Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
A slimming friendly, French inspired beef stew that you can leave to simmer in the slow cooker all day. It’s the perfect winter warmer!
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories320
- Carbs26g
- Protein37g
- Fat6g
- Saturates1.9g
- Sugars13g
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For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card below. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff in the blurb!
Is there any better feeling than knowing dinner will be ready when you get home after a long day? This hearty Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is made with simple, healthy ingredients that turn into a rich stew with robust flavours.
Inspired by the classic French dish, we’ve created a slow cooker friendly version of our recipe so that you can enjoy the delicious taste even on days where you don’t have time to cook in the evening. Pop everything in the pot before you head to work and just imagine the gorgeous smells you’ll be greeted with when you walk through the door.
To keep our Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon slimming friendly and flavourful we’ve left out the red wine and instead added some red wine stock pots. These are so handy for bringing in those robust flavours, without ramping up the calories. Of course, if you’re not counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers, you might prefer to leave out the red wine stock pots and add a glass of the real stuff instead.
If you don’t have a slow cooker we also have an oven method for this recipe, as well as an Instant Pot method for when you’re in a hurry!
What diets is this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon suitable for?
This Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon recipe can be enjoyed on a dairy free diet. It can be made suitable for gluten free diets as long as you use a gluten free beef stock cube and use Henderson’s Relish instead of Worcestershire sauce.
If you’re cooking for people with allergies, be extra careful when checking ingredients and preparing food!
Do you need any special ingredients to make Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon?
You’ll need some red wine stock pots which should be available in your usual supermarket. These are little pots of concentrated, de-alcoholised red wine that add full, fruity flavour to your cooking. They can typically be found in the cooking ingredients aisle, near to the stock cubes.
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You can also purchase red wine stock pots online from Amazon.
To make this recipe you will need a slow cooker. A 3.5 litre slow cooker like this one has a good capacity for batch cooking.
How many calories are in this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon?
There are 320 calories per portion in this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon recipe, which means it falls into our Everyday Light recipe category. If you’re counting calories or following one of the popular diet plans like Weight Watchers, this recipe fits in perfectly!
NHS guidelines suggest men should aim for 2,500 calories per day to maintain a healthy body weight, and women require around 2000 calories. Each person has different calorie requirements depending on their goal, so you may want to adjust your daily calorie intake according to your own personal goal.
Step 1
Place the beef on a plate and sprinkle over the cornflour. Season with salt and black pepper and toss to coat the beef all over.
Step 2
Spray a large frying pan with low calorie spray and place over a medium high heat. When the frying pan is hot, add the beef and fry for 3-4 minutes, turning to seal and brown on all sides. Place the beef in the slow cooker pot.
Step 3
Lower the heat to medium and spray the frying pan again with low calorie cooking spray. Add the bacon, scraping up any meaty bits from the bottom of the frying pan and stir in. Fry the bacon for 4-5 minutes until cooked and lightly browned around the edges. Add the bacon to the beef in the slow cooker pot.
Step 4
Spray the frying pan again if needed and place on a medium heat. Add the onion and fry for 5 minutes until it softens and turns golden, again scraping up any meaty bits in the frying pan and stirring in. Add the garlic and cook for a further 1-2 minutes.
Step 5
Add the carrots and mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes to lightly brown. Add the vegetables to the slow cooker pot.
Step 6
In a measuring jug, mix the hot stock, red wine stock pots, tomato puree, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, thyme and bay leaves. Stir until the stock pots have dissolved. Pour into the slow cooker pot and stir into the beef and vegetables.
Step 7
Cover with the lid and turn the slow cooker onto the high setting. Cook for 4-5 hours. The stew will be ready when the beef is tender, and the gravy has thickened. Season to taste if needed.
Step 8
Remove the bay leaves and serve with steamed vegetables or other accompaniment of your choice.
What could I serve with this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon?
This Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is delicious served with some simple steamed veggies, but we also think it pairs really well with almost any potato dish. From fluffy mash to crispy potatoes, you can’t go wrong with any of these side dishes:
How do you know when Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is cooked?
You need to let this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon cook for 4-5 hours. You’ll know it’s ready when the beef is tender and the sauce has reduced to a thick, rich gravy.
Here in the UK, the standard advice is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and maintained that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep you and your family safe!
How long can you keep Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon in the fridge?
Once you’ve put it out, ideally you should eat this Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon within 4 hours.
You can allow any leftovers to cool and then store them in a container with a lid in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Can I freeze Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon?
YES you can freeze this recipe! If you do, just remember to do the following:
- Allow it to cool and then freeze as soon as it is cold enough.
- Place in a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
- Add a label with the recipe name and what date you froze it.
How do I reheat Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon?
From chilled: Place in a microwavable container with a loosely fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes until piping hot. Alternatively, transfer the Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon into a saucepan and reheat on the hob until it is piping hot all the way through.
From frozen: Allow to defrost overnight in the fridge and then reheat following the instructions above.
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Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
A slimming friendly, French inspired beef stew that you can leave to simmer in the slow cooker all day. It’s the perfect winter warmer!
-
Prep Time
15 MINS
-
Cook Time
5 HR
- KCals 320
- Carbs 26G
Instructions
- Place the beef on a plate and sprinkle over the cornflour. Season with salt and black pepper and toss to coat the beef all over.
- Spray a large frying pan with low calorie cooking spray and place over a medium high heat. When the frying pan is hot, add the beef and fry for about 3-4 minutes, turning to seal and brown on all sides. Place the beef in the slow cooker pot.
- Lower the heat to medium and spray the frying pan again with low calorie cooking spray. Add the bacon, scraping up any meaty bits from the bottom of the frying pan and stir in. Fry the bacon for 4-5 minutes until cooked and lightly browned around the edges. Add the bacon to the beef in the slow cooker pot.
- Spray the frying pan again if needed and place on a medium heat. Add the onion and fry for 5 minutes until it softens and turns golden, again scraping up any meaty bits in the frying pan and stirring in. Add the garlic and cook for a further 1-2 minutes.
- Add the carrots and mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes to lightly brown. Add the vegetables to the slow cooker pot.
- In a measuring jug, mix the hot stock, red wine stock pots, tomato puree, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, thyme and bay leaves. Stir until the stock pots have dissolved. Pour into the slow cooker pot and stir into the beef and vegetables.
- Cover with the lid and turn the slow cooker onto the high setting. Cook for 4-5 hours. The stew will be ready when the beef is tender, and the gravy has thickened. Season to taste if needed.
- Remove the bay leaves and serve with steamed vegetables or other accompaniment of your choice.
Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?
With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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Recipe notes
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35 comments
See what others have to say
Dave AmbridgeSunday 4th February 2024
Hi, could you please let me know what books the recipes are in, as I find it easier to use the books, rather than my phone. Thanks
Cheryl LloydTuesday 6th February 2024
Hi Dave, not every recipe is in a cookbook. We have hundreds of tasty recipes that are just on the website. This recipe is one of those that isn’t in any of the books. Hope that helps a little.
LewisfanTuesday 7th November 2023
I did not expect it to be THAT GOOD! I am not sure I can save the rest for tomorrow hahaha!
I made a few adaptations (no bacon or garlic, and sliced onion instead of diced) and it was absolutely decadent – rich, deep flavour with melting beef and beautifully cooked carrots etc.
Definitely a regular meal now!
SharonFriday 17th November 2023
Hi Lewisfan,
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. We’re really pleased to hear you enjoyed our Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon!
NatSaturday 19th November 2022
I’m intolerent to vinegar is there anything I can use instead?
HollyMonday 28th November 2022
Hi Nat, you could omit the balsamic vinegar or add extra Worcestershire sauce or 1 tbsp of soy sauce, hope that helps!
EmmaWednesday 19th October 2022
what can I use instead of cornflour please and can it be done in the slow cooker
SharonWednesday 19th October 2022
Hi Emma, you could use plain flour instead of cornflour if you prefer. Yes, our Beef Bourguignon can be cooked in the slow cooker, here is the recipe:
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon. Enjoy the recipe!
DawnTuesday 23rd January 2024
Hello, what book is this recipe from please, I can’t find it. Thank you
Cheryl LloydSunday 4th February 2024
This recipe isn’t in any of the cookbooks, just on the website 😊
RachelFriday 24th June 2022
Can you prepare / fry off the meat and veg thr night before and put on fridge?
Then in the a.m put it in the ow cooker?
SharonTuesday 28th June 2022
Hi Rachel, yes it is fine to prepare and fry off the meat and vegetables the night before. Just make sure to cool them quickly before putting in the fridge.Then in the morning put them in your slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. Thanks for your question and hope this helps!
JoannaSunday 5th June 2022
Could you change the beef for chicken?
SharonFriday 10th June 2022
Hi Joanna, we haven’t tried this but it should work well.You could use whole skinless chicken thigh fillets, they tend to have a better flavour than chicken breast.Follow steps 1 and 2 and then continue with the recipe. Hope you enjoy it!
Tasha LinsleyThursday 24th February 2022
URGENT CAN SOMEONE PLEASEE TELL ME HOW MUCH STOCK IM MENT TO BE PUTINT IN THE SLOW COOKER
SharonFriday 25th February 2022
Hi Tasha, you need to put 300ml beef stock in the slow cooker. This is 1 beef stock cube made up with 300 ml boiling water. Hope this helps.
CarlyWednesday 23rd February 2022
Hi there, this looks delicious! Can it be cooked in an instant pot please? Thank you
SharonFriday 25th February 2022
Hi Carly, yes this can be cooked in an Instant Pot. We have the recipe here: Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon. Enjoy!
DawnSunday 20th February 2022
Can it be cooked on low for longer?
HollyMonday 21st February 2022
Hi Dawn, we have an article HERE for slow cooker conversions which includes a time conversion chart which you may find helpful
LauraWednesday 16th February 2022
Not big fans of balsamic vinegar. Would red wine vinegar work as a substitute?
HollyThursday 17th February 2022
Hi Laura, yes you could swap the balsamic vinegar for red wine vinegar, hope that helps!
Danielle charnockMonday 7th February 2022
Do I have to brown off or can I just put it all in the slow cooker.
SharonTuesday 8th February 2022
Hi Danielle, we recommend browning the beef, bacon and vegetables before putting in the slow cooker as this will give a deep, rich flavour and colour to the stew. It’s not essential to do this, but the recipe probably won’t taste as good as it should if you don’t do it.If you choose not to brown, I would recommend mixing the cornflour with about 2 tbsp cold water until smooth and stirring it in at the end of cooking rather than coating the beef first as it may make the stew lumpy. Then cook with the lid off until thickened. Hope this helps.
Lesley RobinsonFriday 4th February 2022
Hi. How long would you cook this in a fan oven and what temperature. I do not have a slow cooker. Thanks
HollyMonday 7th February 2022
Hey Lesley, we have an oven method for this recipe HERE, hope that helps!
HazelWednesday 2nd February 2022
Sounds amazing!! I have some braising beef. Would that work as a cut? Thanks 😊
LisaThursday 3rd February 2022
That would be an ideal cut for this recipe, Hazel. Hope you enjoy it!
HazelThursday 3rd February 2022
Great, thank you 😊
JudyTuesday 1st February 2022
Hi, I can’t get red wine stock pots so is there anything I can use to replace it ? Thanks.
SharonWednesday 2nd February 2022
Hi Judy, you could add a splash of red wine instead,(up to approximately a small glass), if you don’t mind the extra calories. Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Asda, Ocado and Amazon sell red wine stock pots if that helps. Thanks for you question and hope you enjoy the recipe!
MargaretMonday 23rd January 2023
I made the stock with a little bottle of red wine (instead of water) in a milk pan. I used two beef stock pots and a herb one.
HollyTuesday 31st January 2023
Hey Margaret, thanks so much for your helpful tip!
Debbie SnowballMonday 31st January 2022
I really don’t like red wine, can I use a different stock pot or is the flavour of the dish as a whole not very wine-y?!
HollyTuesday 1st February 2022
Hey Debbie, You could swap for another stock pot and it will work fine but we think the red wine ones add a full and fruity flavour to the recipe without the alcohol. Hope that helps!
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