Easy Beef Bourguignon – Tender Beef and Mushroom Stew

A Comforting French-Inspired Beef Casserole Without Wine or Bacon

Easy beef bourguignon is a comforting, slow-cooked beef stew filled with tender beef, earthy mushrooms, sweet shallots and a rich, savoury gravy. It’s the kind of homemade dinner that’s perfect for chilly evenings, relaxed weekends and cosy family meals.

This lighter, French-inspired version skips the traditional red wine and bacon. Instead, it builds flavour with browned beef, aromatic vegetables, thyme, tomato purée and a delicious beef stock gravy.

Slow cooking allows the beef to become beautifully tender while the mushrooms and shallots add plenty of flavour. Serve it with fluffy mashed potatoes, steamed green beans or your favourite vegetables for a satisfying dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Beef Bourguignon

• Tender slow-cooked beef: Gentle oven cooking creates beautifully soft pieces of beef.
• No wine or bacon: A simple alternative to the traditional French dish.
• Rich homemade gravy: Made with beef stock, vegetables and aromatic herbs.
• Plenty of vegetables: Includes mushrooms, carrots, onions and shallots.
• Perfect for family dinners: Makes four satisfying servings.
• Great for meal prep: Leftovers can be refrigerated or frozen for another day.

Recipe Overview

Ingredients

• 700g lean beef chuck or braising steak, visible fat removed, cut into 3–4cm cubes
• Low-calorie cooking spray, used according to the product instructions
• 250g small shallots, peeled
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium carrots, sliced into thick rounds
• 300g chestnut mushrooms, halved or quartered
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato purée
• 600ml reduced-salt beef stock
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Salt, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving (optional)

How to Make Easy Beef Bourguignon