Slow Cooker Coq au Vin
Try this Slow Cooker Coq au Vin recipe, or contribute your own.
Try this Slow Cooker Coq au Vin recipe, or contribute your own.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp water
- 1/2 cup beef stock
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 4 strips bacon thick cut
- 1 whole chicken quartered and seasoned liberally with kosh
- 1 onion, sliced (i use a large spanish onion)
- 1/2 cup leek sliced (approx 1 small leek)
- 10 oz crimini or baby bella mushrooms quartered
- 5 cloves garlic small dice
- 1/2 cup white wine (i use an unoaked french chardonnay)
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 tsp arrowroot or corn starch
- Carbohydrate 6.22143320339863 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 3.9187779062243 g
- Fiber 0.300970578432083 g
- Protein 9.49548033887599 g
- Saturated Fat 0.685282809165397 g
- Serving Size 1 1 recipe (799g)
- Sodium 1556.6294699211 mg
- Sugar 5.92046262496655 g
- Trans Fat 0.14335850742054 g
- Calories 95 calories
Step-by-step
- Using a heavy bottom pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add in the bacon when the oil is hot and cook until crisp. Remove the bacon, leaving the rendered fat in the pan and set aside.
- Increase the heat to high. Add in the chicken, skin side down. Cook for 3 minutes. Check for browning. If it looks nicely browned, flip and repeat on the other side. When the chicken is browned, remove the pan from the heat.
- Using tongs, add the chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker, skin side down.
- Reduce the heat to medium-high and return the pan to the heat with the fat still in the pan. Add in the onions with a good pinch of kosher salt. Stir and as the onion releases its water, scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes. When cooked, use tongs to remove the onions from the pan, keeping as much fat in the pan as possible. Add the onions over the chicken in the crock pot.
- Return the pan to the heat and add in the leeks with a pinch of salt. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring well. If they look dry, add in olive oil. When they have browned just a bit, add them to the crock pot.
- The pan should look fairly dry now. This is good. Add in the mushrooms and NO salt. Cook them until they start to release some water, about 3 minutes. Add in a pinch of salt, some olive oil and the garlic. Cook, stirring consistently, until fragrant (approx 4 minutes or so). Add the white wine and reduce for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic to the crock pot.
- Add the beef stock, red pepper flakes and kosher salt to the chicken.
- Roughly dice the cooked bacon and add to the slow cooker. Cook for 3 hours at the high setting on your crock pot.
- Just before you remove the chicken from the slow cooker, make a slurry in a small bowl with the water and arrowroot. Set aside.
- When the chicken is ready, remove the quarters and set aside, covered with foil.
- Using a strainer, strain out the solids. Set aside.
- Add the strained braising liquid to a wide saute pan. Cook over high heat, reducing to approximately 2 cups. Reduce the heat to medium and add in the slurry, stirring constantly. The sauce will thicken nicely. If it is still too thin, make some more slurry and add sparingly!
- On a large platter, add the mushrooms and onions as a base payer. Cover with chicken and coat everything with the crazy good gravy.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
My Simple Slow Cooker Coq au Vin: A Weeknight Winner
As a busy working mom, time is my most precious commodity. Weeknights are a whirlwind of homework, soccer practice, and the ever-present challenge of putting a delicious and healthy meal on the table. That's why I've become a huge fan of slow cooker recipes – they're my secret weapon for stress-free dinners. This Slow Cooker Coq au Vin is a perfect example. It tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen, but the reality is that it requires minimal effort and delivers maximum flavor. The rich, savory sauce, tender chicken, and earthy mushrooms make it a family favorite, even getting my picky eaters to clean their plates!
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Instead of slaving over a hot stove, I simply brown the chicken and vegetables, toss everything into the slow cooker, and let the magic happen. While the chicken simmers away, I can focus on other things – catching up on emails, helping with homework, or even sneaking in a few minutes of much-needed relaxation. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld and deepen, creating a truly remarkable dish that is far superior to anything I could whip up in a hurry.
I particularly love the versatility of this recipe. Feel free to adjust the vegetables to your liking. Onions and leeks are classics, but adding carrots, celery, or even some hearty root vegetables would be equally delicious. The same goes for the herbs. A sprig of thyme or a few bay leaves would complement the dish beautifully. Don't be afraid to experiment and make it your own!
What really elevates this dish is the depth of flavor that comes from the slow cooking process. The chicken becomes incredibly tender, almost falling off the bone. The sauce, meanwhile, thickens to a rich, luxurious consistency, coating the chicken and vegetables perfectly. It's the kind of dish that's both comforting and impressive, perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Beyond the ease and deliciousness, this recipe also checks the boxes for my family's health needs. It's a great source of lean protein from the chicken, along with the essential vitamins and minerals found in the vegetables. It’s a balanced meal without feeling heavy or overly rich. And let’s face it – a balanced meal that doesn't require hours of preparation is a win-win for any busy mom.
This Slow Cooker Coq au Vin is more than just a recipe; it’s a testament to the power of efficient cooking. It allows me to spend quality time with my family without compromising on a delicious and wholesome meal. It’s a dish I'll continue to make again and again, always savoring the rich flavors and the peace of mind that comes with knowing dinner is taken care of.
So, if you're looking for a simple, delicious, and healthy meal that doesn't require hours of effort, give this Slow Cooker Coq au Vin a try. I promise, you won't be disappointed. It's the kind of recipe that makes even the busiest weeknights feel a little more manageable, a little more delicious, and a whole lot more enjoyable.
