Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon

What Is Beef Bourguignon?

Beef Bourguignon (or Boeuf Bourguignon) is a classic French stew made with braised beef, red wine, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and herbs. It originally became popular when Julia Child made it!

It’s usually simmered low and slow for hours, allowing the flavors to develop into a rich, savory masterpiece. But with the Instant Pot, we can achieve the same deep yummy flavors in a fraction of the time.

When you are short on time, use your pressure cooker! Pressure cooking locks in flavor and tenderizes the beef quickly, making it fall-apart delicious in just about an hour.

Ingredients to Gather

To make Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon, you’ll need these simple ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck roast. Cut the chuck roast into 1 inch pieces and remove any excess fat.
• Seasonings. We'll be using salt, ground black pepper, and dried thyme.
• Bacon, chopped into small pieces so it cooks faster and crumbles well.
• Vegetables. We'll be using one small onion, carrots, and come garlic cloves.
• Cremini or baby bella mushrooms. One small package, sliced.
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• Flour. This helps thicken the sauce.
• Red wine Burgundy or Pinot Noir is best. You can substitute extra beef broth, grape juice, or a splash of balsamic vinegar for acidity if you don't want to use wine..
• Beef broth. Homemade Instant Pot beef broth or store bought beef broth can be used. If you are using store bought beef broth, make sure it is low sodium.
• 1 bay leaf. Be sure to remove it at the end of the cooking process because it is very woody and really should not be eaten.
• 2 tablespoons butter. We'll add this at the end of the cooking process. It helps give the sauce a glossy finish.

Be sure to check out the printable recipe card for full recipe information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations and Substitutions

• No Wine? No Problem! Substitute extra beef broth or use a mix of broth and pomegranate juice for depth.
• Use cornstarch instead of flour to thicken the sauce if you want to make this dinner gluten free.
• Change up the veggies! Add pearl onions, cut up zucchini, or extra carrots for a veggie loaded dinner.
• Make it in the slow cooker! Brown the meat and veggies in a skillet, then cook on LOW for 6-8 hours in the slow cooker.

How To Make Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon

1. Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to “Sauté” and add olive oil. Season the beef with salt and pepper, then sear in batches until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.

2. Step 2: Add chopped bacon to the Instant Pot and cook until crispy. Remove and set aside with the beef

3. Step 3: In the bacon fat, sauté the onions and carrots for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and mushrooms and cook for another minute.

4. Step 4: Stir in tomato paste and flour, coating the vegetables. This helps thicken the sauce later. Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 2 minutes. This will cook off the alcohol.

5. Step 5: Return the beef and bacon to the pot. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaf. Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 35 minutes, then allow a 10-minute natural release before manually releasing the remaining pressure.

6. Step 6: Remove the bay leaf, stir in butter for a glossy sauce, and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve over mashed potatoes, noodles, or crusty bread.

Tips & Tricks for the Best Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon

• A dry red like Pinot Noir or Merlot is perfect in this recipe. You can use a Cabernet if that is what you have on hand. Do not use cooking wine though, that won't give you the same flavor.
• Browning the beef and bacon before pressure cooking makes all the difference in the taste of this recipe.
• Scrape up all those browned bits after adding wine to avoid the dreaded “Burn” notice. A wooden spoon is a great tool to use to make sure you get the brown bits up.

Storage Info

This is a great meal prep recipe or a recipe to make ahead. The flavors get even better the next day! Store it in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop.

If you do have any leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.

You can freeze this recipe too! Freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot on the "sauté" setting.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon

This rich and hearty dish pairs perfectly with a tons of different sides. Here are some of our favorite ways to serve it:

• Instant Pot mashed potatoes. Perfect to soak up all those yummy juices!
• Pasta. A classic pairing that lets the beef and wine sauce shine. You can use egg noodles, orzo, or your favorite shape of pasta.
• Crusty Bread. I love a sourdough dinner roll or a same day sourdough bread. Perfect for mopping up every last drop of sauce.
• Rice or Quinoa. A great gluten-free option to soak up the flavors. I love making Instant Pot long grain rice for this recipe.
• Roasted Vegetables. Serve with roasted Brussels sprouts, Instant Pot carrots, or sauteed eggplant.

Whichever side you choose, this dish is a guaranteed winner!

Frequently Asked Questions

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