Coq au Vin: Traditional French Braised Chicken
A true Burgundian classic where chicken simmers in red wine with mushrooms and pearl onions for deep, complex flavors. This french-inspired one pot ready in about 95 minutes pairs skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, Burgundy wine, diced bacon for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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
- 1.5 lbs, skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 cup Burgundy wine
- 3 oz diced bacon
- 2, finely chopped yellow onions
- 2, cut into 1/2-inch coins carrots
- 8 oz, quartered mushrooms
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 thyme sprigs
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry, season with salt and pepper, and brown in 1 tbsp oil over medium-high heat for 3 minutes per side until golden, then remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Render 3 oz diced bacon in the same pot until crisp, add 2 chopped yellow onions and cook until translucent (5 minutes), then stir in 2 tbsp flour to form a paste.
- Step 3: Deglaze with 1 cup Burgundy wine, scraping up browned bits, and simmer until reduced by half (about 7 minutes).
- Step 4: Return chicken to pot with 2 chopped carrots, 8 oz quartered mushrooms, 3 thyme sprigs, and 2 bay leaves, then add enough water to cover 3/4 of the chicken.
- Step 5: Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook on low heat for 1 hour 15 minutes until chicken is fork-tender.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Coq au Vin: Traditional French Braised Chicken take to make?
Total time is about 95 minutes (20 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 Coq au Vin: Traditional French Braised Chicken?
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 burgundy wine from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Coq au Vin: Traditional French Braised Chicken?
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 Coq au Vin: Traditional French Braised Chicken 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 Coq au Vin: Traditional French Braised Chicken?
French one pot 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
- ★★★★★
The aroma while cooking this was absolutely heavenly.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
- ★★★★☆
Good flavors but the sauce was a bit thin. I'd reduce it longer.
