cups beef broth
2 bay leaves
Fresh thyme sprigs
1 lb pearl onions, peeled
1 lb mushrooms, quartered
3 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Step by Step Beef Bourguignon (instructions)

Traditional Oven Method:

First, preheat your oven to 325°F. Then, cook meat in a Dutch oven until crispy. Next, brown the beef pieces in batches. Subsequently, sauté onions and carrots until softened. After that, add garlic and tomato paste, cooking for one minute. Meanwhile, deglaze with wine and add broth and herbs. Finally, cover and braise in the oven for 2.5 hours.

Stovetop Method:

Similarly, begin by browning meat and beef. Then, follow the same vegetable preparation. However, instead of using the oven, simmer covered on low heat for 2.5-3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Instant Pot Method:

Using the sauté function, brown meat and beef first. Next, add vegetables and liquids. Then, pressure cook on high for 35 minutes with natural release.

Slow Cooker Method:

After browning ingredients in a separate pan, transfer everything to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

What We Did Differently

Although we deeply respect Julia’s original method, we’ve made several strategic modifications to simplify the process without compromising the dish’s perfection. These thoughtful changes include:

Streamlined Meat Preparation: Rather than going through the traditional step of cooking meat rind in water, we’ve eliminated this time-consuming process entirely.

Simplified Cooking Method: Instead of transferring the meat and vegetables to the oven after the initial browning, we’ve developed a more straightforward approach that saves both time and effort.

Enhanced Flavor Profile: Additionally, we’ve incorporated extra garlic cloves and herbs to intensify the flavors in this red wine beef stew, creating an even more robust taste experience.

One-Pot Pearl Onions: Moreover, we cook the pearl onions directly with the other ingredients, which not only saves you from washing an extra pot but also allows the onions to absorb more of the dish’s incredible flavors.

Flavor Preservation: Finally, we avoid washing the Dutch oven between steps, thereby preserving every bit of those beautiful, caramelized flavors that develop during cooking.

What Meat Is Best for Beef Bourguignon?

After extensive testing, beef brisket consistently delivers the best results for this recipe. This particular cut shreds beautifully and remains incredibly juicy throughout the long cooking process. However, any good stewing meat will work wonderfully, so don’t hesitate to use chuck roast or short ribs if that’s what’s available.

The key lies in choosing cuts with enough marbling and connective tissue that break down during the slow cooking process, ultimately creating that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Tips for Incredible Beef Bourguignon

Patience with Resting: First and foremost, allow your finished dish to rest after cooking. During this time, the wine flavors mellow beautifully, and all the ingredients meld together harmoniously. In fact, many people find that Beef Bourguignon tastes even better the next day.

Perfect Mushroom Technique: Furthermore, always cook your mushrooms separately in butter and garlic, then add them at the very end. This technique ensures they remain plump, buttery, and retain their distinct earthy flavor rather than becoming soggy.

Sauce Reduction is Critical: Most importantly, never skip the sauce reduction step after straining. This final process creates that glossy, restaurant-quality sauce that makes the dish truly spectacular.

What to Serve with Beef Bourguignon

Mashed potatoes serve as the ideal accompaniment to this rich, flavorful dish. The creamy texture perfectly complements the tender beef and sauce. Alternatively, plain rice or egg noodles work wonderfully as well.

Since Beef Bourguignon already bursts with complex flavors, simple sides work best. Therefore, avoid competing flavors that might overwhelm the dish’s carefully balanced taste profile.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Per Serving (based on 8 servings):

Calories485 kcal
Total Fat22g
- Saturated Fat8g
- Trans Fat0g
Cholesterol95mg
Sodium680mg
Total Carbohydrates12g
- Dietary Fiber2g
Total Sugars6g
- Added Sugars0g
Protein38g

Other Delicious Beef Recipes

If you enjoy this chopped cheese sandwich, you might also love these beef classics:

In conclusion, Beef Bourguignon represents far more than just another beef stew recipe. Rather, it embodies the essence of French culinary artistry, transforming simple, everyday ingredients into something truly extraordinary. Throughout this culinary journey, we’ve explored how patience, quality ingredients, and proper technique can elevate your home cooking to restaurant-level excellence.

Moreover, by offering four distinct cooking methods, this recipe becomes accessible to every home cook, regardless of their available equipment or time constraints. Whether you choose the traditional oven method for authentic results, the convenient slow cooker approach for busy weekdays, or the modern Instant Pot technique for quick satisfaction, each method delivers that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes this dish so beloved.

So, gather your ingredients, pour yourself a glass of that good red wine, and embark on this delicious adventure. After all, as Julia Child herself would say, the most important ingredient in any recipe is the love and joy you bring to the cooking process.