Serve Coq Au Vin alongside French Onion Rice Pilaf, Garlic Roasted Mushrooms, Honey Butter Glazed Carrots, Lemony Lentil Salad, and Crispy Brussels Sprouts.
French Onion Rice Pilaf -
If you're a fan of French onion soup, then you'll surely love this rice pilaf.
For a lighter option, try Crispy Brussels Sprouts. Crispy Brussels Sprouts -
Besides fresh salads, roasted and smoky flavored dishes combine perfectly with coq au vin.
Coq Au Vin is a classic, charming the socks off dinner tables for decades. It's a French dish that screams sophistication without breaking a sweat.
Yet, even the best of us find ourselves scratching our heads over what to serve on the side.
We've been down this road. Picking sides for Coq Au Vin isn't a stroll in the park.
But hey, we made mistakes so you won't have to. Ready for sides that not only complement but improve?
10 Ideal Side Dishes for Coq Au Vin
Now, look at the following dishes you can serve with coq au vin.
If a lighter take is wanted, Coq au Vin Blanc side ideas for brighter menus suggests appropriate pairings.
1 - French Onion Rice Pilaf
If you're a fan of French onion soup, then you'll surely love this rice pilaf - or try French toast side pairings for sweet-savory balance to echo those flavors in a brunch setting.
Why? Because it has the soup's seasoning, which makes the rice pilaf more flavorful.
As mentioned earlier, coq au vin pairs very well with food that has starch so that it will combine nicely with the rice pilaf.
Rice is a filling dish, so nobody will leave the party hungry when they eat the two dishes.
Long-grain white rice is the preferred choice for making rice pilaf.
But you can make the dish with other rice varieties too.
Brown rice is slightly healthier, but it's chewy and takes a while to cook.
2 - Garlic Roasted Mushrooms
Mushrooms have a meaty flavor and texture, they're light and don't overwhelm you.
Hence, they make right sides with meat dishes like coq au vin.
Garlic-roasted mushrooms are a delicious dish that can add lightness to your meal and balance the flavors nicely - similar to garlic butter shrimp side ideas for rich seafood pairings.
You will feel full but not overloaded when you eat coq au vin and mushrooms.
You can make the dish with button or baby Bella (cremini or crimini) mushroom, as it has a denser texture and meatier flavor.
Other ingredients include garlic, butter, lemon juice, thyme, salt, and pepper.
3 - Honey Butter Glazed Carrots
Glazed carrots are a great choice to add to a sweet-flavored veggie dish alongside coq au vin - think of the same sweet-savory contrast found in honey sriracha chicken side ideas for bold contrasts.
The veggies go with the richness of the chicken dish and tone it down a notch.
Carrots naturally have a sweet flavor; when you add honey and butter, they become creamier and even sweeter.
A savory dish, it can be like a dessert because of its sweetness.
Hence, it will be pleasant to eat the carrots with the coq au vin.
A dish tastes the best when you cook it with fresh veggies.
Besides, fresh carrots are sweeter than older ones, so make the dish with freshly-harvested or freshly bought carrots to obtain maximum flavor.
4 - Lemony Lentil Salad
Being a rich and hearty food, coq au vin can make you full pretty fast and even make you overwhelmed - lighter choices like lentil soup side options for fresher balances can help refresh the palate.
You can wash away that feeling with a fresh addition like a lentil salad.
It's crunchy and fresh and goes with the yummy chicken.
You can use green, brown, or green lentils, whether canned or dry.
If you use dry lentils soaked, then it's delicious raw also.
But you can cook it down if you don't want to use the raw version.
Either is delicious. Adding feta and lemon juice gives the salad a tangy taste, making it fresher.
Combined with onion, bell pepper, and cucumber, it will make an excellent accompaniment with coq au vin.
5 - Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Besides fresh salads, roasted and smoky flavored dishes combine perfectly with coq au vin - roasted options like Brussels sprouts side pairings for smoky complements elevate the meal.
You can add crispy Brussels sprouts to your menu to serve with the chicken.
Roasted crispy Brussels sprouts are so delicious that you might think it has many ingredients.
However, it's a wrong notion because it's precisely the opposite.
You don't have to add many items to make Brussels sprouts delicious.
Brussels sprouts past their prime can taste nasty.
It's, therefore, necessary to pick fresh veggies for the dish.
Choose compact sprouts with tight leaves.
You should also check between the stalk and sprouts for mold and moistness.
6 - Farro Salad with Roasted Veggies
It's not a frequently served dish, but farro salad is also an excellent dish to enjoy with coq au vin - grain salads like those in orzo salad side ideas for versatile grain pairings work similarly well.
When you combine roasted veggies, you'll have a warm, pleasant dish that can fill your belly and please your senses.
Farro is an ancient grain with a nutty flavor and a chewy texture.
You can eat it raw or cooked, and it's a versatile grain, so that you can make many dishes with it.
Along with farro, you can add veggies such as carrots, red onion, parsnips, and beets.
If you like to experiment, you can include dried fruits and herbs for added freshness.
7 - Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Your menu will never go wrong with the humble spuds.
Mashed potatoes are famous, versatile, delicious, and filling - comparable comfort sides appear in lemon garlic shrimp side ideas for bright comfort when seafood is on the menu.
They also taste great with coq au vin.
Mashed potatoes are a crowd-pleaser, so everyone will love the combo when you serve it with the chicken dish.
Your guests will enjoy the food and go home feeling full.
Typical mashed potatoes contain milk, butter salt along with the potatoes.
You can enhance its flavors by adding sesame seeds, white pepper, and garlic.
8 - Crusty French Bread
Bread can also make a fine combo with coq au vin.
You have many choices for bread, but crusty bread, like baguette, is the perfect variety.
You can dip your bread in the chicken gravy, enjoy the lovely flavors, and make your belly full.
Fresh French bread is the best choice to improve your meal.
So, you can make the bread at home.
However, if you don't have much time or if you can't make the bread at home, you can get freshly-baked bread from the store.
9 - Apple Carrot Slaw
Coleslaw is one of the most popular side dishes at any event.
It suits most dishes, and it balances the meals.
But for this occasion, you can twist the recipe by making apple and carrot slaw.
It tastes fresh and tasty, and it goes well with coq au vin.
But instead of mayo-based dressing, you can use a vinaigrette dressing to give it a slightly tangy flavor.
Apple carrot slaw tastes just as delicious as traditional coleslaw, so you don't have to worry about it not being a hit dish.
Your guests will have a lovely time with both dishes.
10 - Egg Noodles
We will complete the list with egg noodles.
The dish is simple, but it tastes lovely with coq au vin.
It's also easy to make noodles. To obtain maximum flavors, you can keep it simple.
If you have time and have made noodles before, you can make a fresh batch at home and use these to make the dish.
But ready-made pasta tastes good, too, so you can grab a few packets from the store.
You can make the dish with egg noodles, butter, salt, and pepper.
Frequently Asked Questions
French Onion Rice Pilaf If you're a fan of French onion soup, then you'll surely love this rice pilaf. Hence, they make right sides with meat dishes like coq au vin.
Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.
A starchy side and a vegetable work well together. This side dish handles the starch, while a simple green salad or roasted seasonal vegetable fills the rest of the plate without competing for attention.
Is a starchy side necessary?
Not always.
A vegetable-only pairing works when the main course already includes starch.
Add rice, bread, or potatoes only if the meal needs more substance.
Roasted frozen vegetables, pre-cooked grains, or a quick pan sauté all come together in under 15 minutes with minimal prep and no special equipment needed.
Coq au Vin vs Beef Bourguignon comparisons help choose between classics. Coq au Vin vs Beef Bourguignon comparison guide provides key differences. For a lighter French option, Coq au Vin Blanc side ideas for brighter menus lists suitable pairings.