Coq au vin

🇫🇷 A French classic…on a whim

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I’m no stranger to the occasional slip-up with words like this one (and noooo please don’t Google ‘Poppy O’Toole whim’, we don’t talk about it 😂). But as much as Coq au Vin can be a bit of a…mouthful to say, it’s also one of the most deliciously hearty French dishes you can serve for dinner.

Traditionally, this is a slow-braised chicken dish cooked in wine with smoky bacon, mushrooms and herbs. It sounds posh, and trust me, it’ll impress anyone you serve it to. But thanks to the slow cooker, it’s almost laughably easy to make. Just throw everything in, set the timer, and wait.

What to serve coq au vin with? 

Let’s be honest, every good stew needs a potato dish on the side. My go-to pairing? Ultimate buttery mashed potatoes, the kind that soaks up every drop of that gorgeous white wine sauce.

If you’re feeling extra fancy (or have guests to show off to), go the extra mile with a creamy dauphinoise potato. It’s a little posh, a little indulgent, and totally worth it. But tbh, any potato will do. As long as it’s on the plate, I’m happy.

Effortlessly fancy: the slow cooker way

This version of Coq au Vin is all about maximum flavour with minimal fuss. Cooking it low and slow in your slow cooker lets the chicken become perfectly tender and soak up all that gorgeous wine-infused sauce. The bacon adds a smoky richness, the mushrooms melt into the sauce, and the dry white wine gives it that velvety finish that feels like you’ve been simmering it all day, without the effort.

All you need to do is pop it on low for 6–7 hours (or high for 3 hours) and let your kitchen fill with the most incredible French bistro aroma. It’s the kind of dish that makes you feel like a proper chef, even if you’ve just been working from the sofa all day. 

This one’s perfect for a fancy date night, dinner party, or even a midweek treat when you want something that sounds impressive but really just involves pressing one button.

More slow cooker recipes please 

For more slow cooker recipes, check them out here OR you can buy my new book, Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Slow Cooker Cookbook. You’ll find over 90 recipes, covering everything from soups to curries, stews and even a gloriously indulgent lava cake. And not to brag….but my book is now officially a Sunday Times bestseller!! I just want an excuse to keep writing that because I literally can’t get over it.