Hairy Bikers Beef Bourguignon Slow Cooker Recipe

This Hairy Bikers Beef Bourguignon Slow Cooker Recipe is a rich and tender recipe, which is made with good-quality braising steak and a full bottle of red wine. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about 8-10 hours.

Hairy Bikers Beef Bourguignon Slow Cooker Recipe Ingredients

• 1.6kg/3lb 8oz good-quality braising steak (chuck steak)
• 4–5 tbsp sunflower oil
• 200g/7oz smoked bacon lardons or smoked streaky bacon, chopped
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 75cl bottle red wine (like Burgundy or Pinot Noir)
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 beef stock cube, crumbled
• 2 large bay leaves
• 3 bushy sprigs fresh thyme
• 25g/1oz butter
• 450g/1lb pearl onions
• 300g/10½oz chestnut mushrooms, halved or quartered
• 2 heaped tbsp cornflour
• 2 tbsp cold water
• Flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Chopped fresh parsley, to garnish

How To Make Hairy Bikers Beef Bourguignon in a Slow Cooker

1. Brown the Beef: Cut the braising steak into large chunks (about 4-5cm) and season well with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan over high heat and brown the beef in batches. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker pot.
2. Cook Bacon and Onions: In the same pan, add a little more oil and fry the bacon until crisp. Add the bacon to the slow cooker. Then, fry the chopped onion in the remaining fat over a low heat for 5-6 minutes until softened. Add the crushed garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Combine in Slow Cooker: Add the cooked onion and garlic to the slow cooker. Pour in the red wine, stir in the tomato purée, and add 150ml of water. Crumble in the stock cube and add the bay leaves and thyme sprigs.
4. Slow Cook: Stir everything together, cover, and cook on LOW for 7-9 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is almost tender.
5. Prepare Onions and Mushrooms: About 45 minutes before serving, prepare the pearl onions and mushrooms. Melt half the butter in a frying pan and fry the pearl onions until golden. Add them to the slow cooker. In the same pan, add the remaining butter and fry the mushrooms until browned, then add them to the slow cooker as well.
6. Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the cornflour and cold water to create a smooth slurry. Stir this into the slow cooker.
7. Finish Cooking: Cover and cook on HIGH for the final 30-45 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and the vegetables to integrate. Remove the thyme stalks, season with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Recipe Tips

• What is the best beef for bourguignon? Use good-quality, well-marbled braising or chuck steak. Leaner cuts can become dry during the long cooking time, whereas marbled meat will become succulent and tender.
• How do you easily peel pearl onions? The easiest method is to cover the onions in a bowl with just-boiled water and let them stand for five minutes. The skins will then loosen and slip off easily.
• What kind of wine should I use? A classic beef bourguignon uses a Burgundy (Pinot Noir), but any good-quality dry red wine that you would enjoy drinking will work perfectly.
• How do I get a thick sauce in the slow cooker? Slow cookers trap moisture. To get a rich, thick sauce, it’s important to add a thickening agent like the cornflour slurry near the end of the cooking time. Cooking on high with the lid slightly ajar for the last 30 minutes can also help it reduce.

What To Serve With Beef Bourguignon

This rich, classic French stew is traditionally served with sides that complement its deep flavors.

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Crusty bread or baguette
• Steamed green beans or a crisp green salad with a mustardy vinaigrette

How To Store Beef Bourguignon

• Refrigerate: Allow the bourguignon to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors are often even better the next day.
• Freeze: This dish freezes exceptionally well. Once cooled, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently on the stovetop.

Beef Bourguignon Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 669 kcal
• Protein: 59g
• Carbohydrates: 16g
• Fat: 30g
• Fiber: 3.5g
• Salt: 2.4g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Hairy Bikers Beef Bourguignon Slow Cooker Recipe

Author: Alex Saidani Cooking Method:Slow Cooker Cuisine:French Courses:Dinner

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 30 minutesCook time:8 hours Rest time: minutesTotal time:8 hours 30 minutesCooking Temp:100 CServings:8 servingsEstimated Cost:25 $Calories:669 kcal Best Season:Available

Description

A classic French stew made easy in the slow cooker, with meltingly tender beef, bacon, and mushrooms in a rich red wine sauce.

Ingredients

• 1.6kg braising steak
• 200g bacon lardons
• 1 large onion & 2 cloves garlic
• 75cl bottle red wine
• 2 tbsp tomato purée & 1 beef stock cube
• Herbs: bay leaves, thyme, parsley
• 450g pearl onions & 300g chestnut mushrooms
• Butter, oil, cornflour, salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Brown the seasoned beef chunks in batches in a hot pan; transfer to the slow cooker.
2. In the same pan, fry the bacon until crisp, then the onions and garlic until soft. Add to the slow cooker.
3. Pour the wine, water, tomato purée, and crumbled stock cube into the slow cooker. Add herbs and stir.
4. Cook on LOW for 7-9 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.
5. Sauté pearl onions and mushrooms in butter until golden and add them to the pot.
6. Whisk cornflour with water and stir into the stew to thicken.
7. Cook on HIGH for another 30-45 minutes. Garnish with parsley to serve.

Notes

• Use good quality, well-marbled beef for the most tender, succulent result.
• Browning the meat and vegetables before slow cooking is essential for developing deep flavor.
• Add the pearl onions and mushrooms near the end of cooking to maintain their texture.
• The sauce can be thickened further by simmering it on the stovetop if needed.