Coq au Vin in the Slow Cooker: How to Make it Perfectly

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Coq au Vin in the Slow Cooker How to Make it Perfectly - Serving www.compassandfork.com Coq au Vin. This French classic is surprisingly easy to make. Our recipe explains how to perfectly make the French classic dish Coq au Vin in the slow cooker. This recipe, designed for busy people, is just as good as slow cooking Coq au Vin on the stove top.

We also pose the question as to whether French cuisine is the world’s most famous? When you look at a list of French classic dishes it is hard to argue against that question.

I hope the information inspires you to delve a little more deeply into the joys of French cooking. It’s amazing what impact making a classic French sauce can have on making an ordinary dish a great dish.

We also give away the secrets for converting traditional dishes into crock pot dishes. Read on to discover the delights of Coq au Vin and the broader French cuisine.

French Cuisine: Is There any More Famous?

I posed the question earlier as to whether there is any more famous cuisine than French? I think it is a safe bet most people would have answered, “No”.

Some people argue French cooking is complicated, full of sauces that are too rich or take too long to put food on the plate. I actually don’t think that’s true. Sure, dishes like Coq au Vin do have a long cooking time but it is a slow-cooked, winter dish left to simmer while you go about your business. That’s hardly an imposition.

Coq au Vin in the Slow Cooker How to Make it Perfectly - Paris Cafe www.compassandfork.comFrench food is too rich? I don’t think so. I don’t see too many overweight, French people when compared to people from other countries. Sure there are some rich sauces and a lot of butter used in French cooking but they are used in moderation. It is all about portion control, something that seems to have been forgotten in many, Western countries.

Consider this short list of French classics:

  • French pastries (croissants – pain au chocolat, croissant au buerre)
  • Baguettes (is there any more delicious bread?)
  • French onion soup
  • Rilletes
  • Dry cured sausage (saucisson)
  • Foie gras
  • Boeuf Bougignon
  • Mussels in cream and white wine
  • Cassoulet
  • Crème brulee
  • Poached pears

I could go on for pages and I haven’t mentioned any of those classic sauces, like chasseur, hollandaise. But I think I have made my point.

French cooking has given much to the world not just in classic dishes but cooking methods as well. Inspired? Try this, easy adaptation of Coq au Vin in the slow cooker, designed for busy people.

If you are lucky enough to be going to Paris and want a great itinerary of places to visit and food to eat, you can our post, Three Days in Paris, is just what you need.

Coq au Vin in the Slow Cooker

Coq au Vin in the Slow Cooker How to Make it Perfectly - Eiffel Tower www.compassandfork.comCoq au Vin in the slow cooker? Sure, it is not the traditional way to prepare this dish. Coq au Vin literally translates to rooster with wine. It is traditionally made with a jointed, plump chicken and red wine. Funny how we always consume white wine with chicken but here in this most classic of French dishes, red wine is used. It goes magnificently with the mushrooms in the dish. The traditional method of cooking is to slowly simmer on your cook top or place in a slow-medium oven. (For another traditional white meat, pork, cooked in read wine, try Drunken Pork, a delicious Greek recipe.)

Cooking in the crock pot requires some adjustments. To convert a recipe for use in the crock pot, always reduce the liquid by one third. You can now have a glass of that lovely red wine while you use the rest of the bottle in this dish!

And don’t buy the cheapest “cooking wine” because you are not drinking it. A quality bottle of red wine to use in this dish will reward you many times over with the greater depth of flavor. And with this dish it is important to brown the chicken and vegetables before they go in the crock. I always de-glaze the cooking pan with the red wine to retain all of the sticky bits on the bottom of the pan from the cooking of the chicken and bacon as they are full of flavor.

For Coq au Vin in the slow cooker you can use chicken pieces on the bone or do what I do and buy a whole, fresh chicken from your farmer’s market and cut it into pieces yourself. I use kitchen shears but a very sharp knife will also suffice.

This is a great skill to learn and trust me you will never buy chicken pieces again once you have cut up your own chicken, so much fresher and moister than buying chicken pieces. And as an added bonus, you can make chicken stock out of the backbone and left over pieces.

More Stews, Casseroles and Comfort Food

Fancy trying some other great comfort food from around the world? Here are some to try:

Here is Pork Goulash from Romania. It’s beautifully spiced and the sour cream gives it a real touch of class.

Here is another slow cooker recipe this time using beef and Pinot Noir. Red Wine and Herb casserole is delicious and made from everyday ingredients.

Two great casseroles you can try from Greece are Beef Stifado and Drunken Pork (also using red wine). There is a trend here!

And finally, a family favorite stew from Turkey. Sultan’s Delight pairs lamb with smoky eggplant. It is simply divine.

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Coq au Vin in the Slow Cooker How to Make it Perfectly
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Coq au Vin - a classic of French cooking. Here we use the convenience of the slow cooker so you can come home to a house full of magnificent aromas, all ready to eat. Crock pot cooking is forgiving and an 8 hour cook won't make any discernible difference to the dish.
Servings Prep Time Cook Time Passive Time
4people 20minutes 6hours 15minutes
Servings Prep Time
4people 20minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
6hours 15minutes
Ingredients
Servings: people
Units:
Ingredients
Servings: people
Units:
Instructions
  1. In a heavy-based frypan or pot over a medium heat, place the olive oil. Add the bacon and cook, stirring until brown, about 2 minutes. Reserve the bacon.
  2. Season the chicken pieces and divide into two batches. Place the first batch in the bacon drippings. Cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes and drain on kitchen paper. Repeat with the second batch, again draining on kitchen paper. To the pan drippings, add the onions and toss for 2 minutes before adding the mushrooms, carrots and celery. Toss for a further 2 minutes.
  3. Place the browned vegetables and chicken in the crock pot. Meanwhile add the flour to the pan drippings and cook until lightly browned about 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually add in the chicken stock and red wine until smooth. Pour the red wine sauce over the chicken and vegetables in the crock pot.
  4. Add the herbs, garlic and tomato paste to the crock pot. Stir to combine and set on the low setting for 6 to 8 hours. Turn off and allow to sit for 15 minutes before serving. Serve, garnished with parsley.
Recipe Notes

Coq au Vin in the Slow Cooker How to Make it Perfectly - Reay to Eat www.compassandfork.com

17 Responses

  1. Kristie M. Hall
    | Reply

    This was a blessing to try!

  2. jayne
    | Reply

    Love that this is a slow cooker recipe! these flavours would be wonderful slow cooked

    • Editor
      |

      We thought it was rather tasty. The classic flavors of Coq au Vin are still there.

  3. Kim @zonktdesigns
    | Reply

    How fabulous I’ve never thought I’d doing Coq au Vin in the slow cooker, of course!
    I use my slow cooker religiously so this is perfect.
    Thanks for linking up to Your Weekly Feed. X

    • Editor
      |

      Good on you Kim. I hope you enjoy something new in your slow cooker. We enjoyed it.

  4. I will have to try this – I love using my slow cooker.

    • Editor
      |

      Vicki, Coq au Vin is great in the slow cooker or the traditional stove top method. Just a lovely recipe.

  5. This is such a great idea! I love when something can be made more hands off. And it usually pains me to cook with good wine but i didn’t realize it could make a big difference! I wish I could just hop on a plane and go back to Paris and this there! Yum

    • Editor
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      Sarah, it is a great quality of the slow cooker being able to prepare up front and then serve up when you arrive home. It does go against the grain to cook with good wine (I would rather drink it) but you do get a much better flavor using better quality wine.

  6. Suchi @elegantmeraki
    | Reply

    I am never made this before but your way thru slow cooker is something I can handle. Looks delicious.

    • Editor
      |

      Yes it is fairly easy. I love how you can just come home to your cooked Coq au Vin.

  7. Noel
    | Reply

    In the crockpot! I cook all kinds of things in my crock pot but would never have thought to do a “fancy” dish like coq au vin. Great suggestion also on buying drinking wine to cook with…too often people take the cheapest way out for food – not considering the quality sacrifice.

    • Editor
      |

      Yes Noel, the quality of the wine definitely effects the quality of the dish. I remember when I was younger my best friend’s mother used his rather expensive port (half a bottle) to cook with. He was NOT happy, but the meal was fabulous!

  8. This is one of my all time favorites and I’ve never thought to use a crock pot for it. I have two dutch ovens and usually just pop them in a low oven to braise. Have to give this a try!

    • Editor
      |

      I’ll let you in on a secret. I usually cook it in a slow oven as well but when I can’t be at home and need a quick meal when I do arrive home, I use the crock pot.

  9. Derek @ Dad With A Pan
    | Reply

    This looks delicious! I don’t know why its so cold right now in California, but I think I’m making this tonight! Perfect to warm me up!

    • Editor
      |

      I hope you enjoy it Derek, it is so easy to make. It certainly is a good meal to make you feel warm, especially if accompanied by a glass of red wine!

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