French-Style Beef Stew with Red Wine

Introduction

There’s a reason French-Style Beef Stew with Red Wine—known in France as “Boeuf Bourguignon”—is celebrated as a pillar of comfort cuisine worldwide. This stew is rich, complex, and aromatic, combining succulent beef, robust vegetables, and a deep red wine sauce that simmers everything to perfection. It’s a dish that transforms simple ingredients into an irresistible meal, making it a perfect choice for festive gatherings or a cozy night in.

Why You’ll Love This French Beef Stew

What sets this French-style stew apart is its ability to elevate humble ingredients into a feast of layered flavors—earthy vegetables, fork-tender beef, and a glossy wine-infused sauce. The slow braise draws out savory depth and creates that melt-in-your-mouth texture, ensuring every bite is pure comfort. It’s a classic for good reason: the aroma alone is enough to gather everyone around the table.

The Key Elements of French-Style Beef Stew

Traditional French beef stew relies on quality beef chuck, plenty of aromatics, and good red wine, simmered together until all the flavors meld. Carrots, onions, mushrooms, and pearl onions provide a sweet, earthy base, while a bouquet garni of thyme and bay leaf adds herby warmth. For best results, chop vegetables evenly; a tool like the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper ensures uniform pieces for consistent cooking.

A Step Up: Building the Red Wine Sauce

Searing the beef in batches is crucial—use a heavy skillet like the Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet for beautifully browned, flavorful meat. The real magic comes from reducing red wine with aromatics after searing. This step concentrates the wine’s intensity and creates a base that stands up to the rich meat.

As the stew slow-cooks, the sauce thickens naturally with the beef’s collagen—no flour needed. If you want to check your sauce or beef temperature, use the ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer for Cooking to make sure your stew is perfectly cooked and safe to serve.

Serving and Storing Your Beef Stew

French-style beef stew only gets better as it rests, making it a dream for meal prepping. Spoon leftovers into Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers to preserve flavor and freshness for up to three days in the fridge. When serving, ladle the stew over creamy mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or crusty bread—each soaks up that luscious sauce.

A touch of fresh parsley and a glass of robust red wine complete the experience, making every spoonful comforting and elegant.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves 6 hearty portions. Each serving typically delivers about 400–450 calories, depending on the cut of beef and your selected wine. It’s protein-rich, full of slow-cooked vegetables, and naturally gluten-free.

Classic French-Style Beef Stew with Red Wine (Recap)

With its deep flavors, fork-tender beef, and glossy sauce, this beef stew with red wine is always a crowd-pleaser. It’s simple enough for a weeknight (with make-ahead options) and impressive enough for company—a timeless recipe to treasure.

Instructions

1. Pat beef cubes dry and season generously with salt and pepper. For efficient prep, use the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper for chopping onions and carrots.
2. Heat 1 ½ tbsp olive oil in a Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet over medium-high. Sear beef in batches until browned on all sides (about 5 minutes per batch). Set browned meat aside.
3. Reduce heat to medium, add remaining oil, and sauté onions and carrots until softened, 5–7 minutes. Stir in garlic and tomato paste, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
4. Sprinkle flour (if using) and stir well. Pour in red wine, scraping browned bits from the skillet’s bottom. Simmer 5 minutes to reduce and concentrate flavor.
5. Return beef to skillet. Add beef broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and transfer to a 325°F oven, or simmer gently on the stove for 2 hours.
6. Add mushrooms and pearl onions. Continue cooking, covered, for another 30–40 minutes, until vegetables are tender and beef can be cut with a spoon. Use the ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer for Cooking to check meat doneness if needed (beef should be at least 145°F on the inside).
7. Remove bay leaf and thyme stems. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot. Store leftovers in Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers for flavor that improves overnight.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

This French-style beef stew with red wine promises a deeply satisfying meal for any occasion. It’s a classic dish that rewards patience, filling your kitchen with irresistible aromas and your table with smiles.