True to Tradition Chicken Coq au Vin

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A classic French braised chicken dish slow-cooked in red wine with mushrooms and onions, yielding tender meat and a rich, authentic Burgundy flavor. This french-inspired chicken ready in about 100 minutes pairs to taste salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 80 min Serves 4 French cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper, then dredge in 2 tbsp flour, shaking off excess.
  2. Step 2: In a Dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin-side down, and cook for 5-6 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook 3 minutes more. Remove and set aside.
  3. Step 3: Add remaining butter and olive oil to Dutch oven. Sauté onion and carrots for 5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Deglaze with 1 cup red wine, scraping up browned bits, and simmer 3 minutes until reduced by half.
  5. Step 5: Add chicken broth, mushrooms, thyme, and bay leaf. Return chicken to pot, skin-side up. Simmer covered on low heat for 45 minutes.
  6. Step 6: Remove chicken and vegetables. Skim excess fat from sauce. Simmer sauce 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Return chicken and vegetables to sauce, simmer 5 minutes more. Discard thyme and bay leaf. Stir in 2 tbsp fresh parsley and adjust seasoning.

Frequently asked questions

How long does True to Tradition Chicken Coq au Vin take to make?

Total time is about 100 minutes (20 min prep + 80 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 to Tradition Chicken 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 to taste salt from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in True to Tradition Chicken 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 to Tradition Chicken Coq au Vin 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 True to Tradition Chicken Coq au Vin?

French chicken 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.

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