Slow-Simmered Beef Bourguignon with Pearl Onions
A true French classic where tender beef melts into a rich, wine-infused sauce, slow-cooked to develop deep, complex flavors. This french-inspired beef ready in about 205 minutes pairs beef chuck roast, red wine, diced carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced onions
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup demi-glace
- 1 cup pearl onions
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 2 lbs beef chuck roast dry and coat evenly with 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering; brown beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply golden, transferring to a plate.
- Step 3: Add 1 cup diced carrots, 1 cup diced onions, and 1/2 cup diced celery to the pot; sauté for 5 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized.
- Step 4: Pour in 1 cup red wine and scrape up browned bits, simmering for 3 minutes until reduced by half and the alcohol smell disappears.
- Step 5: Return beef to pot with 1/2 cup demi-glace and 2 sprigs fresh thyme; add enough water to cover halfway.
- Step 6: Cover and simmer on low heat for 3 hours, or until beef is fork-tender and easily pulls apart.
- Step 7: Stir in 1 cup pearl onions during the last 20 minutes of cooking until tender but still holding shape.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Simmered Beef Bourguignon with Pearl Onions take to make?
Total time is about 205 minutes (25 min prep + 180 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 Slow-Simmered Beef Bourguignon with Pearl Onions?
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 Slow-Simmered Beef Bourguignon with Pearl Onions?
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 Slow-Simmered Beef Bourguignon with Pearl Onions 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 Slow-Simmered Beef Bourguignon with Pearl Onions?
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
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
