Make a batch of Coq au Vin then you decide…will it be hand pies with flaky puff pastry, coq au vin and dumplings or chicken stroganoff over egg noodles? All so simple to make. Double the recipe (or triple) and freeze half so you can make one variation now and one next week. Coq Au Vin 3 Ways is a perfect meal solution so you can easily have a couple of meals for during the week sorted or a cozy weekend meal with friends, prepped and ready to throw together at the last minute for some fuss-free entertaining.
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Coq au vin – chicken in wine. Actually it’s cock in wine but you decide how you want to translate. I’m not going to pretend this is authentic. If it was I’d be making it in France with a Beaujolais and a free-range chicken. I’d be peeling pearl onions and listening to Edith Piaf. I omitted the pearl onions because quite frankly, I don’t possess the patience to peel tiny onions. The flavor is however, quite authentically coq au vin.
The chicken is boneless and skinless and chopped into pieces to allow for ease of adding it to a savory hand pie…

These hand pies were my favorite. Quelle surprise! My love of pastry is real.

Or Chicken Stroganoff – the easiest of the three variations. A couple of dollops of sour cream and a quick boil of some egg noodles and that’s dinner done. This was delicious. I’d serve it to guests for a cozy night in with a baby greens salad, some crusty bread and more red wine.


For the over achievers, feel free to make your own biscuit/scone dough and pinch it over the top of the hot coq au vin. I feel no shame in admitting I bought biscuit dough to use as the dumplings. I wanted it to be easy for you. And me.
Batch cooking helps ensure there’s an easy meal for the nights we’re just too tired or too busy. Make one batch of this delicious coq au vin or make two, maybe three. Freeze a couple for the coming weeks or when you know you’ve got guests coming to stay – especially good during the holiday season. Then it’s just a matter of a few minutes prep and dinner is done. Now let’s open another bottle of red shall we? Toodles, Lovoni xo
If you are thinking about serving this for visitors, which I highly recommend you do, any variation, but you’re going to need/want a cozy dessert for afters. Right? Enter Sticky Toffee Pudding (or sticky date cake). The easiest and one of the most delicious desserts you could make. And, a perfect ending to a casual meal.
COQ AU VIN 3 WAYS
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra
- 8 oz brown mushrooms, sliced
- A good pinch of sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- 4 bacon strips, chopped
- 1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, chopped 4 to 5
- 1 medium onion, halved about 6 oz
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups red wine
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped 9oz
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pot, Dutch or a skillet with a lid, over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until browned. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Remove the mushrooms from the pot to a bowl.
- Cook the bacon in the same pot for over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Remove with a slotted and add to the mushrooms; cover and set aside in the fridge.
- Add the chicken in two batches to the same pot. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until browned. Remove to a separate bowl or plate.
- Add a little more oil to the pot, if necessary, to cook the onion. Cook the onion over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the onion is softened. Add the garlic and cook for 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Add the wine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes until the wine is reduced slightly.
- Add the chicken, carrot, broth, thyme and a good pinch of salt and pepper to the pot; stir. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, covered for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrots are softened and chicken is cooked. Uncover the pot and increase the heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes.
- Combine the softened butter and flour in a small bowl. Add a couple of spoonfuls of the sauce from the pot; stir until smooth. Add the mixture to the pot, stirring at the same time to combine. Add the mushrooms and bacon; stir to combine. Season to taste.
- Once cooled, the mixture can be stored in airtight containers in the freezer for 3 months or the fridge for 4 days. Serve with rice or noodles or see below for 3 variations.