Follow Me On Social Media!
Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin (Easy French Comfort Food!)
There are few dishes in the world as iconic, comforting, and deeply flavorful as Coq Au Vin—the classic French chicken stew simmered low and slow in red wine with mushrooms, onions, garlic, and herbs. Traditionally, the dish requires patience, multiple sauté steps, and a long stovetop braise. But with a slow cooker, you can enjoy the same luxurious flavors with almost none of the effort. That’s exactly what makes Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin a perfect combination of rustic French heritage and modern kitchen convenience.
This recipe gently transforms simple ingredients—chicken, vegetables, wine, and herbs—into a rich, velvety stew that tastes like it simmered in a countryside French kitchen all day. The slow cooker handles nearly every step, allowing the flavors to deepen and meld into something extraordinary. Whether you’re preparing a cozy family dinner, hosting friends, or just craving a warm bowl of comfort, this dish delivers sophistication without stress.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything you need to make the best Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin, from essential ingredients to expert tips, variations, serving ideas, and make-ahead suggestions. Let’s dive in.
⭐ What Makes This Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin Special?
1. Effortless French cooking
Instead of tending to a pot for hours, the slow cooker builds flavors gently with minimal work.
2. Restaurant-level flavor at home
The combination of red wine, herbs, mushrooms, and caramelized aromatics creates a deep, savory sauce.
3. Versatile and foolproof
This recipe works with chicken thighs, drumsticks, or even a whole cut-up chicken for maximum tenderness.
4. Affordable ingredients, luxurious results
You don’t need expensive wine or specialty ingredients—simple pantry staples shine here.
5. Make-ahead perfection
Coq Au Vin tastes even better the next day, making it ideal for meal prep or entertaining.
🥘 Ingredients for Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
Use the best-quality ingredients available, but there’s no need to overspend—coq au vin is historically a peasant dish, meant to elevate humble food into something rich and indulgent.
Chicken
- Bone-in, skin-on thighs work best for tenderness and flavor.
Drumsticks or legs also work beautifully.
Vegetables
- Mushrooms
- Carrots
- Pearl onions or regular onion
- Garlic
Each one brings its own layer of sweetness and earthy richness.
Wine
A dry red wine is essential. Burgundy is traditional, but Cabernet, Merlot, or even a mid-range table wine works perfectly.
Bacon
A few slices add savory smokiness that rounds out the sauce.
Herbs
Thyme, bay leaves, and parsley elevate the dish with aromatic depth.
Broth & Tomato Paste
These enhance the sauce’s body and complexity.
Optional but Recommended
A splash of brandy for an extra-French touch.
🍳 How to Make Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
(Complete Instructions Below)
While the slow cooker does most of the work, a few small steps build tremendous flavor:
- Brown the bacon
Adds smokiness and fat to sauté the vegetables. - Lightly sear the chicken
Optional, but adds color and richness. - Sauté aromatics
Cooking garlic, mushrooms, and onions unlocks deeper flavor. - Transfer everything to the slow cooker
Add wine, broth, tomato paste, and herbs. - Slow-cook to perfection
Low and slow creates fall-apart tender chicken and an incredible sauce. - Serve hot
Perfect with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, noodles, or rice.
📌 Ingredients (Full List)
For the Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
- 6–8 bone-in chicken thighs (or mix of thighs and drumsticks)
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 2 cups baby bella mushrooms, halved
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 1 large onion or 1 cup pearl onions
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups dry red wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon flour (optional, for thickening)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon butter (optional for finishing)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
🔥 Instructions
1. Cook the bacon
In a skillet, cook chopped bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside.
2. Sear the chicken
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Lightly brown in the bacon fat for 3–4 minutes per side (optional but recommended).
3. Sauté the vegetables
Add mushrooms, carrots, onions, and garlic to the same skillet. Sauté 3–5 minutes until fragrant.
4. Assemble in slow cooker
Place seared chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add cooked bacon, vegetables, wine, broth, tomato paste, thyme, and bay leaves.
5. Cook
- Low: 7–8 hours
- High: 4–5 hours
Chicken should be tender and falling off the bone.
6. Thicken (optional)
Whisk flour with ¼ cup sauce and stir back into the cooker. Heat 10 minutes until thickened.
7. Serve
Finish with butter for extra richness and garnish with parsley.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin is traditionally served with starchy sides that absorb the incredible sauce. Try:
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Buttery egg noodles
- Herb-roasted potatoes
- Soft polenta
- Warm crusty French bread
- Steamed rice
For a full French bistro experience, add a simple green salad and a glass of the cooking wine.
🔄 Variations
White Wine Version (Coq Au Vin Blanc)
Use white wine, add leeks, and skip tomato paste for a lighter, golden stew.
Mushroom-Only Vegetarian Version
Swap chicken for hearty mushrooms and add vegetable broth.
Beef Version
Use beef stew meat and cook 8–9 hours on low for a “Beef Bourguignon–inspired” twist.
🍷 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Fridge: 3–4 days
- Freezer: Up to 3 months
- Reheat: Low and slow on stovetop for best texture
Pro tip: Coq Au Vin tastes even better the next day as flavors deepen.
🇫🇷 A Bit of French Culinary History
“Coq Au Vin” literally means “rooster in wine.”
Originally, the dish was designed to turn tough farm birds into tender, succulent meat through long braising. Today, chicken replaces rooster, but the technique and soulful flavors remain the same. Your slow cooker simply recreates what French cooks have done for centuries: transform simple ingredients into rich, comforting brilliance.
⭐ Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin Recipe — Summary
A deep, hearty French chicken stew slow-braised in wine with mushrooms, onions, garlic, herbs, and bacon. Rich, rustic, and effortlessly elegant.
Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
A rich, comforting French chicken stew slow-cooked in red wine with mushrooms, carrots, onions, garlic, herbs, and bacon.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp; remove and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper and sear in bacon fat until lightly browned.
- Sauté mushrooms, carrots, onions, and garlic in the same skillet for 3–5 minutes.
- Add chicken, bacon, and sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker.
- Pour in wine, broth, tomato paste, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Cook on LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours.
- Optional: whisk flour with sauce to thicken, simmer 10 minutes.
- Serve hot, garnished with parsley.
Notes
For a lighter version, use white wine. Coq Au Vin tastes even better the next day.
