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Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

This Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is a hearty, slow-simmered beef stew loaded with tender chunks of beef, earthy mushrooms, sweet carrots, pearl onions, and a deeply savory sauce — all without wine, making it family-friendly while still rich in flavor.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs lean chuck roast cut into 1-2 inch cubes, patted dry
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 strips turkey bacon diced
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme tied with kitchen string
  • 1 large yellow onion roughly chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup beef stock plus more if needed
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 4 carrots cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 16 oz mushrooms cremini or baby bella, halved
  • 10 oz pearl onions
  • Optional: 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water for thickening
  • Fresh flat-leaf parsley chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  • Season beef cubes generously with salt and pepper.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Sear beef in batches until browned on all sides, 2-3 minutes per batch. Transfer to slow cooker.
  • Add turkey bacon to the same skillet and cook until slightly crispy, about 3 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker.
  • In the same pan, sauté onions and garlic until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Add beef stock to the skillet, scraping up browned bits. Pour mixture into the slow cooker.
  • Add carrots, mushrooms, pearl onions, and thyme bundle to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until beef is tender.
  • If a thicker sauce is desired, stir in the cornstarch mixture during the last 20 minutes of cooking.
  • Remove thyme bundle before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For even richer flavor, sear mushrooms separately before adding to the slow cooker.
  • Serve with crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
  • Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days and freeze beautifully.