Coq au Vin

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

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A Timeless Burgundian Classic (Requiring Little of Your Time)

The French dish known as coq au vin has been a mainstay on the dinner party circuit for years—and with good reason. Slowly cooking chicken in wine is a nearly foolproof way to render the meat fork-tender, so that humble chicken thighs wind up tasting incredibly decadent, surrounded by a velvety sauce. This straightforward recipe might be the only one you'll ever need. After some quick browning and sautéeing, the slow cooker takes over and you're hands-off for 5 or 6 hours, as dry red wine, bacon, mushrooms, garlic, onions, carrots and thyme all cook together with the chicken. The finished dish needs little more to accompany it than crusty bread and a green salad.

Get the recipe: Coq au Vin