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Cozy French Coq au Vin Recipe Easy Perfect Romantic Date Night Dinner

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A rich and authentic French coq au vin recipe featuring slow-simmered chicken thighs braised in red wine with mushrooms and bacon, perfect for a cozy romantic date night.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 4 oz diced bacon or pancetta
  • 1 ½ cups dry red wine (e.g., Pinot Noir or Burgundy)
  • 1 cup chicken broth (homemade or low-sodium store-bought)
  • 6 medium shallots, peeled and halved
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 8 oz cremini mushrooms, halved or quartered
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium heat, add diced bacon, and cook until crisp (6-8 minutes). Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.
  3. Add olive oil to the bacon fat and brown chicken thighs skin-side down until golden, about 4-5 minutes per side. Do this in batches if needed. Remove chicken and set aside.
  4. Add butter to the pot, then toss in shallots and mushrooms. Cook until softened and starting to brown, about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then sprinkle flour evenly over the vegetables. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes to remove raw flour taste.
  6. Pour in the red wine slowly, scraping the bottom of the pot to lift browned bits. Bring to a gentle simmer for about 2 minutes.
  7. Add chicken broth, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves. Return bacon and chicken thighs to the pot, nestling pieces in the liquid.
  8. Cover and simmer on low heat for 45-50 minutes until chicken is tender and cooked through, stirring occasionally and skimming excess fat.
  9. Remove thyme and bay leaves. Taste sauce and add salt and pepper as needed.
  10. If sauce is too thin, uncover and simmer an additional 10 minutes to reduce and thicken.
  11. Let the coq au vin rest off heat for 10 minutes before serving to deepen flavors.

Notes

Use a quality dry red wine you enjoy drinking for best flavor. For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour or cornstarch slurry. Bacon can be swapped with smoked turkey bacon for a lighter version. Let the dish rest 10 minutes off heat before serving to deepen flavors. If sauce is too thin, reduce uncovered to thicken.

Nutrition

Keywords: Coq au Vin, French recipe, chicken braised in red wine, romantic dinner, date night recipe, easy French cooking, comfort food

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/cozy-french-coq-au-vin-recipe-easy-perfect-romantic-date-night-dinner/