Sign in

with Email

Reset password


Not a member?
Join now for FREE!

by Ingredient
Search

Coq Au Vin à la Slow Cooker

StarStarStarStarEmpty star

Your rating

Coq Au Vin à la Slow Cooker

An excellent rendition of Coq au Vin - chicken cooked in red wine for the crockpot. The sauce is packed with layers of flavor, perfectly balanced and the chicken was fall apart tender.

 

Yield

8 servings

Prep

20 min

Cook

6 hrs

Ready

7 hrs

This slow-cooked masterpiece is a testament to the wonders of patience and the power of a good ol' Crock-Pot.

Imagine coming home after a long day, and being greeted by the heavenly aroma of tender chicken, rich wine sauce, and aromatic herbs.

A modern time-saving traditional rendition of Chicken Coq au Vin; chicken cooked in red wine for your slow cooker. The resulting juices? Loaded with layers of complex flavor, perfectly balanced with fall apart tender chicken.

It's like a warm hug for your soul, and a high-five for your stomach.

The slow cooker works its magic, transforming humble ingredients into a dish fit for royalty.

But the real beauty of Coq au Vin à la Slow Cooker lies in its versatility. It's the perfect make-ahead meal for a cozy night in, a dinner party with friends, or even a romantic date night.

And let's not forget the added bonus of minimal clean-up, because who doesn't love that?

Ingredients

Amount Measure Ingredient Features
6 scallions, spring or green onions
* Camera
3 slices bacon
Camera
3 pounds chicken pieces
whole chicken cut up, or pieces as desired
Camera
1 teaspoon salt
Camera
½ teaspoon thyme
* Camera
8 white onion
whole baby or mini sized
Camera
2 cups red wine
dry
* Camera
2 teaspoons chicken broth
Camera
1 garlic cloves
minced
* Camera
½ pound mushrooms
Camera
2 tablespoons butter
Camera
1 ½ tablespoon cornstarch
Camera
2 tablespoons water
cold
Camera

Ingredients

Amount Measure Ingredient Features
6 each scallions, spring or green onions
* Camera
3 slices bacon
Camera
1.8 kg chicken pieces
whole chicken cut up, or pieces as desired
Camera
5 ml salt
Camera
2.5 ml thyme
* Camera
8 each white onion
whole baby or mini sized
Camera
473 ml red wine
dry
* Camera
1E+1 ml chicken broth
Camera
1 each garlic cloves
minced
* Camera
226.8 g mushrooms
Camera
3E+1 ml butter
Camera
23 ml cornstarch
Camera
3E+1 ml water
cold
Camera

Directions

Coq au vin translation: "Chicken with wine."

These directions draw upon French techniques I've seen while seeing Coq au Vin prepared by Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Alton Brown, Jamie Oliver, the Barefoot Contessa and others.

Easy crock pot coq au vin does take a diminutive bit of effort up-front if you want to develop serious flavor. If you just dump the ingredients into your slow cooker and expect wonderous results, it will still be good.

However, with just a tiny bit of prep and using one standard skillet or good sized high-side saucepan you can achieve magical layers of flavor!

Don't bother using a non-stick skillet. Use a stainless steel pot or even a Dutch oven if you don't have a saucepan.

Let's get started.

Chop white part of green onion only. Save the green parts for garnish. Or just dice up a cooking onion.

Cut the bacon into lardons and sauté the chopped onion in large fry pan or pot (do not use a non-stick pan) until the bacon is crisp. If using yellow onion, cook the onions along with the bacon.

Onions and bacon in a saucier pan
Coq Au Vin à la Slow Cooker

The strategy here is to develop fond. Fond = flavor. It's ok for bits of bacon to stick and stay on the bottom of the pan.

Onwards to magical layers of flavor.

Transfer the crispy bacon to your slow cooker.

Wash chicken. Pat dry. Add to pan.

I watched Julia Child and Jacque Pepin live, arguing about washing chicken when making coq au vin. Pepin insisted that there was no need. The heat will kill whatever's on the skin. Julia, unphased, just looked at the crowd and stated: "Well, I'm going to wash the chicken and thoroughly dry it." (eyeroll towards Pepin)

Make sure you dry the chicken. It needs to be dry to properly brown, creating that marvelous fond.

Season with salt and thyme.

Brown the chicken on all sides.

If you don't have a whole chicken all the better; more inexpensive chicken pieces likes thighs and legs work even better.

Once the chicken is browned; transfer to your slow cooker with the bacon.

Browning chicken thighs and developing fond
Coq Au Vin à la Slow Cooker

Peel the whole onions. Cut a small cross in the root end of each. Credit for this goes to Julia Child. However, credit is due to this French technique.

Brown the whole onions in remaining drippings, rolling about to evenly brown and coat as best you can. Add to crock pot/slow cooker. Keep things moving!

The pot should be accumulating a beautiful, very brown fond on the bottom (see photo). It's time to deglaze and capture that magic.

Fond = flavor - ready for de-glazing

Pour the red wine into the pan, stirring and scraping if needed to loosen brown bits.

Coq Au Vin à la Slow Cooker
Coq Au Vin à la Slow Cooker

You'll notice in the photos above how the sauce deepens into a rich, dark, flavor-packed juice.

Add the chicken bouillon powder or stock cube. Stir until dissolved.

Pour over chicken. Add garlic whole. A bouquet garni (sprigs of thyme, parsley, etc.)

Add the red wine mixture to the slow cooker with a boquet garni

Slice mushrooms. Sauté in butter. Add to chicken.

Melting butter in a saucier pan.
Mushrooms and butter, cooking

Cover and cook on low setting for 4 to 6 hours.

Add the mushrooms to the slow cooker, cover and let simmer.

Turn heat on HIGH, when juices bubble, stir in cornstarch mixed with a bit of water that will help thicken the juices into the magic sauce.

Cook until thickened, at least 2 or 3 minutes.

Close-up of fork tender Chicken Coq au Vin on a plate.

Sprinkle with parsley and reserved green parts of scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal, as garnish if desired.

Serve coq au vin with crusty white French bread or accompaniments as desired.



* not incl. in nutrient facts Arrow up button

Comments


Binci

Need some great recipes? Well then you’re in luck, because this site has 1000's of recipes that are so easy and elegant to make. Click click click, it’s so worth it!!

 

 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 600g (21.2 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 84555% from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 52g 80%
Saturated Fat 15g 77%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 211mg 70%
Sodium 613mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 10%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Sugars g
Protein 128g
Vitamin A 20% Vitamin C 32%
Calcium 13% Iron 25%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?
 

The Healthy Recipe

Health and nutrition news that’s easy to digest…
All Day Slow Cooker Beef

Falling Temperatures Means it’s Time to Slow Down and Get Crocked

As the leaves are developing beautiful golden and red hues and the temperatures are falling, it is the perfect time to snuggle up by the fire with a warm, delicious meal prepared in a slow cooker AKA Crockpot®.

More breaking news

 

Email this recipe