Coq au Vin Recipe – Classic French Chicken in Red Wine Sauce

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 ounces diced pancetta (or bacon)
• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 4 pounds), trimmed of excess skin (see note)
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup Cognac
• 2½ cups red wine, preferably Burgundy or Pinot Noir
• 2½ cups chicken broth
• 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1½ teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 large carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch chunks on the bias
• 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour