This gradual cooker coq au vin is a French-inspired recipe I deliver out yearly when the temperatures drop! It’s a comfortable, stew dish with tender hen braised with bacon, earthy mushrooms, and herbs in a flavorful crimson wine gravy.
I really like a hearty bowlful of coq au vin with a aspect of fluffy dinner rolls in chilly climate. It’s a straightforward variation of gradual cooker hen stew that warms you proper up!
Coq au vin is the definition of consolation meals made fancy, and this gradual cooker recipe is SO simple! Coq au vin (pronounced “kok-oh-van”) is a basic French dish, actually translating to “rooster in wine”. However, don’t fear, we’re not placing roosters within the gradual cooker. This recipe is constituted of juicy hen breasts braised in crimson wine with veggies, bacon, and mushrooms to create a wealthy and flavorful stew. I make this gradual cooker coq au vin recipe as quickly as there’s a nip within the air, together with different French favorites like beef bourguignon and hen cassoulet. The most effective half is, it principally cooks itself!
Why I Love This Coq au Vin Recipe
- Principally hands-free. I really like my gradual cooker, and I’ll take any excuse to make use of it, whether or not it’s gradual cooking a roast or hen marsala. It’s simply really easy so as to add every part to the pot and let it cook dinner for hours whereas I run errands.
- Cozy flavors. The hen will get braised in a shiny, flavor-filled wine sauce together with smoky bacon, mushrooms, and veggies. It’s a stick-to-your-ribs dinner you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
- Make-ahead. Not solely are you able to prep this recipe within the morning and depart it to cook dinner all day, however the leftovers style even higher! Sluggish cooker coq au vin shops effectively within the fridge or freezer and reheats simply on the stovetop.
Elements You’ll Want
My coq au vin recipe packs all kinds of tasty elements into the gradual cooker or crock pot. Beneath are some notes on what you’ll want. Scroll right down to the printable recipe card after the submit for a full checklist with recipe particulars.
- Bacon – Thick-cut or common bacon. You would additionally use pancetta.
- Inexperienced Onions – Not historically utilized in coq au vin, however I wish to slice up inexperienced onions for a pop of shade and further taste. It’s also possible to use shallot.
- Butter – For sautéing. Butter is common in French cooking, however you may additionally use olive oil.
- Rooster – Be at liberty to make use of hen breasts, thighs, or drumsticks. Most bone-in or boneless hen works effectively in coq au vin. Needless to say bone-in hen items will take longer to cook dinner.
- Greens – Quartered yellow onions, sliced carrots, and mushrooms. I additionally add child crimson potatoes to make this recipe a bit heartier, plus, they cook dinner properly within the crock pot.
- Garlic – Freshly minced.
- Rooster Broth – I like to make use of low-sodium hen broth. You should utilize beef broth for a deeper-flavored gravy.
- Wine – Pink Burgundy wines are the standard alternative for coq au vin, so I exploit a less-expensive Pinot Noir. You should utilize Chardonnay (one other Burgundy wine) in the event you desire white. Many variations of coq au vin use totally different sorts of wine, although I like to recommend selecting a dry wine that you just’d wish to drink. You’ll style the distinction!
- Thyme – Recent thyme sprigs are a should! I additionally add in bay leaves.
- Cornstarch – Non-obligatory, however in the event you’d wish to thicken the wine sauce, cornstarch does the trick.
How one can Make Sluggish Cooker Coq au Vin
Right here’s the way to make a gradual cooker model of this basic French recipe!
- Sauté the elements. Crisp up the bacon in a skillet, after which use the identical skillet to sauté the inexperienced onions within the leftover bacon fats. Afterward, sear the hen with butter till it’s browned on either side.
- Assemble. Now, add the remainder of the veggies to the gradual cooker and stir in minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Layer the hen, bacon, and inexperienced onions over high. Pour within the hen broth and wine and add the thyme and bay leaves.
- Prepare dinner. Place the lid on the gradual cooker and cook dinner for 4 hours on LOW.
- End and serve. Afterward, take away the hen items from the gradual cooker and slice them up earlier than returning the sliced hen to the gravy for serving. When you’re utilizing bone-in hen you’ll be able to skip this step! When you’d like, there’s additionally the choice to thicken the sauce (see under).
How one can Thicken Coq au Vin
This step is non-compulsory, however in direction of the tip of the cooking time, I wish to whisk up a fast slurry and stir it again into the gravy to thicken it. After the 4 hours are up, I’ll separate about 3 spoonfuls of the cooking liquid and whisk that with cornstarch. Then, add it again into the gradual cooker with the coq au vin. Cowl the pot and let it simmer for one more half-hour.
When you don’t want to thicken the sauce utilizing cornstarch, you’ll be able to proceed to gradual cook dinner the coq au vin for five hours on LOW as an alternative. It’ll thicken up with the extra cooking time.
Recipe Suggestions
- Cooking instances range. The precise cooking time will range relying on the hen you’re utilizing, whether or not it’s bone-in or boneless, and your gradual cooker mannequin. Not all gradual cookers cook dinner the identical, so examine the hen towards the tip of the really useful time. If the interior temperature reads 165ºF, it’s achieved.
- Don’t splurge on costly wine. There’s no have to exit and purchase an expensive bottle for coq au vin. I all the time advocate selecting what you wish to drink. When you don’t need to use Pinot Noir, one other dry crimson, like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, will do exactly fantastic.
- Use white wine as an alternative. When you’d desire to make a model of gradual cooker coq au vin with white wine, strive a dry white like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, or Riesling.
- Add a splash of brandy. In case you have some available, a shot of brandy is a good way so as to add additional complexity to the sauce.
Serving Recommendations
When you ask Julia Baby, coq au vin is greatest served with potatoes or inexperienced salad. This recipe has potatoes already included, however I’ll typically serve it over a mattress of mashed potatoes anyway—on this home, the extra potatoes, the merrier. I additionally love this tacky potato casserole.
I all the time pair my cozy bowlful of gradual cooker coq au vin with hunks of crusty French bread or cornbread for sopping up leftovers. It’s a filling meal as is, or this broccoli cauliflower salad additionally goes nice on the aspect. And in the event you’re on the lookout for extra methods to spherical out your meal, serve coq au vin over risotto or pasta.
How one can Retailer and Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftover gradual cooker coq au vin tightly lined within the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat. Heat your leftovers in a pot with a lid over low warmth. Reheat till the hen is scorching all through, simply watch out to not overcook.
- Freeze. You may freeze coq au vin for as much as 3 months. Thaw it in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating and serving.
Extra Sluggish Cooker Recipes
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Prepare dinner the bacon. In a big skillet cook dinner the bacon to a desired crispness. Take away from the pan and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Break up the bacon into items when cool sufficient to deal with.
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Sauté the onions. Add inexperienced onions to the bacon fats and cook dinner for 1 minute. Take away and put aside.
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Sear the hen. Add butter to the skillet. Season the hen with salt and pepper to style and add it to the pan with the bacon fats and butter. Brown the hen on either side, about 3 minutes per aspect. Take away from pan and put aside.
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Assemble. Prepare carrots, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, and garlic within the backside of the gradual cooker. Season with the remaining salt and black pepper and stir. Add the hen and skillet drippings over the greens and layer the crumbled bacon and inexperienced onions on high.
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Add liquid and cook dinner. Pour in hen broth and wine. Add thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Cowl and cook dinner on LOW for 4 to five hours or till the hen is cooked by way of. Bone-in hen will take longer to cook dinner.
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Thicken the sauce (non-compulsory, see observe). Take away 3 tablespoons of cooking liquid from the gradual cooker right into a mixing bowl. Whisk with cornstarch to make a slurry. Add the combination again into the gradual cooker and stir till effectively mixed. Cowl and proceed to cook dinner for 20 to half-hour.
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End and serve. When the cooking time is up, take away the hen and switch it to a slicing board. Chop it up or shred it, then stir the hen again into the sauce and serve.
Thickening the sauce: This step is non-compulsory if you need a thicker gravy. When you DO NOT need to thicken the sauce, proceed to gradual cook dinner the dish for half-hour or till achieved.
Serving: 12ounces | Energy: 518kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 43g | Fats: 20g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 8g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 877mg | Potassium: 1468mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6214IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg
Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values might range in line with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
