Vikalinka

She laughs without fear of the future. And she cooks.

Coq au Vin Blanc

Succulent chicken with cremini mushrooms braised in white wine and a splash of cream. I present to you Coq au Vin Blanc!

Coq au Chardonnay

What country is coq au vin blanc from?

If you are looking for a bit of comfort food with a touch of elegance, this French recipe for chicken, slowing braised in white wine, is for you. 

When people think of French cuisine, images of perfectly and beautifully plated food immediately come to mine.

Well, this recipe is nothing like that. Fear not…it is simple and quick. It requires a very few ingredients you most likely have on hand. 

This braised chicken recipe is one of the finest examples of French country cooking.

Far, far away from classically trained chefs. Just skilled home cooks creating rustic, beautiful and delicious food for their families. 

Coq au Chardonnay

How do you make coq au vin?

To add to the simplicity of this chicken braised in white wine, there is also a convenience factor.

This dish is cooked in one pan and boasts tender succulent chicken thighs and legs swimming in creamy gravy like sauce. Did I also mention that there is bacon involved? Mmmm…

Coq au Chardonnay

As I mentioned earlier, all you need is a handful of ingredients but how, you might wonder, it can possibly develop such deep and gratifying flavours?

My answer is simple and as old as the world. Wine and slow cooking. 

What wine is best for coq au vin blanc?

You can use any dry white wine for this recipe. I’ve used Chardonnay but Sauvignon Blanc or dry Riesling will also work beautifully. I do not recommend using cooking wine. 

The reason I recommend dry white wine is because sweetness in wine tends to concentrate when it’s cooked down. So if you start with sweet wine, you will end up with very sweet dish after 40 minutes of simmering. 

You might be wondering what wine does to the chicken and how it enhances flavour. In other words…

Is it really worth it to cook with wine?

They short answer is absolutely. Unless you abstain from alcohol for medical or religious reasons, I would encourage you to give cooking with wine a try. 

The reason it works is because adding wine is like adding a concentrated flavour boost to your food. 

Wine makers have worked long and hard to develop those flavours.  All you have to do is to pour it in, sit back and let it simmer happily for 40 minutes.

Then reap the benefits and receive well deserved compliments from your loved ones.

Coq au Chardonnay

Is it safe for children and pregnant women to eat the food cooked with wine?

If you are concerned about cooking with alcohol or feeding your children “winey” chicken, don’t be!

Alcohol will cook out of the dish in the process of simmering! There will be traces left but truly negligible amount to be considered unsafe. 

All you will be left with is creamy sauce and scrumptious chicken as acid from the wine permeates it and makes it irresistibly tender. 

If you are a red wine lover, try one of my favourite recipes here for Coq au Vin, which also happens to be dairy free. 

Coq au Chardonnay

How long does it take to make coq au vin blanc?

This recipe might be a bit more hands-on than you’d like to invest in for a regular weeknight dinner. It will take you approximately one hour to make. 

However,  do save this chicken recipe for a weekend because you will absolutely fall in love with the complex flavours and will cook it again and again!

Coq au Chardonnay

Can I make coq au vin ahead and freeze it?

Yes you can!

Just make sure to add about 1/2 cup/125ml to 1 cup/250ml of chicken stock when reheating it as you are bound to lose some sauce in the process. 

What can I serve with chicken braised in white wine?

For a full French inspired dinner, serve this coq au vin with mashed potatoes or sweet potato and rutabaga mash if you are feeling more adventurous and a salad on the side. This apple, walnut and blue cheese salad will do nicely.

Good quality baguette is also highly recommended. 

Recipe originally published on 12/2014. Re-written and updated on 31/2019. 

Coq au Chardonnay

Coq au Vin Blanc (Chicken in White Wine)

This coq au vin blanc recipe shows a great way of making succulent chicken with mushrooms cooked in white wine and a splash of cream.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Main
Cuisine: French
Keyword: coq au vin blanc
Servings: 6
Calories: 506kcal
Author: Julia Frey of Vikalinka

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 4-5 strips of bacon/pancetta chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
  • 8 chicken pieces on the bone thighs and legs
  • 250 g Cremini mushrooms whole or halved
  • 500 ml/2/3 of a bottle of dry white wine such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
  • 250 ml/1 cup double/whipping cream
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • handful flat leaf chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Cook bacon or pancetta in a tablespoon of olive oil. Skip oil if bacon is too fatty. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Salt and pepper the chicken pieces and brown them in bacon fat over medium-high heat. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Cook chopped onion over low heat for 5-7 minutes, add garlic when the onion is tender and translucent and cook for 1 minute longer. Remove cooked onion and garlic to the same plate as chicken and bacon.
  • Add mushrooms to the pan and brown them for 3-5 minutes over medium-high heat.
  • Return chicken, onion, garlic and bacon to the pan, pour wine all over, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes.
  • Add cream and simmer for 10 minutes longer.
  • Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
  • Serve with mashed potatoes or rice and crusty bread to mop up all that amazing sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Coq au Vin Blanc (Chicken in White Wine)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 506 Calories from Fat 333
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g 57%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 134mg 45%
Sodium 568mg 24%
Potassium 511mg 15%
Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Sugars 2g
Protein 20g 40%
Vitamin A 14.8%
Vitamin C 4.5%
Calcium 6%
Iron 7.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @vikalinka or tag #vikalinka!

*Recipe adapted from Nigel Slater

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. DaisyWillow says

    Julia ~ Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! A friend of mine made this dish, in a skillet (I’m going to make mine in my cast iron skillet), with rice (no bacon). It was so yummy! I have asked her repeatedly for the recipe and she somehow always, ALWAYS changes the subject, never sharing the recipe (stingy!). I don’t mind sharing recipes, it makes me feel good that someone loves it enough to ask! I am going to make this meal this upcoming weekend – with bacon! Seriously, who doesn’t love bacon? So glad your recipe calls for onions! My friend didn’t use them in her recipe either – bacon and onions = great yummy combo! I absolutely love onions (and they, along with garlic, are great against colon cancer). I add onions in just about every dish I make, unless someone is totally adverse to the idea or allergic. Then, I will just make them a separate dish. My youngest brother doesn’t like onions, so I don’t tell him – I had used my box grater & you couldn’t see them, mostly onion juice, Guess what? He always loves it! Lol. My boyfriend & my sis-in-law knew there were onions, but didn’t say a word, just smiled ear-to-ear, like we had a secret. We would look at each other and giggle. Again, thank you so very much for sharing your recipe! 😊 I look forward to making more of your recipes! God bless you sister-girl!

    Reply

  3. Sydney says


    Just stopping by to say this is one of my favorite recipes. I made it first in 2015 but it remains my favorite into 2019. I’ve tried many versions of it, but following the recipe exactly is the best result. I’ve never been a huge fan of thighs so the first couple times I just used chicken breasts and a couple times I’ve used tenderloins (don’t recommend). The last few times the thighs have surprised me (plus they are cheaper at the store!). I used this to impress my friends in college and now I use it to impress my adult friends. It’s my go to.

    Reply

  4. Malia says


    Loved the flavors and the ease of prep, but that said, saying it only needs 5 minutes of prep is very misleading. Just opening up a package of bacon, chopping it up, sautéing it, and washing the cutting board took 15 minutes! Throw in the time it takes to slice the mushrooms, garlic, parsley and an onion? And then sautéing each of those things one at a time? Prep for getting this dish ready for simmering should realistically state more like 30- 45 minutes prep, 40 minutes to simmer. Great recipe, though, will make again for sure!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      I am glad you loved the recipe. Regarding the prep time…I don’t actually consider sauteeing as “prep time”, that is cooking, so the time for it is accounted for in the recipe instructions. The same goes for washing a cutting board, it’s something I do while things are cooking. The only prep time would be chopping one onion and slicing mushrooms and garlic. I believe 5 minutes is fair but I am fast.

      Reply

  5. Nicole says

    Forgive me if this is basic cooking 101, but I’m a rookie! Would this be a good choice to feed a crowd of 16 in terms of logistics? I can’t imagine it all fitting in one pan to make enough, so should I just do multiple pans using multiple burners? If so, how do I ensure proper proportions in each pan? I do have a large turkey roasting pan (that I’ve never used🤣) but I could use that if you think it’s best!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Hi Nicole, yes using multiple pans would be your only solution if cooking for 16 people. Are you thinking of using the roasting pan on a stove top? It might not be the best way to brown the chicken though. You can move the bar next to Serving in the recipe card, and it will automatically adjust the recipe ingredients for 16 people. Then I would just divide the chicken evenly among the pans and cook according the instructions. I would also make sure you have help if you are a rookie. 🙂 Cooking for 16 is not easy!

      Reply

    • DaisyWillow says

      Hi Nicole, FYI ~ a few comments below yours ~ sounds like a successful dinner party for 10 couples. Have you already had your dinner party for 16? How did it go? If not, good luck, and I would be interested in hearing how it went. Did everyone love the meal? I always measure a successful dinner party, (or any event that includes cooking 😊) by the number of people who request the recipe.

      TraCey says
      January 29, 2017 at 1:53 am

      “This is really excellent!! I made this for a dinner party of 10 couples. I wanted something easy……but impressive. This was it. It was perfect….”

      Reply

    • vikalinka says

      I haven’t, Diana. I don’t actually own an instant pot but I do have a Tefal brand pressure cooker and I imagine you can easily do that in about 10 minutes. 🙂

      Reply

  7. Karen says

    I had seen the recipe a couple days ago for Coq au Chardonnay, but I can’t seem to find the recipe on this site anymore. Can you please reattach it? I bought all the ingredients and came back to the site for the recipe, but it was gone. Thanks!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      It’s back, Karen. Thanks for letting me know. I was updating this post last night and accidently deleted it. I wouldn’t have known if not for your comment! Hours of of anxiety and I was able to restore it!

      Reply

  8. Carol says


    tried this recipe and felt like i’d died and gone to heaven! I wanted to dive into this sauce! OMGOOOOOOOOOOSH! Seriously, it’s the best! My book club LOOOOOVED it!

    Merci!

    Carol in Paradise, CA

    Reply

  9. Mary says

    Made this last nite. Made exactly as was printed and it was delicious. I did cook the chicken thighs for awhile though to make sure they got nice and browned. Husband loved it. Served over rice. Plenty of sauce!

    Reply

  10. TraCey says

    This is really excellent!! I made this for a dinner party of 10 couples. I wanted something easy……but impressive. This was it. It was perfect. My husband grilled some boneless chicken breast, that I cut into thin strips so it would cook quickly.
    What I really love about this dish is…..you can throw everything into the pan and let it be simmering on the stove while your guests arrive, graze on appetizers, eat the salad,and sip wine before the main course. Please make this if you want to enjoy the evening and reLax with friends.

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Yes! This! When I am having a dinner party I plan on meals like this one because I don’t want to be red-faced constantly stirring in the kitchen when people are chatting with my husband in the living room. lol 🙂

      Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Hi Monique, I just looked at the recipe again and I am sure you can adapt it to a slow cooker but you would still have to brown chicken, mushrooms and onions beforehand (Steps 1-4 in the recipe card) because that is where the flavour comes from, and then assemble the rest of the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours. The thing is that you wouldn’t be saving much time because the main hands-on work is in those first steps, afterwards it’s just simmering for a few minutes but if you try it please let me know how it turns out! Good luck! 🙂

      Reply

  15. Kristin says


    This was DELICIOUS. Even my two picky-pants children adored it. My five-year-old asked for seconds with” extra sauce please” — amazing! We skipped the rice and had good, crusty bread with it. This was so easy and will definitely be added to the rotation of often-made recipes. Thank you!

    Reply

  16. Kelly Harris says


    Made this last night, I’m not sure i browned the chicken quite long enough, didn’t quite get the crispy skin. The flavor was delicious. My sauce was not thick, though. What do you think made the sauce not creamy? I used one cup heavy whipping cream, should i have used two?

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Kelly, the first time I made this recipe I didn’t brown the chicken to my liking, it looked rather pale so I just returned it to the pan and did a bit more browning, no big deal. The sauce gets thicker the longer you simmer it, so next time just cook it 5 minutes longer or until it is the consistency you like.

      Reply

    • vikalinka says

      I really can’t remember, it was so long ago, Denise. 🙂 I usually buy whatever is reasonable priced when I cook with wine.

      Reply

  18. Brenda says


    I’m obsessed with this chicken! I made it 3 times already and its sooo good! You have to have it with bread so you can get all that delicious sauce. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Thank you, Brenda! I completely agree about the bread, it’s a must. I also make this chicken recipe quite a lot, especially when guests come over, it’s always a winner.

      Reply

  19. Paul says

    This should be great. I’ve got a magnum (1.5 litre) of high quality chardy (retail US$75) which I expect is now well past its prime (nearly twenty years old!). If it’s survived, great. If it’s faded badly but not complete vinegar, it won’t be a complete waste, all the more of it will go in the “amazing sauce”!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Oh wow, Paul, I can’t believe you waited 20 years to open your wine. I am not nearly that patient, I hope it still tastes great, you don’t want vinegar! 🙂

      Reply

  20. Laura Jones says

    I made this tonight. It was WONDERFUL! I actually used a whole chicken (cheaper than buying parts) that I cut French style into eight pieces – two legs, two thighs, and four breast pieces (I removed the wings to use for stock). I also removed the chicken to a non-paper lined plate after browning so I could add the accumulated juices back to the sauce. In addition I added the wine to the pan to deglaze and scrape up any browned bits from the pan before adding everything else back in. What I love about this recipe is that once you get it started, the work is done and you can socialize with your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.

    Reply

  21. Jeny says

    This recipe is SO so incredibly scrumptious. Made it recently and loved it. My husband, who could care less for chicken, no matter how it’s cooked, LOVED it. Thank you for this dish!!

    Reply

  24. Dina Eller-Byrd says

    I am a little late to the coq au Chardonnay party and I am so dispappointed – that I am late!! I am not a lover of meat on a bone so I made this tonight with boneless, skinless thighs. My DH is not a fan of anything he considers to be frou-frou – which is most things ????. I must say this was delicious!!! And with the hubby saying repeatedly…”honey this is divine”…it makes this a recipe worthy of keeping! Thanks so much for posting!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Thank you, Dina! I absolutely loved reading your comment! I am so glad both your husband and you enjoyed it so much! 🙂

      Reply

  25. Kate says


    This recipe was bland, and the skin was not crispy. Very disappointing because I made this for my husband for Christmas dinner. Not tasty at all :(.

    Reply

  27. Deanna says


    I made this once for my boyfriend and now he requests it all the time! The sauce is so good I have to resist slurping it all up! Very yummy!

    Reply

  28. Audra says


    I found this recipe listed on imgur.com and I just had to come to the source and leave a note saying how delicious this recipe is. I can’t say enough good things about it, thank you!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Thank you so much Audra for taking the time and visiting the original source. I am so pleased to hear you enjoyed the recipe. I just realised it was posted in full on imgur.com without my permission. It’s quite upsetting stuff like this happens.

      Reply

  29. Angela McDarren says

    This recipe looks and sounds amazing. Unfortunately I am allergic to mushrooms, could you please suggest another veggie I could use?
    Thank you. Love your blog and everything I’ve ttied.
    Angela

    Reply

  31. Ericka says

    This dish sounds amazing and I plan to make it got dinner! After simmering on the stove for a few minutes, can it be put in the oven as well, or will that dry the sauce out?

    Reply

  32. Melanie Gabriel says

    This is such an easy recipe and so delicious. Thank you for sharing. It has become a favorite of mine. I used the whole bottle of wine and doubled the cream. I love things saucy and wanted to make sure I had left overs. The sauce is so good I could have it as a soup.

    Reply

  34. Christi says


    My husband is the cook in the family-a fabulous cook. I made this tonight and he gave me a 10/10! I’ve never, in our 12 years together, gotten a 10/10! Thank you!

    Reply

  35. Evangelia says


    I made this dish for dinner tonight and my man loved it!! I will definitely be making it again. The only thing I found is that if the food sits for a couple hours a lot of the sauce gets absorbed so next time I would make more of it especially because I made it with rice and it soaks it up even more when plated. The flavours are just perfect though! Thank you for this delicious recipe 🙂

    Reply

  37. Jo says

    Thanks! What chardonnay brand did you use? Mine is an australian brand more fruity flavor. If i dont have chardonnay can i use pinot grigio? Thanks 😉

    Reply

  38. Jo says

    Hi can i use brown button mushroom? We dont have cremini mushroom in our country. We do have portobello sometimes but mostly button or shitake. Whats the difference between using whipping cream and cooking cream (emborg brand) ? The taste or texture will be different? Thanks thanks

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Jo, you can definitely use brown button mushrooms, which I believe, is just another name for cremini mushrooms. I am afraid I am not familiar with cooking cream or emborg brand. Whipping cream or double cream is very thick cream with high fat content.

      Reply

  39. Maggie says


    I followed this recipe almost to the T – I just used boneless, skinless chicken breasts b/c that’s what I had. Otherwise, I followed your instructions exactly. This was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten!! The family loved it. I agree with the poster above who called this sauce life-changing. I had a couple extra pieces of chicken and some sauce left over – the next day, I heated it up, dipped bread in it and finished it off myself! It is AWESOME! I will definitely be making this dish again. YUM!

    Reply

  40. Julia says

    I made this tonight and it was so amazing. I left out the bacon and used half a cup of soy milk mixed with the heavy cream and it still turned out great. Thanks for this recipe.

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Brilliant! I had no idea you could use soy milk and still get a great texture.Thank you for sharing, Julia!

      Reply

  41. Jenn says

    Hi! This recipe looks wonderful! I am going to make this recipe this weekend for a dinner party. Does the skin stay crisp from the browning process, and do you have any tips with regard to that? Thanks!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Jenn, the skin does stay crisp as the sauce doesn’t fully cover it, at least if you use a wide shallow pan it won’t. Good luck with the dinner party prep!

      Reply

  42. De says


    Delish.. made with turkey bacon and only one cup of heavy cream. OMG… the better half said it was delicious. I am keeping this one!!!!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Stacey, you are right that browning of the skin adds to the flavour but I am sure you can try using boneless skinless thighs. Using them will make the process even quicker.

      Reply

  44. jackie says

    Hi this looks amazing and want to try tomoz. Can I cook this all in a wok or do I need to go out and get a crock pot?

    Thanks

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Hi Jackie, this dish is cooked in a deep pan. You can use a wok to make it and you definitely do not need a crock pot for it.

      Reply

  47. Becky says

    What are Cremini mushrooms. Can any other kind be substituted? 250g would be how much in ounces or measurement size. (cup? half cup?

    Reply

  48. Christine says

    Question… step#5 says to simmer for 40 minutes, is that correct? In a comment below you mention but it should all be done in 20 minutes. Can you clarify? Thank you

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Christine, that comment you are referring to was made in error, it was for another recipe that did require 20 min of simmering. If you look at my comment underneath you will see it. 40 min is correct for Coq au Chardonnay. 🙂

      Reply

    • Jackie Daniels says

      I would as well but I don’t see a response. but I found this recipe in 65 best low carb chicken recipes. If you put over califlower rice and no bread it should be low carb. Thoughts ??

      Reply

      • vikalinka says

        I don’t have that data, Jackie. There are carb counters online that will be able to calculate it for you. This recipe is low carb enough but it does have wine as a key ingredient.

        Reply

  50. Jessica says

    I found this on Pinterest. My god am I ever glad I did! I served it slightly differently than suggested, near the end of cooking I tossed in peas and penne for a complete one dish meal. My 3 (two of whom are picky) boys stuffed their faces!! This dish is wonderful. The sauce, seriously, life changing.

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Sounds like a perfect one dish meal, Jessica! I love it when readers adapt my recipes to suit their taste! I love the sauce so much as well. 🙂

      Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Maria, you can always use chicken stock instead of cream and thicken it with flour or cornstarch. If you look at the recipe again there is a link in it to Coq au Vin, which is made with red wine and no cream. You can use that recipe but with Chardonnay.

      Reply

  53. Lisa says

    Julia — made this on the weekend! Absolutely delicious, and impressive! Many thanks… Can’t wait to try your coq au vin next! Love your recipes….Cheers…

    Reply

  54. Whitney says

    This looks so delicious! Just to clarify, when you say to brown the chicken in step #2, you just mean to sear it and the rest of it will cook in the 40 minutes. Or do I cook the chicken completely in step #2 and then continue with the 40 minutes to allow the sauce to flavor it up?

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      Whitney, you are correct, just to brown it in step #2 and it will finish cooking completely by the time the rice is done. The whole process only takes 20 minutes, not 40 though. 🙂

      Reply

        • vikalinka says

          LOL, So sorry Whitney, I was commenting on my Fried Rice recipe! Yes, 40 minutes for this one and only brown chicken at first! NO RICE! 🙂

          Reply

  55. betsy says

    We dont have legs or thighs. … could I use breasts? Also only have white cooking wine would that work? Or should I run to store? I know it’d probably taste different but thought it may be ok.

    Reply

  56. Eowyn West says

    Hello. I’m always confused as to what kind of onion to buy as there are white, yellow, etc. Can you kindly tell me which to purchase for this dish? Thank you so much! Cheers!

    Reply

    • vikalinka says

      I know many recipes will specify what kind of onion to get but to me it’s a matter of preference. I love red onions as I find them less bitter and that’s what I used here, Eowyn. That being said, if you use a regular white onion it will taste just as good. 🙂

      Reply

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