Coq au Vin

This meal is surprisingly easy to make and full of flavor.

This Coq au Vin recipe simmers tender chicken and fresh vegetables in a rich, savory wine sauce. It’s a special kind of meal with little fuss.

What is Coq au Vin?

Coq au Vin (AKA ‘rooster with wine’) is a French dish made by braising chicken in a wine-based broth with bacon, carrots, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. Braising is easy; it simply means browning the chicken and then slowly cooking it partially covered in liquid.

This Coq au Vin recipe is a simplified version of Julia Child’s recipe that packs all of the flavor of the original into an easy one-pan dish.

Ingredients for Coq au Vin

Bacon – Bacon adds flavor and salt to this dish.
Chicken – Bone-in thighs and drumsticks are dark meat which makes them extra flavorful and naturally juicy. Skin-on split chicken breasts can also be used in this recipe.
Vegetables – Mushrooms, onions, and carrots are staples in this coq au vin recipe. If you’re feeling fancy, use pearl onions in place of yellow onions.
Wine –Any wine works for Coq au Vin; when cooking with wine, skip the cooking wine or overly expensive ones. Go for table reds like burgundy, merlot, or pinot noir. Since this is a chicken cooked in wine, it is not recommended to replace the wine.
Broth – I use beef stock as it has a rich flavor; however, it can be replaced with chicken broth or chicken stock.

adding ingredients to pot to make Coq Au Vin

How to Make Coq au Vin

Coq au Vin is an elegant entree with chicken and veggies cooked in a savory wine broth!

Cook the bacon and transfer to a plate.
Brown the chicken in batches according to the recipe below.
Cook the vegetables until slightly softened. Stir in the remaining ingredients and add the chicken and half of the bacon to the skillet.
Bake uncovered (per recipe below) until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden brown.

Tips for Coq au Vin

If desired, you can thicken the broth with a slurry or separate it from the other ingredients and simmer the sauce on the stovetop in a small pan over medium heat.
Coq au Vin can be made in advance and kept refrigerated for up to 2 days (the flavors will continue to blend)! Reheat in a Dutch oven on the stovetop on low heat.
Freeze Coq au Vin in airtight containers for up to 3 months and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in a Dutch oven on the stovetop on low heat.

Perfectly Paired Side Dishes

Serve Coq au Vin in wide bowls with thick slices of garlic bread to soak up all that rich broth or over homemade mashed potatoes or egg noodles. Add a tossed salad with a tangy lemon vinaigrette.

More Elegant Entrees

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Coq au Vin is an elegant entree with seasoned chicken and fresh veggies, cooked in a flavorful red wine sauce.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Total Time 2 hours

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Add the bacon to a deep 12-inch skillet or a braiser and cook over medium heat until crisp. With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate leaving the bacon grease in the skillet.
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper and cook the chicken thighs skin side down for 5 minutes or until golden brown and then transfer to a plate. Repeat with the drumsticks, turning until browned and add to the plate.
In the same pan add sliced mushrooms, carrot, and onion (adding butter or additional oil if needed) and cook just until the mushrooms and onions start to soften, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Sprinkle in flour, stir, and cook for 1 minute more.
Add the red wine and beef stock, a bit at a time, stirring after each addition until smooth. Add thyme, bay leaves, and half of the bacon. Stir to combine.
Gently place the chicken on top of the vegetables.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden.
Remove and discard bay leaves. Garnish with the remaining bacon and serve over mashed potatoes or pasta.

Any chicken pieces (with bone and skin) can be used in this recipe.
Cremini mushrooms have a nice meaty flavor and texture but can be substituted with white mushrooms or portobellos.
If you do not have a braiser or deep oven proof skillet, this can be prepared in a large Dutch oven or an ovenproof pot.
You can also prepare this coq au vin recipe in a skillet and then transfer it to a casserole dish. If baking in a casserole dish, increase the covered cooking time to 40 minutes.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American, French

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