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).

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.

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