Frugal Foodie Mama: Slow Cooker Cranberry Coq au Vin

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Slow Cooker Cranberry Coq au Vin

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At the start of each week while I am doing my meal planning, I always try to ask my husband and my son if they have any special requests for dinner for that week.  9 out of 10 times my son will almost always ask me to make this Slow Cooker Coq au Vin from Better Homes & Gardens.  I mean, this child of mine would eat that EVERY single week if I would allow it. ;)

Since it has become such a staple in our home, I decided to put my own little spin on the classic slow cooker Coq au Vin I usually.  On one particular week when I had granted my son's request for his favorite dinner, I realized I had forgotten to pick up the mushrooms for it when I was at the store earlier in the week.  
I scoured my freezer and a rather large bag of frozen cranberries were staring back at me. 
Hmmmm...  how about a little Cranberry Coq au Vin?? 

What you will need:
4 large chicken thighs (about 2 lbs), with skin removed & trimmed of fat
Salt & pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup red wine
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 packet of dry onion soup mix
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries

Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
Once the oil is heated, place the chicken in the skillet & brown both sides of the chicken thighs- about 2-3 minutes on each side.  Once browned, remove from the pan & place in the bottom of your Crock Pot.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients- the red wine through the cinnamon.  Dump the cranberries on top of the chicken thighs in the Crock pot, and then pour the red wine mixture over top.  

Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
The chicken thighs will slow roast beautifully until the meat is literally just falling off the bones.

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When you are ready to serve your Cranberry Coq au Vin, whip up some rice or some nice homemade mashed potatoes to pair with it.  We usually do mashed potatoes with our Coq au Vin, but since I had changed up our traditional recipe I also decided to switch up our usual side to rice.

Is there a traditional recipe that you like to put your own clever and tasty spin on? :)

Cranberry Coq au Vin

by Frugal Foodie Mama
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5-6 hours
Ingredients (Serves 4)
  • 4 large chicken thighs (about 2 lbs), with skin removed & trimmed of fat
  • Salt & pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 packet of dry onion soup mix
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
Once the oil is heated, place the chicken in the skillet & brown both sides of the chicken thighs- about 2-3 minutes on each side. Once browned, remove from the pan & place in the bottom of your Crock Pot.
In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients- the red wine through the cinnamon. Dump the cranberries on top of the chicken thighs in the Crock pot, and then pour the red wine mixture over top.
Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
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