Best-Best Beef Bourguignon
A rich, slow-cooked French stew with tender beef, mushrooms, and red wine, perfected with a velvety sauce. This french-inspired beef ready in about 150 minutes pairs beef chuck roast, red wine (preferably Burgundy), medium, diced onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, 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 lbs beef chuck roast
- 1 cup red wine (preferably Burgundy)
- 1 medium, diced onion
- 3 medium, sliced carrots
- 8 oz, sliced mushrooms
- 1 tsp, fresh or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1.5 lbs beef chuck roast and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until browned, then remove and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pan, add 1 diced onion and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 sliced carrots and 8 oz sliced mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes until softened, then deglaze with 1 cup red wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to release browned bits.
- Step 4: Return the beef to the pan, add 1 tsp thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Pour in 1/4 cup water to cover the meat by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5-2 hours until tender.
- Step 5: Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Serve with crusty bread or mashed potatoes.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Best-Best Beef Bourguignon take to make?
Total time is about 150 minutes (30 min prep + 120 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 Best-Best 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 roast from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Best-Best 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 Best-Best Beef Bourguignon for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). 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 Best-Best 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
- ★★★★★
Added some red pepper flakes for heat — highly recommend.
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★★
Added this to my weekly meal rotation. So satisfying.
