The Beach House Kitchen

Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin

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This Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin is an elegant, flavorful weeknight meal made easy in your slow cooker!

Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin in a silver slow cooker with a bottle of wine and salt and pepper shakers in background.

Today’s a first at The Beach House Kitchen. I know. What have I been thinking?? Not one slow cooker meal here at the BHK. Well, that’s about to change, because today I’m sharing my Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin.

What is Coq Au Vin?

Coq Au Vin is a classic French dish composed of chicken braised slowly with red wine, bacon, carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms. The sauce is deliciously rich, and the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. I like to serve it with a side of creamy mashed potatoes with a generous helping of sauce spooned over top. You’ll be licking the plate, guaranteed!

Overhead photo of Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin in a black slow cooker with a bottle of wine , glass of wine and salt and pepper shakers in background.

This Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin is certainly not short on flavor. The wine, smoky bacon, onions, earthy mushrooms and garlic all help to create a dish that’s hearty and comforting, and perfect for the cold winter months.

There are a few steps required in this recipe, but the finished dish is definitely worth it. First, make sure your slow cooker is large enough to fit the chicken. You’ll need to cook the bacon in a skillet until just crisp, then cook your chicken in the same skillet until it’s nice and brown on both sides. Add the vegetables until softened, then throw it all into your slow cooker with your wine, broth, pearl onions and thyme sprigs.

Chicken on a white plate, carrots and onions, bacon, mushrooms, thyme leaves, garlic cloves, pearl onions and chicken broth in white bowls. Salt and pepper shakers, wine glass and red wine.

You’ll set it and forget it for about five and a half hours, and then you’ll remove the chicken and add a mixture of cornstarch and water to the sauce to thicken it up nicely. Start with one to two tablespoons of cornstarch whisked together with one to two tablespoons of water. Pour it into the slow cooker and mix until thickened. If you like your sauce thicker, add a bit more.

The chicken will go back in to your slow cooker for another hour on high until the sauce is rich and thick, and the chicken is fabulously tender. When the phrase “winner, winner chicken dinner” was coined, I think Coq Au Vin was the dish they had in mind! Enjoy!

Looking for some other cozy winter meals? Try my Mushroom Florentine Gnocchi, my Beef and Quinoa Enchilada Skillet, or my Chicken Osso Bucco.

Overhead photo of Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin in a black slow cooker with a bottle of wine , glass of wine and salt and pepper shakers in background.

Coq Au Vin in a silver slow cooker with a bottle of wine and salt and pepper shakers in background.
Print
Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs 30 mins
Total Time
7 hrs
 

This Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin is an elegant, flavorful weeknight meal made easy in your slow cooker!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: French
Servings: 4
Calories: 305 kcal
Author: MaryAnn Dwyer
Ingredients
  • 5 slices bacon
  • 4 whole chicken legs, thigh and drumstick
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • 8 oz. carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 3/4 cup Pinot Noir
  • 3 sprigs thyme
  • 2 cups white pearl onions, frozen
  • 1-2 Tbsp. cornstarch
Instructions

  1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until just crisp. Remove from skillet to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet.

  2. Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken, turning once, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a large plate.

  3. Add butter and mushrooms to skillet and cook until mushrooms begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add onions, carrots, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes. 

  4. Transfer vegetable mixture to slow cooker. Add chicken broth. Place chicken and any juices from plate and bacon on top of vegetables. Add wine, thyme sprigs and pearl onions. Cover and cook on low for 5 and a half hours. 

  5. For a thicker sauce, mix 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch with 1-2 tablespoons of water until smooth and no lumps appear. I like to remove the chicken from the slow cooker to a plate before mixing in the cornstarch mixture. (If you like the sauce thicker you can add another tablespoon cornstarch mixed with another tablespoon water). Add the chicken back to the slow cooker and continue to cook for 1 hour on high.

  6. Season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately. I like to serve mine with mashed potatoes.

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
Amount Per Serving
Calories 305 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 501mg22%
Potassium 593mg17%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 9600IU192%
Vitamin C 8.2mg10%
Calcium 50mg5%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

BEFORE YOUR FIRST BITE, SNAP A PHOTO & SHARE!

If you make this recipe, I'd love to see! Be sure to follow thebeachhousekitchen on Instagram and tag #thebeachhousekitchen

Thanks so much!

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Comments

  2. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    The weather here is dreary and rainy, so it’s just perfect for an easy, cozy meal and this perfectly fits the bill, Mare! I adore Coq Au Vin, but haven’t made it in ages because it takes too much time, so I LOVE that you made this in the slow cooker! BRILLIANT!! Pinned! Cheers! Xoxo

    Reply

    • Mary Ann says

      It’s such a flavorful meal Karen, and one of Tom’s favorite! He loves it with mashed potatoes or a nice piece (or two) of crusty bread to sop up all that delicious sauce! Happy Monday!

      Reply

  11. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says

    This looks so cozy and delicious Mary Ann! I’ve only made coq au vin a few times, and never in the slow cooker! But I’m always looking for new slow cooker recipes, so I’ll definitely be saving this for later. Happy Monday!

    Reply

  27. Emily says

    It is so good to be reminded of old favorites. This looks so cozy and warming, and bonus that it’s slow cooker! I love simmering in a wine sauce- wine makes everything better!

    Reply

  29. Marissa says

    What a gorgeous dish! And I love the idea of loading up the slow cooker, heading out to ski and coming back to a heavenly aroma and the promise of an amazing meal.

    Reply

  30. Janet says

    This was delicious! The only thing I did differently was add the wine (I used a little more than the recipe stated) to the pan to deglaze it and reduce it for a few minutes before adding it to the slow cooker. It was as good as making it the traditional way.

    Reply

  31. Lisa says

    This recipe sounds amazing — and the photography put me over the top. I’m curious what size slow cooker you use for this. I want to make sure mine isn’t too small.

    Reply

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