Coq au Vin Classic Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken slowly braised in red wine with mushrooms, pearl onions, and smoky bacon flavors.

# Ingredient List:

→ Protein & Main

01 - 1 whole chicken (approximately 3.3 lbs), cut into 8 pieces
02 - 5.3 oz smoked bacon or pancetta, diced

→ Vegetables

03 - 7 oz pearl onions, peeled
04 - 8.8 oz cremini or button mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
05 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

→ Liquids

07 - 3.2 cups dry red wine (e.g., Burgundy or Pinot Noir)
08 - 1.1 cups chicken stock

→ Pantry & Herbs

09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
13 - 2 bay leaves
14 - 4 sprigs fresh thyme
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towels; season generously with salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced bacon and cook until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon; reserve.
03 - In the same pot, brown chicken pieces in batches until golden on all sides. Remove and set aside.
04 - Add sliced carrots, peeled pearl onions, and minced garlic to the pot; sauté until lightly golden, approximately 5 minutes.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and all-purpose flour; cook for 1 minute to eliminate raw flour taste.
06 - Return chicken and bacon to the pot. Add red wine, chicken stock, bay leaves, and thyme sprigs. Scrape up browned bits from the bottom.
07 - Bring mixture to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until chicken is tender.
08 - While chicken braises, heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté quartered mushrooms until browned, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
09 - Uncover the pot during the last 15 minutes of cooking to reduce sauce slightly. Stir in sautéed mushrooms and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
10 - Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Serve immediately, optionally garnished with fresh parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chicken becomes so tender it practically melts on your tongue, while the sauce tastes like it's been simmering for a lifetime.
  • It's one of those dishes that actually improves if you make it the day before, giving you permission to relax instead of rushing.
  • Serving it feels fancy without any pretense—just honest, warming food that makes people linger at the table longer.
02 -
  • Don't skip the browning step—it's tempting to rush, but that golden crust is where half the flavor comes from.
  • The sauce should coat the back of a spoon at the end, not be thin like soup; if it looks too loose after an hour and a half, remove the lid earlier and let it reduce more aggressively.
  • Fresh herbs at the very end make a surprising difference—a sprinkle of parsley or even fresh thyme changes everything from good to memorable.
03 -
  • Make this the day before if you can—it gives you the luxury of skimming any excess fat from the surface once it's cooled, and the flavors deepen overnight.
  • If the sauce seems thin after braising, transfer just the sauce to a small pot and simmer it uncovered for 5-10 minutes while you keep the chicken warm on the side.
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