True French Coq au Vin
A rich, wine-braised chicken dish with mushrooms, bacon, and red wine for a classic French flavor. This french-inspired mexican ready in about 100 minutes pairs bone-in chicken thighs, chopped bacon, sliced mushrooms for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, 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, bone-in chicken thighs
- 4 slices, chopped bacon
- 12 oz, sliced mushrooms
- 1 cup, burgundy red wine
- 1 medium, diced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tsp, fresh or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 2, peeled and sliced carrots
- 2 stalks, sliced celery
- 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, cook bacon until crispy, 4-5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Add butter, then sear chicken skin-side down until golden, 6-8 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- Step 3: Add onion, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf to the pan. Sauté until softened, 5 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
- Step 4: Pour in wine, then add carrots, celery, tomatoes, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then add chicken and bacon. Simmer 45 minutes until chicken is tender. Serve with rice or crusty bread.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does True French Coq au Vin take to make?
Total time is about 100 minutes (40 min prep + 60 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 True French Coq au Vin?
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 bone-in chicken thighs from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in True French Coq au Vin?
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 True French Coq au Vin for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 True French Coq au Vin?
French mexican 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
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★★
Swapped butter for olive oil to keep it lighter. Still delicious.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
