Slow Cooker Coq au Vin: Classic French Comfort Made Easy

Coq au vin, a traditional French dish, is the ultimate comfort food. Tender chicken is braised slowly in red wine with bacon, mushrooms, and aromatic vegetables. Using a slow cooker simplifies this classic recipe, letting the flavors meld perfectly without hours of hands-on cooking. Serve with mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or crusty bread for a truly satisfying meal.

Ingredients

For the Chicken & Sauce:

• 2 lbs (900g) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 cup pearl onions, peeled
• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup dry red wine (e.g., Pinot Noir or Burgundy)
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Optional Garnish:

• Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Prep Ingredients:
   Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
2. Cook Bacon:
   In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside, reserving fat.
3. Brown Chicken:
   Using reserved bacon fat and olive oil, sear chicken thighs 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Transfer to slow cooker.
4. Sauté Vegetables:
   In the same skillet, add pearl onions, mushrooms, and carrots. Cook 3–4 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute.
5. Deglaze Skillet:
   Pour in red wine and scrape up browned bits. Simmer 2–3 minutes, then pour over chicken in slow cooker.
6. Slow Cook:
   Add chicken stock, thyme, bay leaves, and cooked bacon to slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours until chicken is tender and falling off the bone.
7. Thicken Sauce (Optional):
   If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp flour with 2 tbsp cold water, stir into slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
8. Serve:
   Remove bay leaves. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with mashed potatoes, noodles, or crusty bread.

Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Coq au Vin

• Wine Selection: Use a dry red wine you enjoy drinking; the flavor of the wine shines in this dish.
• Chicken Choice: Bone-in, skin-on thighs stay juicy and flavorful.
• Vegetable Variations: Add parsnips, celery, or leeks for extra depth.
• Advance Prep: Chop vegetables and prep ingredients the night before to save time.

Slow Cooker Coq au Vin

Tender chicken thighs braised in red wine with bacon, mushrooms, and aromatic vegetables.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4 plates

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: French

Calories: 450

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Chicken & Sauce

• 2 lbs chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
• 4 slices bacon chopped
• 1 cup pearl onions peeled
• 2 cups mushrooms sliced
• 2 carrots sliced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup red wine dry
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour optional, for thickening
• 2 tsp fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Skillet
• Spatula
• Mixing bowl

Method

 

1. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
2. Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy; remove and reserve fat.
3. Sear chicken in bacon fat and olive oil 3–4 minutes per side until golden; transfer to slow cooker.
4. Sauté pearl onions, mushrooms, and carrots 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste, cook 1 minute.
5. Deglaze skillet with red wine, simmer 2–3 minutes, then pour over chicken in slow cooker.
6. Add chicken stock, thyme, bay leaves, and cooked bacon. Cover and cook LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours.
7. Optional: mix flour with water and stir into slow cooker during last 30 minutes to thicken sauce.
8. Remove bay leaves, garnish with parsley, and serve.

Notes

Flavors improve if made a day in advance.

Variations

• White Wine Version: Replace red wine with dry white wine for a lighter flavor.
• Instant Pot Coq au Vin: Sear chicken and vegetables in Instant Pot, then pressure cook 20 minutes.
• Mushroom Lovers: Double the mushrooms for a richer, earthy sauce.
• Slow Cooker Meal Prep: Cook and refrigerate leftovers; flavors improve after a day.

Fun Facts & Cultural Context

Coq au vin literally means “rooster in wine” and dates back centuries in French cuisine. Traditionally made with older roosters that needed slow braising to become tender, modern recipes use chicken thighs for convenience. The combination of wine, bacon, mushrooms, and aromatic vegetables creates deep, complex flavors that define classic French comfort food. Slow cookers make this dish accessible for modern cooks while preserving its authenticity.

Serving Suggestions

• Pair with creamy mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles.
• Add a side of roasted root vegetables for a rustic French-style meal.
• Serve with a glass of the same wine used in cooking for an elegant touch.
• Garnish with fresh parsley or thyme for color and aroma.

Nutrition (per serving, approximate)

• Calories: 450
• Carbohydrates: 12g
• Protein: 38g
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Sodium: 550mg
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 4g

This dish is protein-rich and full of flavor, perfect for hearty family dinners.