This easy Coq Au Vin Slow Cooker recipe takes a classic French dish and simplifies it just enough for busy weeknights, without losing any of the deep, comforting flavors. Tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, rich red wine, and a savory broth all come together in one pot, and thanks to the slow cooker, most of the magic happens hands-off.
Why You’ll Love This Coq Au Vin Recipe
There’s something so satisfying about letting your slow cooker do the heavy lifting. This slow cooker Coq Au Vin is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it comfort food. Here’s why I love it:
- All the flavor of the traditional dish, with less effort.
- The chicken becomes incredibly tender and soaks up all that rich wine and herb flavor.
- It’s a one-pot meal that smells amazing as it cooks.
- You can sauté, simmer, and slow cook all in one pot if you have a GreenPan Slow Cooker (this has truly changed the game for me).
If you love this recipe, you might also enjoy these other cozy meals from the blog:
- Slow Cooker Braised Beef with Red Wine
- Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker with Potatoes
- Braised Beef in Red Wine Recipe
What is Coq Au Vin?
Coq au Vin is a traditional French dish that translates to “rooster in wine.” It originated as a rustic countryside meal, slowly braised to make tougher meat tender and flavorful. These days, it’s typically made with chicken and cooked with red wine, mushrooms, carrots, onions, and herbs.
It’s a dish with deep roots in French cooking, and while it may sound fancy, it’s really just good, honest comfort food.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Coq Au Vin for the slow cooker:
- Thick-cut bacon (optional): Adds a smoky layer of flavor
- Chicken thighs or breasts: Thighs are more traditional and stay juicy
- Salt and pepper
- Onion or pearl onions: Pearl onions are classic, but chopped onion works too
- Garlic and shallot: For depth and aroma
- Carrots: Adds sweetness and texture
- Cremini mushrooms: Earthy flavor and perfect texture after slow cooking
- Flour: Helps thicken the sauce
- Tomato paste: Adds a rich umami base
- Red wine: A dry red like Pinot Noir or Burgundy is best
- Chicken broth: Adds body and balances the wine
- Bay leaves, parsley, dried thyme: Classic aromatics
- Butter: Finishes the sauce with richness
How to Make Coq Au Vin in the Slow Cooker
This Coq Au Vin recipe for slow cooker is much simpler than the traditional stovetop method, but you still get all the hearty flavors. If you have a GreenPan Slow Cooker, this process is even easier since you can sauté, slow cook, and simmer in the same insert.
- Cook bacon in a skillet or insert of your GreenPan Slow Cooker over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper, then sear on high heat for 3 minutes per side until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Add onion, garlic, shallot, carrots, and mushrooms to the skillet. Sauté for about 5–8 minutes.
- Stir in flour and tomato paste.
- Add chicken and vegetables into the slow cooker, then add the red wine, chicken broth, thyme, parsley, and bay leaves.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- In the last 30 minutes, remove the lid and set to high so the sauce thickens. Stir in bacon (if using).
- Add butter and chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy over mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
FAQs
Yes! I often do. Thighs are more traditional and stay juicier, but chicken breasts work well if you don’t overcook them.
A dry red wine like Pinot Noir, Burgundy, or even Cabernet Sauvignon works well. Don’t worry—you don’t need anything expensive!
Technically, no, but it really boosts the flavor and helps the chicken hold its texture in the slow cooker. Especially if you’re using the GreenPan Slow Cooker, it’s super easy since you can sear right in the pot.
Mashed potatoes are my favorite, but crusty bread or egg noodles are also perfect for soaking up that rich, winey sauce.
Absolutely. Like many stews, this actually tastes even better the next day. Just store in the fridge and gently reheat.
Coq Au Vin Slow Cooker Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 slices thick-cut bacon optional
- 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
- Salt and pepper
- 1 onion chopped (or 1/2 lb pearl onions)
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 shallot minced
- 5 carrots chopped
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms sliced or halved
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup red wine
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a skillet or insert of your GreenPan Slow Cooker over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper, then sear on high heat for 3 minutes per side until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Add onion, garlic, shallot, carrots, and mushrooms to the skillet. Sauté for about 5–8 minutes.
- Stir in flour and tomato paste.
- Add chicken and vegetables into the slow cooker, then add the red wine, chicken broth, thyme, parsley, and bay leaves.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- In the last 30 minutes, remove the lid and set to high so the sauce thickens. Stir in bacon (if using).
- Add butter and chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy over mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
Notes
- The GreenPan Slow Cooker is ideal for this recipe: it allows you to sauté, slow cook, and reduce all in one pot.
- You can skip the bacon, but it adds a nice smokiness.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
If you’ve never made Coq Au Vin in the slow cooker, now is the time to try. It’s a cozy, deeply flavorful dish that feels a little fancy but is actually super easy. This simplified version still honors the traditional flavors, and using the GreenPan Slow Cooker just makes the whole process smoother and faster. Perfect for chilly evenings or when you just want to serve something special without hovering over the stove.
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