Preheat oven to 325°F. Pat beef chunks completely dry and season generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
In a large Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy and golden, about 6-8 minutes. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving the fat in the pot.
Increase heat to medium-high. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, sear beef chunks until deeply browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes total per batch. Remove beef and set aside.
Add diced onion to the same pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir constantly for 1 minute.
Slowly pour in red wine, scraping up all browned bits from bottom of pot. Add beef broth, thyme, bay leaves, and return beef and bacon to pot.
Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and transfer to preheated oven. Braise for 1.5 hours.
Add pearl onions and mushrooms to the pot, cover, and continue braising for 45-60 minutes until beef is fork-tender.
Remove bay leaves and thyme stems. If desired, transfer to stovetop and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes to thicken sauce.
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with crusty bread or over egg noodles.
Notes
This dish tastes even better the next day as flavors continue to develop. Can be made up to 3 days ahead and reheated gently. Freeze for up to 3 months.