Easy Classic Bordelaise Sauce Recipe (2025)

January 9, 2024May 17, 2021 by Erin

Learn how to make Bordelaise sauce with this easy recipe. A classic French sauce that is tangy and flavorful. Perfect to drizzle on top of grilled steak or beef tenderloin.

Interested in more sauce recipes? Try out my Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe, Bearnaise Sauce Recipe or Butter Roasted Tomato Sauce.

Bordelaise sauce is a classic French sauce, much like Bearnaise sauce, usually made with red wine and shallots. Traditionally, this sauce uses dry red wine from the Bordeaux region in Southwest France. Bordeaux tend to be some of the most expensive wines in the world, however, and can be subbed with cabernet sauvignon or merlot.

This tangy and savory sauce is perfection drizzled on top of sous vide ribeye steak, Traeger smoked steak or filet mignon. (Just a small portion goes a long way!) It is also an excellent addition to roasted or crispy smashed potatoes.

This particular recipe does not go the traditional route with bordelaise sauce – using veal or marrow. Preferring to use beef bone broth or stock instead. This makes the recipe not only quicker to make but it also does not lose any flavor.

What is needed for bordelaise sauce?

• Dry red wine – Here are my 13+ favorite red wines for cooking.
• Minced shallots
• Dried thyme
• Bay leaf
• Beef bone broth or stock
• Melted butter
• All-purpose flour
• Kosher salt and pepper

How to make bordelaise sauce:

To a small saucepan, add wine, shallots, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the mixture reduces by half, about 10 minutes.

Add the broth and bring to a boil again. Continue cooking until this mixture reduces by half, 15-20 minutes.

Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids. Return the strained sauce to the saucepan and heat over medium-low heat.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and flour until smooth. Add this mixture to the saucepan and whisk until thickened. Enjoy immediately.

Recipe notes:

• This recipe is non-traditional, since we are not using veal or demi glace.
• Sauce can be reheated over medium-low.

What to serve with bordelaise sauce:

• Sous Vide Ribeye Steak
• Air Fryer Filet Mignon
• Sous Vide Filet Mignon
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
• Traeger Steak

What to serve with steak:

• Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
• Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
• Glazed Carrots
• Roasted Miso Cauliflower
• Easy Arugula Salad
• MORE —> 50+ of the best sides for steak

Wine pairings for steak with bordelaise sauce:

• Bordeaux
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot

If you loved this bordelaise sauce recipe, I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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More homemade sauce recipes:

• MORE —> steak sauces
• Romesco Sauce
• Mustard Sauce for Steak
• Creamy Peppercorn Sauce
• Creamy Mushroom Sauce
• Steak Diane
• Red Wine Sauce
• Chimichurri Sauce
• Bearnaise Sauce Recipe

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