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
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
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.
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.
