Slow Cooker Coq au Vin

Name: Slow Cooker Coq au Vin
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 4 thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs; 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-in pieces; 1.5 cups dry red wine (Burgundy or Pinot Noir); 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 2 cups frozen pearl onions (thawed); 8 oz cremini mushrooms, quartered; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 4 fresh thyme sprigs; 2 bay leaf; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground; 2 tbsp unsalted butter; 2 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Chicken thighs braise in red wine with pearl onions, mushrooms, and bacon until the sauce is silky and deeply savory - the French bistro classic made hands-off. Plan ahead: cook time is 6 to 8 hours on low.

50 minMediumServes 4480 cal/serving

FrenchDinnerSlow CookerStandardHigh FiberHigh ProteinNut-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

4 thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-in pieces
1.5 cups dry red wine (Burgundy or Pinot Noir)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 cups frozen pearl onions (thawed)
8 oz cremini mushrooms, quartered
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 bay leaf
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions

1

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook 4 slices cut into 1/2-in pieces thick-cut bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
2

Season 4 thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Sear skin-side down in the bacon fat for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown. Flip and sear the other side for 2 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
3

Add 4 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and sauté for 30 seconds. Pour in 1.5 cups dry red wine (Burgundy or Pinot Noir), scraping up any browned bits. Add 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth and 2 tbsp tomato paste and stir to combine. Pour over the chicken in the slow cooker.
4

Add the cooked bacon, 2 cups frozen pearl onions (thawed), 8 oz quartered cremini mushrooms, 4 fresh thyme sprigs, and 2 bay leaf to the slow cooker.
5

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is very tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reads at least 165°F (74°C).
6

Remove the chicken and set aside. Discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. To thicken the sauce, melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk in 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, then ladle in about a cup of the cooking liquid and whisk until smooth. Pour back into the slow cooker and stir. Return the chicken to the sauce.
7

Serve over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread. Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley.

Questions

Can I make Slow Cooker Coq au Vin dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 2 tbsp unsalted butter. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Slow Cooker Coq au Vin gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 2 tbsp all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Can I make Slow Cooker Coq au Vin ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat gently on the stovetop. It also freezes well for up to three months.

Can I halve or double Slow Cooker Coq au Vin?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Keep the slow cooker between half and two-thirds full; the cook time stays roughly the same.

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