French Coq au Vin with Heritage Tomatoes
A rich, slow-cooked French dish featuring tender chicken in a wine and tomato sauce, crafted with authentic ingredients for depth of flavor. This french-inspired quick meals ready in about 55 minutes pairs chicken thighs, red wine, chopped tomatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 2, 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
- 4 oz chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 sheet bay leaf
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 oz chicken thighs and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden, then transfer to a pot.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add 1/2 cup red wine, 1 cup chopped tomatoes, 1/2 cup diced onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1/2 tsp thyme, and 1 bay leaf. Simmer for 20 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 3: Return the chicken to the pot, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until tender. Serve with crusty bread.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does French Coq au Vin with Heritage Tomatoes take to make?
Total time is about 55 minutes (20 min prep + 35 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 French Coq au Vin with Heritage Tomatoes?
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 French Coq au Vin with Heritage Tomatoes?
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 French Coq au Vin with Heritage Tomatoes for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). 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 French Coq au Vin with Heritage Tomatoes?
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
- ★★★★★
Swapped butter for olive oil to keep it lighter. Still delicious.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
