Easy Jamie Oliver Coq Au Vin Recipe That’s Perfect Every Time

Jamie Oliver’s coq au vin transforms an ordinary chicken dinner into a remarkable culinary experience that whispers French countryside charm.

Wine-braised poultry carries deep, complex flavors that dance between rustic and sophisticated.

Professional chefs and home cooks appreciate this classic dish for its rich, layered taste profile.

Hearty ingredients merge seamlessly, creating a comforting meal that feels both elegant and approachable.

Mediterranean cooking techniques shine through in this robust preparation, highlighting simple ingredients elevated to extraordinary heights.

Tender meat absorbs delicious wine-infused elements, promising a memorable dining adventure.

Each bite tells a story of traditional cooking methods and passionate flavor combinations: get ready to impress everyone at your table.

Why Jamie Oliver’s Coq Au Vin Is a Timeless Favorite

• Savor Classic French Comfort: Dive into a traditional coq au vin that transforms simple ingredients into a rich, deeply satisfying meal bursting with authentic French countryside flavors.
• Master Easy Gourmet Cooking: This recipe breaks down complex French cooking into straightforward steps, allowing home cooks to create a restaurant-quality dish without intimidating techniques or expensive equipment.
• Enjoy Layered Flavor Explosion: Each ingredient builds incredible depth – crispy bacon, tender chicken, caramelized vegetables, and wine create a harmonious symphony of taste that develops beautifully during slow cooking.
• Experience One-Pot Convenience: Minimize kitchen cleanup while maximizing flavor by preparing everything in a single Dutch oven, making this recipe perfect for busy weeknight dinners or impressive weekend gatherings.

Must-Have Ingredients for Jamie Oliver’s Coq Au Vin

• Chicken: Classic French dish star, bone-in pieces preferred for richer flavor.
• Bacon: Adds smoky depth and rich base flavor to the dish.

• Onions, Frozen Onions: Sweet base flavor and texture, pearl onions provide traditional French touch.
• Carrots: Adds subtle sweetness and classic vegetable depth.
• Garlic: Provides robust, aromatic foundation to the sauce.
• Mushrooms: Earthy complement to the chicken and wine sauce.

• Cognac: Traditional French spirit that adds complex, warm flavor to the dish.
• Red Wine: Classic coq au vin liquid, provides rich, deep flavor profile.
• Chicken Stock: Creates depth and moisture for braising chicken.
• Thyme: Classic French herb with earthy, slightly minty undertones.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing overall dish flavor.

• Butter: Adds richness and helps create smooth sauce texture.
• Flour: Thickens sauce and provides silky consistency.
• Olive Oil: Used for initial cooking and browning of ingredients.

Steps to Make Jamie Oliver’s Coq Au Vin

Step 1: Prepare the Cooking Space

Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Take a large Dutch oven and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add bacon and cook for 8-10 minutes until it turns golden and crispy. Transfer the bacon to a separate plate using a slotted spoon.

Step 2: Season and Brown the Chicken

Pat the chicken pieces completely dry with paper towels. Generously sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken. Brown the chicken in batches in the same Dutch oven, creating a beautiful golden crust. Move the browned chicken pieces to the plate with the bacon.

Step 3: Sauté the Vegetables

• Carrots
• Onions
• Salt
• Pepper

Cook until the onions become soft and lightly caramelized. Toss in the garlic and sauté for an additional 1 minute to release its aromatic flavors.

Step 4: Build the Flavor Base

• Cognac
• Cooked bacon
• Browned chicken
• Red wine
• Chicken stock
• Fresh thyme

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and transfer to the preheated oven. Let it cook for 30-40 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 5: Finish and Garnish

Create a butter-flour mixture by mashing of butter with flour. Stir this into the stew to help thicken the sauce. Add frozen pearl onions and mushrooms. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve piping hot, directly from the Dutch oven.

Chef Tips for a Rich Jamie Oliver Coq Au Vin

• Savor Flavor Depth: Let the dish rest overnight, allowing ingredients to mingle and intensify taste complexities.
• Select Mushroom Magic: Grab fresh cremini or button mushrooms for authentic texture and rich earthy undertones.
• Slow-Cooking Secrets: Maintain gentle oven temperatures to transform tough chicken into meltingly tender bites.
• Sizzle with Bacon: Grab thick-cut, premium bacon to infuse smoky richness into every succulent layer.
• Sip Smart with Wine: Opt for authentic French burgundy or pinot noir, ensuring the liquid base delivers exceptional flavor complexity.

How to Store Jamie Oliver’s Coq Au Vin

Storage Tip:

Freeze individual portions in vacuum-sealed bags to lock in peak flavor and prevent freezer burn. Professional chefs recommend this method for maintaining texture and taste up to 3 months. Wrap containers tightly with plastic wrap before adding a protective layer of aluminum foil for extra seal.

Refrigerate leftover Coq Au Vin in glass containers with airtight lids to preserve moisture and prevent flavor contamination. Store in the coldest part of your refrigerator, typically the back shelf, where temperature remains most consistent. Keep portions separated to ensure even cooling and easier reheating.

Reheat gently in a covered saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally to distribute warmth evenly. Add a splash of chicken stock if sauce appears dry to restore original creamy consistency. Never microwave, as direct heat can toughen chicken and break down delicate sauce components.

Variations on Jamie Oliver’s Coq Au Vin

• Rustic Herb Chicken Stew: Replace thyme with a blend of rosemary, sage, and parsley for an aromatic herbaceous profile that elevates the classic French dish.
• Spicy Mediterranean Version: Incorporate chorizo instead of bacon, add smoked paprika, and use red wine for a bolder, more intense flavor that brings Mediterranean warmth to the traditional recipe.
• Light White Wine Chicken Casserole: Swap red wine with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, reduce the stock, and add fresh lemon zest for a brighter, lighter interpretation of the classic coq au vin.
• Smoky Woodland Chicken: Include wild mushrooms like porcini or chanterelles, use applewood smoked bacon, and add a splash of whiskey to create a rich, woodsy version of the traditional French stew.

Taking Stock of Jamie Oliver’s Coq Au Vin

Classic French cuisine shines through Jamie Oliver’s Coq Au Vin, an exquisite blend of rustic charm and sophisticated flavors.

Wine-braised chicken transforms traditional cooking into a culinary masterpiece that whispers French countryside tales.

Bacon, herbs, and red wine create a symphony of rich, deep flavors dancing across each tender morsel.

Slow-cooked perfection emerges from careful layering of ingredients, allowing complex notes to harmonize beautifully.

Regional French traditions come alive in this soul-warming dish that connects generations through passionate cooking.

Complex yet approachable, this recipe invites kitchen adventurers to explore culinary magic – share your delicious creation, comment on your experience, and spread love through this timeless classic.

Jamie Oliver Coq Au Vin Recipe

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4.5 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Rich French culinary tradition shines through this classic coq au vin, blending tender chicken, smoky bacon, and red wine into a luxurious one-pot masterpiece. Hearty flavors and rustic charm invite you to savor a sublime dining experience straight from Burgundy’s countryside.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 1 (3 to 4-pound) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 4 ounces (113 grams) good bacon or pancetta, diced

Vegetables and Herbs:

• ½ pound (227 grams) carrots, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
• 1 yellow onion, sliced
• ½ pound (227 grams) frozen small whole onions
• ½ pound (227 grams) cremini mushrooms, stems removed and thickly sliced
• 10 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) Cognac or good brandy
• ½ bottle (375 milliliters) good dry red wine such as Burgundy
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature, divided
• 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Prepare the cooking vessel by warming the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius). In a large Dutch oven, render the bacon over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes until it develops a golden-brown color. Transfer the crispy bacon to a separate plate using a perforated utensil.
2. Thoroughly pat the chicken pieces dry and generously season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sear the chicken in batches within the same Dutch oven, creating a rich caramelized exterior. Carefully relocate the browned chicken to the plate alongside the bacon.
3. Introduce diced carrots and onions to the cooking vessel, seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Sauté the vegetables until the onions turn translucent and develop light caramelization. Incorporate minced garlic and allow it to release its aromatic qualities for approximately one minute.
4. Deglaze the pan with Cognac, then carefully return the bacon and chicken to the Dutch oven. Pour in the wine, chicken stock, and sprinkle fresh thyme leaves. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, cover the pot, and transfer to the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
5. Create a smooth butter-flour liaison by mashing 1 tablespoon of butter with flour until well combined. Gently stir this mixture into the stew to enhance its richness and thickness. Add pearl onions and sliced mushrooms, allowing them to incorporate fully. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the stew piping hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.

Notes

• Transport your kitchen to the rustic French countryside with this soul-warming culinary masterpiece.
• Transforming humble chicken thighs into a restaurant-worthy experience that delights every sense.
• Slow-cooking technique unlocks incredible flavor depths through patient, loving preparation.
• Budget-friendly ingredients combine to create an unexpectedly luxurious dining adventure.
• Versatile dish perfect for cozy family meals or impressing sophisticated dinner guests.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Braising
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 650 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg