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So all you classically trained chefs out there, don’t hate me for this.
I made French Coq au Vin, but I did it the super quick way…not the traditional way which can take up to four hours. I know this is probably all wrong in so many ways and the French are most likely screaming at me right about now. But hear me out, I am not a trained chef and most of the time I am totally winging it. And since I am totally winging it, this allows me to be a little more creative….or ok, lazy.
So really, I just take a lot of short cuts.
Well whatever, all I know is it’s a really good meal and it’s made pretty quickly and easily – and I love it.
Now in full disclosure here, the Coq au Vin (which I most definitely am not pronouncing right by the way) is the dish that gets made in one pot. I was not smart enough to think of a way to also make the mashers in the same pot. I am kind of thinking that can’t be done, but then again you never know, I’ll leave that to the master chefs.
Here is the deal with this fancy, but not so fancy dinner. It happened all because it snowed. You see, the snow does magical, and apparently delicious things this time of year.
I have to say that I was pretty excited for all the snow we got, and are supposed to continue to get throughout the rest of the week. It’s just what I crave this time of year. Trust me, come late January I will be so over it, but right now I am loving it and loving the foods it inspires me to make.
I was having a pretty hard time deciding between recipes the other day. I was doing the whole back and forth, back and forth, “oh, but I sort of already made something similar to this last month” thing. It’s kind of the worst when this happens because I just get straight up annoyed with myself that I cannot think up anything creative. And that I feel like I am wasting time practically arguing with myself in my head about what I should make. I know it is completely insane, but as you all know, I have issues with making decisions.
Meaning I can’t make them.
When I can’t decide on recipes, I do the stupidest thing. I go in search of new recipe inspiration. I know, like why would I do that if I already have recipes ideas to choose from? It’s most likely because I am not crazy exited about the ideas I have written down in my notebook and I feel like I need a new fresh idea. It’s complete craziness, but it is how I work. Plus, I really like to be excited about each and every recipe I do.
So then I stumbled upon a whole bunch of Coq au Vin recipes and thought to myself “oh my gosh, that is perfect for the snowy weather”. The only thing was, I didn’t have four hours, so I just took a few shot cuts, used a lot wine, made some quick mashers and it all just came together. In perfect time too. With the sun setting so freaking early now, it means I actually have to get my stuff together by like four, and if you know me, this is nearly impossible and NO FUN. But somehow I have been managing. I think it may just be luck…just hoping it does not run out anytime soon. The lucky pot of gold is endless, right?
This dish has classic French flavors, wine, mushrooms, garlic and the best painless mashed potatoes to soak up all the sauce – which by the way is so good. Don’t be freaked out by the fancy name, this meal is totally laid back with simple mellow flavors that even picky eaters will love. Although, I do think that the only reason I got my brothers to try this was because of the mashers. They love mashed potatoes, especially mashed potatoes along with a saucy-gravy like dish.
The only reason they were hesitant to try the chicken was because of the veggies in the sauce, but they just slid those off to the side and totally loved the dish. The rest of us normal eaters ate our veggies. Typical.
The Coq au Vin (which if you are wondering is just chicken in a red wine mushroom sauce) honestly takes a little over thirty minutes, maybe more or less depending on how slow or quick you are working. Adding the mashed potatoes added on the time, but I mean, how could brown butter mashed potatoes not be worth it?
They are. Even if they require another dish to clean (sorry!). And really, every saucy dish like this SHOULD require creamy, buttery mashers. There really is no other way in my mind.
I know that everyone is in “Thanksgiving foods only” mode, but hey, don’t we still have to eat between now and the 27th? Pretty sure we do, and this meal is so cozy and delicious!
Surely this One-Pot 45 Minute Coq au Vin will keep you satisfied until the big feast.
One-Pot 45 Minute Coq au Vin with Brown Butter Sage Mashed Potatoes.
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 811 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Coq au Vin
- 4 slices thick cut bacon chopped
- 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced or grated
- 1 small sweet potato, cubed
- 2 medium size carrots, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken tenders or small chicken breasts may sub thighs if desired
- 2 cups button mushrooms sliced
- 2 cups red wine plus more if needed
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 leaves bay
- 4 whole sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
Mashed Potatoes
- 4 large Idaho potatoes peeled and quartered (I used Idaho, but you may sub Russet)
- 2-4 cloves garlic peeled (I used 4)
- salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter browned
- 8 leaves fresh sage chopped
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- In a large pot of cold water, bring the potatoes and garlic to a boil. Salt the water and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet or brazier with high sides over medium-high heat and cook bacon until crispy. Add another drizzle of oil if needed and then add the onion, garlic, carrots and sweet potatoes. Cook the veggies, stirring often until soft and lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and then scooch the veggies to the outside of the pan to make room for the chicken.
- Add a drizzle of oil to the pan if needed. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the hot pan and sear on both sides until browned. About 4-8 minutes per side, depending on how thick your chicken is (mine was thin). Toss in the sliced mushrooms and cook another minute or two.
- Slowly pour in the red wine and chicken broth. Add the a bay leaf and thyme and season with salt + pepper. Gently stir everything to combine and then bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by about 1/3.
- By this time, the potatoes should be just about ready to be drained. Drain the potatoes, return the potatoes to the pot and mash over low heat, or mash in the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, adding the cream and 2 teaspoons salt.
- In a skillet or small sauce pot melt the butter and chopped sage over medium heat until just browned. The butter will melt, foam and froth, then begin to brown along the bottom. Whisk browned bits off of the bottom of the pan. Pour the browned sage butter into the warm mashed potatoes. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
- To serve, remove the bay leaf and thyme from the Coq au Vin. Plate the mashed potatoes. Serve the chicken on the side of the mashed potatoes and then ladle the sauce + veggies over the chicken. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Notes
*The Coq au Vin can be made in advance, covered and simmered over low heat on the stove or in a 280 degree F. oven until ready to serve. You will need to add more chicken broth or wine to keep the sauce from getting too thick. I also would recommend using chicken thighs to avoid dry chicken if you will be cooking this all day. **I like to mash my potatoes the super easy way by just letting my stand mixer do all the work. If you have never done this, just add the hot potatoes to your stand mixer and use the paddle attachment to mash the potatoes. It works so well!
Now let’s eat!
This post was originally published on November 12, 2014
I have made this at lest a dozen times and it never disappoints! Thank you for such an exquisite recipe.
So happy you like it Jacqueline! Thank you!!
I may or may not have made this dish twice in the span of six days… absolutely delicious. I love that your recipes are interesting, but still a piece of cake and quick. My boyfriend was such a big fan the first time around that he requested I make it again less than a week later. You are amazing!
Haha! Thats so awesome you have made this so much! I’m so happy you guys like it thanks Emily!!
Coming late to the party, thanks PureWow though for referencing your recipe. I am French myself though living abroad, and your recipe is just what I need for when I miss home… This is pretty much how my mum would cook it, except for the sweet potatoes (never thought of that!) and the onions would be those tiny pearl ones (but they’re often hard to find).
Some people peel some small to medium potatoes and just let them boil in the sauce. You can them crush them in your plate to absorb the sauce… Voilà ! Mash pot gone! In my native region this would typically be served with Dauphinoise potatoes, even simpler to make (slice potatoes thinly in the food processor or with a mandolin, layer them in an oven dish, cover in single/liquid cream and bake for at least 45 minutes, the longer the better).
One last note. Your recipe is actually quite versatile. Change the red wine for white wine and you have a banquette de poulet (also works with turkey or veal). Change the chicken for beef and the stock to vegetable, and you have a boeuf bourguignon.
Now time to make some coq au vin ! Thanks again, I’ll be sure to check your blog for other recipes!
I am so happy that this reminds you of something your mum would make Jey! Thanks so much for the helpful tips on this too, its great to hear from someone French! Thank you, I hope you enjoy other recipes just as much!
I made this tonight for a house that needed comfort – it was delicious and PERFECT for a rainy, stormy PNW night. Thanks so much, Tieghan!
Ah, YES! SO perfect! Couldn’t be more excited that you liked it!! Thanks!!
Any tips for making these mashed potatoes ahead of time? Thanks!
Forgot to comment here that I made this a couple weeks ago, and now my boyfriend wants me to make it once a month. 😀 I thought it was pretty good myself but personally the wine was a little strong for me; it may have been the brand I used or the type. I might try it with less, as well. I had a LOT of sauce leftover. 🙂 The mashed potatoes were also pretty tasty! Also I let my chicken continue to cook in the sauce; I liked the purplish color! It didn’t soak all the way in the chicken and added a nice flavor.
Awh so happy you are both enjoying this one Gwen!! Thanks so much!
Tieghan, do you think this recipe would still work well with shiitake mushrooms? I have all the ingredients but just different mushrooms! Just don’t want to use them and have the flavor be bad…
Hi Jessica!
I think they would be delicious!! GO FOR IT! 🙂 Let me know if you have questions, thanks!
I’ve made this recipe twice, and it is great! Thanks so much for sharing.
The only thing I can’t get right is the texture/consistency of the sauce. It looks like your chicken gets coated in it. Mine usually just looks like purple chicken. Any tricks to get it right?
Hmm, I would boil the sauce longer so it thickens and will then coat the chicken. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks!
Thank you for the wonderful recipe! It was amazing! We will be making this again for sure.
Thank you for a fabulous dinner! We don’t do mushrooms, we used celery instead. We also used a little brandy to scrape the pan. The mashed potatoes were the best I’ve ever made. A beautiful dish, a definate keeper.
I made this for dinner tonight and it was absolutely amazing! I changed the mashed potatoes a bit though because the store didn’t have fresh sage. Instead, I made truffled mashed potatoes… they paired perfectly. Thank you so much for making an intimidating dish so simple!
Amazing recipe!!! Really loved it and it was so easy to make! Favorite winter meal 😀 Thank you!!!!!!
Woah. I have been wanting to make Coq au Vin for ages but every recipe I’ve found was way too intimidating. I made this last night and it was AMAZING. Holy Cow. New favorite meal for sure!!!!
YEAH!! I am so excited you loved this! Thank you!
I’m SOOO making this for dinner tonight!!
http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt
I absolutely LOVE this dish, I’ve made it twice in 1 month. The only problem I’m having is the chicken becomes dry and I’ve made it once as you instructed, then I semi pan seared and took them out while the ‘veggies and sauce’ we’re cooking.. Added the chicken back towards the end.
How do you prevent your children from drying out. Also I’m not able to sub thighs! Thank you