Coca-Cola Chicken

Our Coca-Cola chicken features drumsticks simmered in a tangy sauce, giving it a great flavor that the whole family will love.

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Deliciously sticky and sweet, these Coca-Cola chicken drumsticks are a great way to make chicken. Tender chicken is simmered in a tasty mix of soda and other flavorful and simple ingredients for this amazingly easy dish.

Coca-Cola Chicken Ingredients

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This unique recipe combines the sweetness of coca cola with savory seasonings and tender chicken. The result? A dish that’s bursting with flavor and sure to make your taste buds tingle!

The caramelized coating that forms on the chicken as it cooks adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to resist.

You’ll need:

• 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil, divided in half
• 2 pounds of chicken drumsticks (8-9 drumsticks) 
• 1 cup of finely diced sweet yellow onion
• 1 tablespoon of minced fresh garlic
• 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger
• 2 (12-ounce) cans of Coca-Cola
• ¼ cup of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar, packed
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• ½ teaspoon of kosher salt

Substitutions And Additions

HOT SAUCE: Add a dash of hot sauce to the ingredients for an extra kick.

COCA-COLA: If you prefer to use Diet Coke in this popular dish, you are more than welcome to substitute it for regular Coke.

CHICKEN: You could also turn this recipe into Coca-Cola chicken wings or Coca-Cola chicken thighs. The cooking times may be slightly different than recommended in this recipe, so it is best to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

How To Make This Coca-Cola Chicken Recipe

This flavorful chicken dish will come together quickly on your stovetop. Let’s walk through the steps together.

STEP ONE: Using a 4 to 5-quart Dutch oven on medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil. 

STEP TWO: Add the chicken drumsticks, and sauté for 3 minutes on each side. Remove the drumsticks and set them aside.

STEP THREE: Add the remaining oil to the Dutch oven. Add the onion, and sauté uncovered for 2 minutes, stirring often. Keep the heat on medium-high.

STEP FOUR: Add the garlic and ginger. Continue cooking and stirring often, for 1 to 1½ minutes. Keep the heat on medium-high.

STEP FIVE: Add the 2 cans of Coca-Cola, soy sauce, brown sugar, black pepper, and salt. Continue stirring often, and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. 

STEP SIX: Reduce the temperature to medium heat, and return the chicken drumsticks to the pot. Cook for 20 minutes uncovered, turning the chicken once.

STEP SEVEN: After cooking the chicken for 20 minutes, remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside. Increase the heat to medium-high. Allow the sauce to reduce for 5 to 8 additional minutes. Once the sauce reduces, remove the pot from the heat. Ladle the sauce over the chicken, and serve while hot. 

How To Serve This Easy Coca-Cola Chicken Recipe

Serve this delicious recipe at dinner time with cornbread, cheese biscuits, or potato salad on the side, along with a green salad.

You could also go with classic options like creamy mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables.

For a similar slow cooker chicken recipe that uses chicken breasts with Coca-Cola, check out our slow cooker Coca-Cola chicken. For more easy recipes featuring chicken, try our crispy honey chicken.

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Storing Coca-Cola Chicken Drumsticks

If want to store the leftovers, here are some handy tips for storing your Coca-Cola chicken drumsticks.

IN THE FRIDGE: Any leftovers of this chicken dish should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

IN THE FREEZER: Freeze this cola chicken for up to three months in an airtight container or plastic freezer bag.

REHEATING: To reheat your Coca-Cola chicken drumsticks, there are a few methods you can choose from:

• Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the drumsticks on a baking sheet and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
• Stovetop: Preheat a skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil or butter to prevent sticking, then heat the drumsticks for 5-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until warmed evenly.
• Microwave: If you’re short on time, you can use the microwave for reheating. Place the drumsticks on a microwave-safe plate and heat on medium power in 30-second increments, turning them over between intervals, until heated to your desired temperature.

This Coca-Cola chicken is a fun twist on sweet and sour chicken with a secret ingredient added. Whip up a batch the next time you are searching for a delicious dinner idea. The Coca-Cola not only flavors the chicken perfectly but also tenderizes the meat.

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Coca-Cola Chicken

5 from 6 votes

Our Coca-Cola chicken features drumsticks simmered in a tangy sauce, giving it a great flavor that the whole family will love.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 4

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided in half
• 2 pounds chicken drumsticks 8 to 9 pieces
• 1 cup sweet yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
• 24 ounces Coca-Cola
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

 

• Using a 4 to 5-quart Dutch oven on medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons oil.
• Add the chicken drumsticks, and sauté for 3 minutes on each side. Remove the drumsticks and set them aside.
• Add the remaining oil to the Dutch oven. Add the onion, and sauté uncovered for 2 minutes, stirring often. Keep the heat on medium-high.
• Add the garlic and ginger. Continue cooking and stirring often, for 1 to 1½ minutes. Keep the heat on medium-high.
• Next add the 2 cans of Coca-Cola, soy sauce, brown sugar, black pepper, and salt. Continue stirring often, and cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium, and add back in the chicken drumsticks. Cook for 20 minutes uncovered, turning the chicken once.
• After cooking the chicken for 20 minutes, remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Increase the heat to medium-high. Allow the sauce to reduce for 5 to 8 additional minutes. Once the sauce reduces, remove the pot from the heat. Ladle the sauce over the chicken, and serve while hot.

Notes

• Depending on the type of soy sauce you are using, you may need to adjust the quantity of salt you are adding. If you have a light soy sauce, you may want extra salt, whereas a regular soy sauce will be saltier and may require less than the called for ½ teaspoon of salt.
• If you want your sauce to be thicker, you can stir in a cornstarch slurry before pouring the sauce over the chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 1271mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 72IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg

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