Authentic French Beef Bourguignon
A rich, slow-braised beef stew infused with red wine, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs, served with creamy mashed potatoes. This french-inspired beef ready in about 180 minutes pairs beef chuck, red wine, button mushrooms for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg beef chuck
- 750 ml red wine
- 200 g button mushrooms
- 150 g bacon lardons
- 1 large onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 500 g potatoes
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Brown the beef in batches, seasoning with salt and pepper, then remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Add bacon lardons and cook until crispy. Remove bacon, set aside, then sauté diced onion and minced garlic until translucent.
- Step 3: Stir in tomato paste, then add red wine, thyme, bay leaves, and 1.5 L water. Return beef and bacon to the pot, bring to a simmer, then cover and braise for 2.5 hours.
- Step 4: Add mushrooms and cook for 30 minutes until tender. Meanwhile, boil potatoes with salted water until fork-tender, then mash with butter, milk, and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Step 5: Adjust seasoning, serve stew with mashed potatoes, garnished with fresh thyme.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Authentic French Beef Bourguignon take to make?
Total time is about 180 minutes (30 min prep + 150 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Authentic French Beef Bourguignon?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef chuck from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Authentic French Beef Bourguignon?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Authentic French Beef Bourguignon for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Authentic French Beef Bourguignon?
French beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
So much better than takeout. We'll never order french delivery again.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
- ★★★☆☆
It was fine. Came out a bit bland for my taste.
