Mom called this her secret weapon for Sunday dinners. The meat falls apart with your fork and that wine sauce is absolutely heavenly

This slow cooker 4-ingredient beef burgundy is the kind of dish my mother leaned on for Sunday dinners when the house was full and the budget was tight. She always called it her “secret weapon,” because it took about ten minutes to pull together, then quietly turned itself into something that tasted like you’d been fussing all day. Big chunks of beef slowly melt into a deep burgundy wine sauce, and those little pearl onions get soft and sweet around the edges. It’s a pared-down, Midwest farmhouse nod to classic French boeuf bourguignon—simple ingredients, long, gentle cooking, and a gravy that practically begs for a hunk of bread to mop it up.

Serve this beef burgundy spooned over a pile of buttery mashed potatoes or wide egg noodles so they can catch every bit of that glossy red wine sauce. A side of buttered peas, green beans, or a simple tossed salad keeps things fresh. At my table, I like to set out a basket of crusty bread for dipping and, if you have it, a small glass of the same red wine you used in the pot. It’s a cozy, stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal that feels just right for Sunday, but easy enough for any busy day.

Servings: 6

3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large 2-inch chunks

Place the frozen pearl onions in the bottom of a large slow cooker, spreading them into an even layer. They will thaw and soften as the beef cooks, turning sweet and tender.

Arrange the beef chuck pieces on top of the onions in an even layer. Try not to pack them too tightly so the heat and sauce can move around the meat as it cooks.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry red wine and condensed cream of mushroom soup until fairly smooth. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you want the soup loosened and mixed well into the wine.

Pour the wine and soup mixture evenly over the beef and onions in the slow cooker, making sure all of the meat is at least lightly coated in the liquid. Do not add extra water; the beef will release juices as it cooks.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, or until the beef is very tender and easily falls apart when pressed with a fork. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking so the heat and moisture stay inside.

Once the beef is fork-tender, gently stir the pot, breaking the beef into large, rustic chunks and mixing it with the onions and rich burgundy sauce. Taste and add a pinch of salt and pepper if you like, though the soup and wine usually season it well on their own.

If you prefer a slightly thicker sauce, remove the lid for the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking on HIGH, letting some steam escape and the sauce reduce a bit. Stir once or twice so nothing sticks to the sides.

Serve the beef burgundy hot, spooning generous portions of meat, pearl onions, and plenty of the glossy red wine sauce over mashed potatoes, noodles, or bread.

You can tuck in your own touches without losing the spirit of this four-ingredient, Sunday-supper style dish. If you’d like a deeper flavor, brown the beef chunks in a hot skillet with a little oil before adding them to the slow cooker; it adds a caramelized edge that tastes wonderful, though it does add one more pan to wash. For a heartier version, scatter a few thick-sliced carrots or quartered mushrooms over the onions before adding the beef—this technically adds ingredients, but it stays true to the same cozy idea. If you prefer a less pronounced wine flavor, use 1 1/2 cups wine and add 1/2 cup beef broth or water in its place. For a silkier sauce at the end, you can stir in a tablespoon or two of butter or a splash of cream right before serving. Food safety tips: Use fresh, good-quality beef and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to cook. If your slow cooker has a removable insert, you can assemble everything in the insert, but don’t let it sit out on the counter for more than 30 minutes before starting. Cook this recipe on LOW or HIGH only with the lid on so the meat reaches a safe internal temperature (at least 145°F, though this cut is best well above that for tenderness). Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking in shallow containers, and reheat gently until steaming hot before serving again.