Instant Pot Coq Au Vin
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Oh-so-perfect silky-tender chicken and veggies cooked in a red wine sauce in just a fraction of the time. SO GOOD!
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what is coq au vin
Coq au vin is a classic French dish of braised chicken in red wine. It’s braised and simmered for hours on end, and to be honest, it’s quite heavenly as the tender chicken is infused with the heavenly red wine sauce. But now we can make it right in the Instant Pot with less effort, less time and all around less babysitting.
why make it in the instant pot
With bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, mushrooms, shallots, garlic, carrots and fresh thyme and 15 minutes of high pressure, the chicken comes out silky-tender with that deep infused red wine flavor, giving you all the braised vibes in just a fraction of the time. It’s warm, it’s cozy, it’s great for entertaining and it’s super fancy without any of the hard work.
tips and tricks for success
- Bone-in is ideal. While boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used, bone-in will be juicier and have extra flavor.
- Sear the meat. Searing the chicken over the high saute setting will add a flavorful crust, sealing all the moisture and juices inside.
- Choose a wine you will drink. A dry red wine (cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir or merlot) is great here – it does not have to be anything fancy or overpriced. Just something you don’t mind sipping on since you will have an open bottle.
- Use good-quality stock. The better quality your stock, the better your soup. Many brands love to pack in the salt so always opt for unsalted or a lower-sodium variety. Homemade stock is even better.
- Fresh herbs are best. Although you can certainly substitute dried herbs, fresh herbs are ideal here, delivering the best kind of flavor.
- Serve with crusty bread. Serve with all the homemade crusty bread for dipping, sopping and dunking!
- Leftovers are even better. Similar to lasagna, coq au vin tastes even better with time, giving the flavors a chance to meld and intensify even more.
- Reheat over low heat. Skim and discard any fat off the surface, reheating over low heat on the stovetop until warmed through.
Tools For This Recipe
6-qt Instant Pot®
Instant Pot Coq Au Vin: Frequently Asked Questions
A red burgundy (a pinot noir) is a popular choice of wine for coq au vin. Beaujolais, cabernet sauvignon and merlot are also great options.
Beef stock with a splash of red wine vinegar can be used for red wine as a non-alcoholic substitute. Stock will be less acidic and more mild in flavor than red wine.
Absolutely! But because dried herbs are often more potent/concentrated than fresh herbs, you need less when using dry. The correct ratio is 1 tablespoon fresh herbs to 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
No Instant Pot, no problem! You can make this stovetop version instead.
You’ll want something to sop up all that sauce, like these buttery mashed potatoes (or you can go with a cauliflower mash) or some crusty bread. You can also pair this with a light salad for a full rounded meal with the leftover wine.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 20-30 minutes.
Instant Pot Coq Au Vin
Ingredients
- 3 slices bacon, diced
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved
- 3 shallots, quartered
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 ½ cups dry red wine
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 3 carrots, halved lengthwise and cut into thirds
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Set a 6-qt Instant Pot® to the high saute setting. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving excess fat in the Instant Pot.
- Season chicken thighs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Working in batches, add chicken to the Instant Pot®, skin-side down, and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side; set aside. Drain excess fat, reserving 2 tablespoons in the Instant Pot®.
- Add mushrooms and shallots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and browned, about 5-7 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in flour and tomato paste until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
- Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot®. Stir in chicken stock, carrots and thyme.
- Return chicken to the Instant Pot®. Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 15 minutes. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Set chicken and vegetables aside. Select high sauté setting; simmer until the sauce has reduced and slightly thickened, about 8-10 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve chicken and vegetables with juices immediately, sprinkled with bacon and garnished with parsley, if desired.
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One of the most delicious recipes I have ever made. This is definitely going on my regular rotation.
This Instant Pot Coq au Vin recipe is a true winner! It takes the classic French dish of chicken braised in red wine and transforms it into an easy but incredibly flavorful meal that can be made in about an hour.
The recipe starts by crisping up some bacon, which adds an amazing smoky, salty base flavor to the dish. The chicken thighs are then seared until golden brown, creating a lovely fond (those delicious browned bits) that will incorporate into the sauce later. Mushrooms, shallots, garlic, tomato paste, and flour form an aromatic base for the rich red wine sauce.
Once the Instant Pot works its magic, you’re left with fall-off-the-bone tender chicken and vegetables swimming in a luscious, silky sauce. The red wine, along with the chicken stock, reduces down into an incredibly velvety gravy that coats each bite.
This dish has it all – crispy bacon, fork-tender chicken, a mouthwatering sauce, and perfectly cooked vegetables all infused with the bright tang of red wine. It’s a rustic, comforting meal that looks like it came from a fancy French bistro but can be easily achieved at home.
The best part is how quick it comes together compared to the traditional stovetop method, making it an excellent choice for a weeknight dinner or leisurely weekend meal. Rich, hearty, and completely satisfying – this Instant Pot Coq au Vin is magnifique!
How can I adjust the recipe to fit in a 3 qt instant pot?
Made this for Valentine’s Day dinner tonight and it was absolutely delicious. Just as good or better than any meal I could’ve gotten at a restaurant. Bonus that it was quick and easy. The sauce was to die for!
This is my go to recipe since I don’t have the time Julia’s version takes. It is quick, easy and absolute perfection.
My husband made this tonight and I cannot get over how absolutely delish it was. Served with mashes potatoes and some homemade sourdough. This dish is a winner.
This is my go to fancy dinner to impress someone. “ oh man he can cook” nah I follow good directions!! Thanks!
Delicious and fun to make. The vin helped.
Holy cow!! SO good, definitely a keeper! Its even better the next day!
I have boneless thighs, how much would I adjust the time?
Delicious! We made the recipe as written in an Instant Pot and served the chicken and vegetables with mashed potatoes. It was a big hit with the whole family and there were no leftovers. Thank you!
Instructions without an instant pot please
https://damndelicious.net/2022/01/08/easy-coq-au-vin/
I think this going to be so good. I am going to make it tonight but I don’t have an instant pot. I am going to use my heavy stew pot. Do you think it will come out the same?
This is DELICIOUS. I got the notification in my inbox for this new recipe and knew I needed to make it for dinner tonight. It was out of this world delicious. I paired it with instant pot mashed potatoes–another recipe from Damn Delicious (though I didn’t add the Ranch seasoning)! The dinner tasted so luxurious and was so easy to make. It was perfect for a chilly winter night. I will definitely be making this again!
Could you make this in a crockpot or stovetop? Do not have an instant pot. Thanks for any tips.
Could you include directions for those of us who do not have an instant pot?
Thank you
https://damndelicious.net/2022/01/08/easy-coq-au-vin/
Will this work with breast? My husband isn’t crazy about thighs.
Sounds delicious. Will it work with akin on breasts?
He won’t even know that the meat is thigh meat. The wine stains the meat so u can’t tell if it’s light or dark. Normally I don’t like dark meat but I always try new recipes as is. This was delicious.