Authentic Coq au Vin with Mushrooms and Red Wine
A classic French dish featuring chicken braised in red wine with mushrooms, shallots, and herbs, served with a velvety sauce. This french-inspired quick meals ready in about 90 minutes pairs chicken thighs, red wine, cremini mushrooms for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1.25 lbs chicken thighs
- 1.5 cups red wine
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms
- 4 shallots
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat the chicken thighs dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken skin-side down for 5 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook for 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add the shallots and mushrooms. Sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes until the mushrooms release their liquid. Deglaze the pan with 1/2 cup red wine, scraping up the browned bits. Add the remaining 1 cup wine, thyme, and 2 tbsp butter. Bring to a simmer.
- Step 3: Return the chicken to the skillet, cover, and braise over low heat for 1 hour until the chicken is tender. Sprinkle flour over the sauce, stirring constantly for 2 minutes until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 4: Serve the chicken and sauce over mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Authentic Coq au Vin with Mushrooms and Red Wine take to make?
Total time is about 90 minutes (15 min prep + 75 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Authentic Coq au Vin with Mushrooms and Red Wine?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep chicken thighs from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Authentic Coq au Vin with Mushrooms and Red Wine?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Authentic Coq au Vin with Mushrooms and Red Wine for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Authentic Coq au Vin with Mushrooms and Red Wine?
French quick meals like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★☆☆
It was fine. Came out a bit bland for my taste.
- ★★☆☆☆
Didn't come together the way I expected. Flavors were flat.
