Once you have discovered the perfection that is coq au vin, you will next need to learn what to serve with coq au vin. We can help! We happen to be coq au vin experts.
Coq au vin is a classic French dish that is essentially chicken stewed in chicken broth wine, bacon lardons, tomato paste, onions, bay leaf, and garlic. Slow cooking the chicken over medium heat in this delicious blend makes it tender, flavorful, and oh so tasty.
One bite, and you’ll know why it is such an iconic dish!
Coq au vin pairs well with other rich French foods. Choosing a side dish from classic French cuisine is a great way to ensure your meal has a cohesive theme.
Also, consider the flavors of the chicken’s dark meat. It is juicy and very meaty. A light vegetable side dish may be a perfect match.
The strong flavor of bacon should definitely be considered when choosing a great side dish for chicken coq au vin. Bacon can be overpowering, so you want a side that can stand up to that sweet, savory flavor!
Coq au Vin with Red wine, Lardons, Mushrooms, Carrot and Onion
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Coq Au Vin Side Dishes: Recipes to Enhance this Exquisite Dish
Take a look at our favorite recipes to serve next to classic coq au vin. Some will make you a hearty, filling meal while others are light and simple, allowing the coq au vin to take center stage.
Start cooking your best coq au vin recipe, get it simmering inside a Dutch oven, and then start on the side dishes!
1. Brussels Sprouts
We at Simple Green Moms are great at making healthy, tasty veggie side dishes. Our Brussels sprouts recipe is definitely fantastic!
Coq au vin is essentially a meat-packed dish. It does have some pearl onions in the mix, but that is not quite enough veggies for us! Some sauteed Brussels sprouts are exactly what you need to make your coq au vin mean complete.
Cut the Brussels sprouts in half and sear them in a large skillet with a little olive oil. Use lemon juice in place of lime juice to make the flavor of the sprouts match the coq au vin better.
A splash of balsamic vinegar or red wine is also a good idea. A tablespoon or two of a nice pinot noir on the brussels sprouts will make the veggie taste just like the red wine braised chicken.
2. Mashed Potatoes
A big scoop of coq au vin on top of a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes is a classic French meal. The wine marinade from the coq au vin stew makes a delicious sauce for buttery potatoes. Eat a scoop of mashed potatoes with a forkful of coq au vin in the same bite, and your mouth will dance with delight.
Image Source: Simply Recipes
We love these tasty mashed potatoes from Simply Recipes. Be sure to use Yukon gold potatoes which have the right amount of starch to make perfectly textured potatoes.
This recipe uses lots of butter, heavy cream, and salt to make the potatoes extra delicious. Try using cream cheese in place of heavy creamy for a tangier take on the side dish. That subtle tart flavor is tasty with rich coq au vin and wine sauce.
3. Green Salad
A simple green salad can be exactly what you need next to hearty coq au vin. We especially love this chopped green salad from A Couple Cooks. It is very easy to make and goes so well with the rich cooked chicken legs and chicken thighs.
Image Source: A Couple Cooks
The salad is made with chopped romaine, tomatoes, olives, and diced onion. The taste of the tomatoes mimics the tomato paste flavor in the Dutch oven chicken.
Replace the diced onion with small, whole pearl onions to match the pearl onions in your traditional coq au vin recipe.
The salad is topped with a classic Italian dressing. Use a creamy French dressing to make the salad more in line with your French cooking.
4. Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes are a delicious, beautiful dish that can serve an entire dinner party. Make this recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything along with a tasty coq au vin, and you will have a decadent, big meal.
Image Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything
Thinly sliced russet potatoes are layered with a homemade cheese sauce. The sauce has a touch of cayenne pepper which gives it a nice, subtle spice.
The potato casserole is baked until the top is bubbling and lightly browned. It does take a little time to cook, so plan the casserole baking time around the coq au vin time. No one wants overcooked white meat coq au vin!
Plan ahead, and your meal will be cooked and ready to serve in no time.
5. Roasted Root Vegetables
A beautiful plate of roasted root vegetables with a perfectly cooked coq au vin is a classic dish you will love. This recipe from Tori Avery makes the most incredible, easy roasted vegetables that will bake to perfection while your braised meat cooks on the stove.
Image Source: Tori Avery
The recipe uses sweet potatoes, red potatoes, carrots, and beets. The color combination is fantastic!
Fresh thyme, rosemary, and a little kosher salt are the main seasonings for the veggies. Olive oil, black pepper, and cumin are also tossed with chopped vegetables.
Save some of the bacon fat from the cooked bacon you make for the coq au vin. Use this in place of oil for even more flavor.
Feel free to use your favorite root vegetables to make the dish a little more suited to your personal tastes. Some chopped sweet onions or whole pearl onions roast well. Parsnips are also a wonderful addition. Whole garlic cloves will add a sweet, earthy taste.
6. Homemade Egg Noodles
Egg noodles and golden brown chicken coq au vin is a great dish. The hearty, rich chicken and sauce are delicious when served over a bed of soft noodles.
Image Source: Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
Try making your own egg noodles using this recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. Making your own noodles is surprisingly simple. You only need five simple ingredients to make the noodles.
They are also pretty quick to put together. Knead the dough, then roll it and cut the noodles into the shape you’d like. The egg noodles cook in about two minutes over medium-high heat and will be ready to eat!
Use a slotted spoon to scoop your coq au vin over the noodles. Pour some extra sauce over the dish and enjoy while everything is steaming hot.
7. Green Beans
French green beans are also called haricots verts. This is a type of long green bean that originated in France. While making coq au vin, you should continue the French cooking by making this traditional green bean dish.
Image Source: Sweet as Honey
Follow this recipe from Sweet as Honey. The fresh green beans are cooked with melted butter and tossed with crunchy sliced almonds.
The spices for the green beans are kept simple. Salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon juice are all you need to make these green beans come to life! Try steaming the green beans with a bit of chicken stock to make them a little more rich.
Serve the warm green beans alongside your perfectly cooked coq au vin. The roasted chicken thighs and green beans will be a French meal you won’t forget!
8. Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Easy roasted sweet potatoes are a wonderful side dish for your favorite red wine and tomato paste simmered chicken. Try making this recipe from Chelsea’s Messy Apron that can be put together in just a few minutes.
Image Source: Chelsea’s Messy Apron
The sweet taste of the sweet potatoes is delicious, next to the savory flavor of the slow-cooked chicken. Choose between the plain roasted sweet potatoes or try the recipe using the seasonings.
We personally like the seasoned sweet potatoes with traditional coq au vin. The more flavor, the better! The cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and salt really make the sweet potatoes pop.
Drizzle some extra red wine sauce over the potatoes to really bring the whole meal together. Add chicken to the plate and then sit down for a classic meal that would make celebrity chef Julia Child smile.
9. Braised Fennel
Fennel is often found in French cuisine. The licorice-flavored vegetable is really quite delicious. It is especially good paired next to coq au vin. Serve only dark meat with this tasty side dish to really make a hearty meal!
Image Source: Inspired Taste
Use this recipe from Inspired Taste to make a perfectly braised, tender fennel.
The fennel bulbs are sliced and tossed in oil, orange juice, orange zest, and chicken stock. That bright orange flavor really makes the fennel stand out. A little citrus taste is also amazing with rich, classic French chicken.
Fennel only takes about 10 minutes to soften to perfection. It will be fork tender and ready to enjoy.
Transfer chicken from a large Dutch oven to your dinner plate and add as much braised fennel as you’d like. Grab a glass of burgundy wine, and your meal will be complete.
10. French Bread
When wondering what to serve with coq au vin, you should definitely consider making a nice loaf of French bread. This easy recipe from Lil Luna is tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside. It is exactly what a good French bread should be!
Image Source: Lil Luna
Making bread does take a little bit of time. Follow the recipe closely, and you will have no problems at all! Just plan ahead and set your chicken pieces to simmer over medium-low heat.
Try turning the bread into garlic bread. Roll the dough into small, individual rolls. No matter the shape, your dinner guests are sure to be impressed by such a fantastic homemade meal.
11. Butternut Squash Casserole
As your coq au vin simmers over medium heat, it’s time to start thinking about side dishes. Start baking a perfect butternut squash casserole to serve with coq au vin.
Image Source: Well Plated
You will not be disappointed by this recipe from Well Plated. It is packed with fall flavors that will go well with the rich chicken and bacon dish.
Try using chicken stock in place of vegetable stock to make the flavors in the casserole match the flavors in the coq au vin. Add some extra vegetables like zucchini, pearl onions, or sweet potatoes to make the casserole even heartier.
12. Roasted Beet Salad
Roasted beet salad may look fancy and sound fancy, but it is actually pretty easy. This recipe from House of Nash Eats may be one of our list’s more simple side dishes. However, that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in flavor!
Image Source: House of Nash Eats
Wrap fresh beets in foil and roast them in a medium-high heat oven. The beets will become tender and soft as they cook.
Use paper towels to rub the skin off the cooked beets. No need for a peeler when simple paper towels will do!
Chop the soft beets and sprinkle them over a bed of mixed greens in a large bowl. Add some fresh goat cheese, roasted pistachios, and a homemade vinaigrette to complete the dish.
You may want to save some bacon from your main entree. Some chopped, crunchy bacon on top of the roasted beet salad sounds incredible. It will also make the salad match the coq even better.
13. Panzanella
Panzanella salad is a bright, vibrant side dish made with lots of vegetables and bread. It is a great side to serve with coq au vin in the summer or anytime you want to make your meal a little less hearty.
Image Source: Love and Lemons
Use this recipe from Love and Lemons to make the best meal ever. Sliced tomatoes, onions, and corn are tossed together. Fresh sliced peaches add a sweet, interesting taste.
Toasted bread makes the salad a little more filling, and the zesty vinaigrette is the perfect finishing touch.
14. Stuffed Mushrooms
These cream cheese stuffed mushrooms from Cafe Delites are incredible. They are so easy to pop into your mouth! They make a fantastic side dish or appetizer to serve with coq au vin dinner.
Image Source: Cafe Delites
The mushroom stuffing is made with sausage, cream cheese, and spices. Replace the sausage with bacon to make the side dish match the entree even more. You can never go wrong with extra bacon!
15. French Fries
You can never go wrong with golden brown French fries! They are traditionally served alongside coq au vin, but you can also dip the fries right into the stew itself. No need for ketchup when you have a rich chicken stew!
Image Source: The Cozy Cook
Try this recipe from The Cozy Cook. Homemade French fries are very easy to make, and the recipe is pretty straightforward. You can cook beautiful, irresistible French fries in just a matter of minutes!
Incredible Coq Au Vin Side Dishes
There are so many amazing, delicious side dishes that can make your coq meal complete. Let us know what you decide to cook and which recipes are your favorite. Enjoy!
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