This gradual cooker coq au vin is a French-inspired recipe I deliver out yearly when the temperatures drop! It’s a comfy, stew dish with tender rooster braised with bacon, earthy mushrooms, and herbs in a flavorful pink 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 simple variation of gradual cooker rooster 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 rooster breasts braised in pink 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 rooster cassoulet. The very best half is, it principally cooks itself!
Why I Love This Coq au Vin Recipe
- Largely 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 rooster marsala. It’s simply really easy so as to add all the things to the pot and let it cook dinner for hours whereas I run errands.
- Cozy flavors. The rooster 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! Gradual cooker coq au vin shops effectively within the fridge or freezer and reheats simply on the stovetop.
Substances 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 all the way down to the printable recipe card after the publish for a full record with recipe particulars.
- Bacon – Thick-cut or common bacon. You might additionally use pancetta.
- Inexperienced Onions – Not historically utilized in coq au vin, however I prefer to slice up inexperienced onions for a pop of shade and additional taste. You may also use shallot.
- Butter – For sautéing. Butter is in style in French cooking, however you can additionally use olive oil.
- Hen – Be at liberty to make use of rooster breasts, thighs, or drumsticks. Most bone-in or boneless rooster works effectively in coq au vin. Needless to say bone-in rooster items will take longer to cook dinner.
- Greens – Quartered yellow onions, sliced carrots, and mushrooms. I additionally add child pink potatoes to make this recipe a bit heartier, plus, they cook dinner properly within the crock pot.
- Garlic – Freshly minced.
- Hen Broth – I like to make use of low-sodium rooster broth. You need to use beef broth for a deeper-flavored gravy.
- Wine – Purple Burgundy wines are the standard selection for coq au vin, so I exploit a less-expensive Pinot Noir. You need to use Chardonnay (one other Burgundy wine) in case you choose white. Many variations of coq au vin use completely different sorts of wine, although I like to recommend selecting a dry wine that you just’d prefer 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 case you’d prefer to thicken the wine sauce, cornstarch does the trick.
Learn how to Make Gradual Cooker Coq au Vin
Right here’s tips on how 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 rooster with butter till it’s browned on each side.
- Assemble. Now, add the remainder of the veggies to the gradual cooker and stir in minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Layer the rooster, bacon, and inexperienced onions over prime. Pour within the rooster broth and wine and add the thyme and bay leaves.
- Cook dinner. Place the lid on the gradual cooker and cook dinner for 4 hours on LOW.
- End and serve. Afterward, take away the rooster items from the gradual cooker and slice them up earlier than returning the sliced rooster to the gravy for serving. For those who’re utilizing bone-in rooster you possibly can skip this step! For those who’d like, there’s additionally the choice to thicken the sauce (see beneath).
Learn how to Thicken Coq au Vin
This step is optionally available, however in the direction of the tip of the cooking time, I prefer 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.
For those who don’t want to thicken the sauce utilizing cornstarch, you possibly can 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 rooster 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 verify the rooster towards the tip of the beneficial time. If the inner temperature reads 165ºF, it’s achieved.
- Don’t splurge on costly wine. There’s no must exit and purchase a dear bottle for coq au vin. I at all times suggest selecting what you prefer to drink. For those who don’t need to use Pinot Noir, one other dry pink, like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, will just do wonderful.
- Use white wine as an alternative. For those who’d choose 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. When you’ve got some readily available, a shot of brandy is an effective way so as to add additional complexity to the sauce.
Serving Strategies
For those who ask Julia Little one, 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 at all times 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 case you’re in search of extra methods to spherical out your meal, serve coq au vin over risotto or pasta.
Learn how to Retailer and Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftover gradual cooker coq au vin tightly coated within the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat. Heat your leftovers in a pot with a lid over low warmth. Reheat till the rooster is sizzling 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 Gradual Cooker Recipes
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Cook 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 rooster. Add butter to the skillet. Season the rooster with salt and pepper to style and add it to the pan with the bacon fats and butter. Brown the rooster on each 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 rooster and skillet drippings over the greens and layer the crumbled bacon and inexperienced onions on prime.
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Add liquid and cook dinner. Pour in rooster broth and wine. Add thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Cowl and cook dinner on LOW for 4 to five hours or till the rooster is cooked by way of. Bone-in rooster will take longer to cook dinner.
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Thicken the sauce (optionally available, see word). 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 rooster and switch it to a reducing board. Chop it up or shred it, then stir the rooster again into the sauce and serve.
Thickening the sauce: This step is optionally available if you’d like a thicker gravy. For those who 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 could range in line with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
