Red Wine Braised Beef | Garden in the Kitchen

Red Wine Braised Beef | Garden in the Kitchen

This slow cooked beef in red wine recipe delivers melt-in-your-mouth tender meat that’s simmered in a rich savory broth. It’s the warming meal you need on a cool night and a crowd pleasing idea for a family gathering.

Wine braised beef is one of my favorite meals. Not only does the kitchen smell amazing while the beef gently and tenderly roasts but you end up with a rich flavorful meal that never ceases to satisfy.

Though braising sounds like a lot of work, it is actually quite simple. Once you sear the meat it’s just a matter to sautéing the veggies and garlic and then adding the braising liquid the beef will cook in.

If you want to prepare this in the oven, the crockpot, or even the instant pot, I’ve included the instructions in the recipe card. Choose whichever way is easiest for you.

Chuck roast, diced carrots, thyme, red wine, tomato paste, bay leaves, beef broth, onion, salt and pepper.

Gather the ingredients

  • Chuck beef: I love using chuck beef to make braised beef.
  • Red wine: Red wine adds a deep savory flavor and creates a nice wine sauce the beef simmers in.
  • Beef broth: Beef broth also creates the braising liquid. You can also use beef stock if you happen to have some on hand.
  • Onion: A whole onion, diced, adds more flavor.
  • Carrots: Carrots add some color, flavor, and texture. Make sure to cut them into small cubes.
  • Tomato paste: Tomato paste helps thicken up the braising liquid.
  • Thyme: You can use dried or fresh, whatever you have on hand.
  • Bay leaves: I threw in a few bay leaves for even more depth of flavor.
  • Olive oil: I used olive oil to brown the beef chuck but any type of oil will work.
Raw beef in a white Dutch oven.
Browned beef in a white Dutch oven.

How to Braise Beef

  • Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. You can always cook at 325F degrees but I don’t recommend going any higher.
  • Season the beef generously with salt and pepper on all sides as this is the only time you will season the dish. Of course you can adjust the seasoning later, if needed. set aside and let it come to room temperature.
  • Brown the beef in hot oil on all sides in a large Dutch oven and then transfer to a plate.
Chopped onions and diced carrots in a white Dutch oven.
  • Add onion and carrots and sauté until they soften and then stir in the tomato paste. Don’t skip the tomato paste as it helps thicken the sauce and adds depth of flavor. If you don’t have any on hand, use 1/3 cup of tomato sauce.
Wine and broth in a white Dutch oven.
  • Add the wine and beef broth, reduce the heat, and simmer for a few minutes, stir well.
Browned beef in the Dutch oven with the braising liquid with bay leaves and thyme.
  • Transfer the beef to the pot, add bay leaves and thyme. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the braised beef is tender.

tips and variations

Choose beef chuck that has good marbling as the fat adds to the flavor.

For deeper flavored red wine braised beef add a few teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce.

Make sure to allow time for the beef to come to room temperature. This allows it to cook more evenly.

Avoid opening the oven and/ or the lid to check on the beef. The build up steam is what will cook the beef and veggies to perfection.

Alternative Methods of Braising Chuck Roast

Alternatively from cooking braised chuck roast in the oven, you can also cook in the slow cooker or instant pot. All the instructions have been provided in the recipe card below.

Cooked red wine braised beef in a pot.

Storing, Freezing and Reheating Information

Storage: Leftovers of this slow cooked beef in red wine will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. The less you open the container the longer will keep fresh so I like to divide the leftover into meal prep containers, this way I only re-heat what I need.

Freezing: Uneaten braised chuck roast can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Reheating: Reheat over the stove in sauce pan, add a couple tablespoons of liquid if needed. Reheat on stove top over double boiler or in the microwave.

Serving Suggestions

This beef slow cooked in red wine goes well with loads of dishes, here are a few of my favorites:

This Best Cauliflower Mashed Potato is a great low carb option for mashed potatoes but you can also serve this beef in red wine with regular mashed potatoes, polenta, or Yuca.

Or, to soak up all the flavors of the savory red wine sauce use this Instant Pot No Knead Bread or these French Bread Dinner Rolls.

I like to start my meal with a salad and I think this Brussel Sprout Kale Green Salad or this Roasted Garlic Vegetable Salad are good options.

Feel free to browse through all vegetables and side dishes for loads of ideas!

Red wine braised beef over mashed potatoes in a white bowl with a spoon.
How Long to cook braised beef in the crockpot?

You braise the beef in wine on high heat for 5-6 hours or on low heat for 8 hours. See all the details in the recipe card.

WHAT CUT BEEF DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR BRAISING?

I find chuck is the best cut to use for braising but you can also use brisket or even short ribs, boneless short ribs or bone-in short ribs would both work.

WHAT WINE IS BEST FOR RED WINE BRAISED BEEF?

Choose a bold red wine like Barolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Syrah.

WHAT BEEF BROTH DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR the BEST FLAVOR?

You can use bone broth, homemade or high-quality store-bought. Or, you can pick up a container of Kettle and Fire beef broth which is my favorite.

More Braised Beef

  • Pre-heat oven to 350F degrees.

  • Generously season beef with salt and pepper on all sides. Set aside and allow the meat to reach room temperature (about 30 minutes)

  • Heat oil in dutch oven heavy pot. Add beef and brown on all sides (about 10 minutes), then transfer to a plate.

  • Add onion and carrots to the pot and sauté until veggies start to soften (about 5 minutes), then stir in tomato paste.

  • Next add the wine and beef broth. Reduce heat to medium low and allow this to simmer for a couple minutes, stir well.

  • Transfer the beef to the pot, snuggling in the broth. Add bay leaves and thyme. Cover and cook in the oven for about 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours, or until tender.

Slow Cooker Wine Braised Beef

  • Press sauté mode in your slow cooker (see notes). Add oil and allow it to get really hot.

  • Add seasoned beef and brown on all sides (about 10 minutes), then transfer to a plate.

  • Add onion and carrots to the slow cooker and sauté until veggies start to soften (about 5 minutes), then stir in tomato paste.

  • Add the wine and beef broth and allow it to simmer for a couple minutes, stir well.

  • Transfer the beef to the slow cooker, snuggling in the broth. Add bay leaves and thyme. Cancel sauté mode.

  • Braise beef in wine on high heat for 5-6 hours or on low heat for 8 hours, or until fork tender.

Instant Pot Braised Beef in Wine

  • Turn the instant pot on sauté mode. Add oil and allow it to get hot.

  • Add the seasoned beef and brown on all sides (about 10 minutes), then transfer to a plate.

  • Toss in onion and carrots to the instant pot and sauté until veggies start to soften (about 5 minutes), then stir in tomato paste.

  • Stir in the wine and beef broth and allow it to simmer for a couple minutes.

  • Next, transfer the beef back to the instant pot, snuggling in the broth. Add bay leaves and thyme. Cancel sauté mode.

  • Cook on high pressure for 55 minutes then allow for natural pressure release.

Notes: if your slow cooker does not have sauté or browning move you will need to do this step on stovetop, then transfer everything to the slow cooker. 

Calories: 502kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 325mg | Potassium: 923mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2778IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Red wine braised beef over mashed potatoes in a white bowl with a spoon and an image of just the red wine braised beef.

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