Published on
Last updated on
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.
Jump to Recipe
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
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.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
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.
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.
PRO TIP:
If you want your sauce to be thicker, you can stir in a cornstarch slurry before pouring the sauce over the chicken.
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.
MORE CHICKEN RECIPES
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Diet Coke?
If you prefer to use Diet Coke in this recipe, you are more than welcome to substitute it for regular Coke.
Can I use different types of chicken such as wings or thighs?
You can use chicken wings or chicken thighs in this recipe. We would recommend sticking to chicken with bone-in as boneless chicken requires a much longer cooking time than the smaller bone-in chicken pieces.
Do I have to marinate the chicken in the sauce before cooking?
This recipe doesn’t require any marinating ahead of time. You will cook the chicken right in the sauce, and it will flavor it while it simmers.
More Recipes You’ll Love
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.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 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
Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb
Comments
Hannah Griffin says
Everyone should try these! I love them!
Gloria says
My husband and sons love this recipe! Definitely a winner!
Morgan says
Our family really likes this recipe!
Debbie says
I donโt cook with coke a cola but I Iโll sure try it now! Sounds delicious ๐คค I do use red flakes from time to time because it gives some foods a good taste.
Debbie says
For the side dish I would make either potato salad or macaroni salad to go with the coke a cola chicken.
Chris says
I really appreciate the details you put into this. The cooking times didnt really seem to work out for me but by the step by step pictures helped a lot to see what I was going for – well didn’t have a dutch oven.
Really bad cook here but my daughter enjoyed it, I didn’t try it because I don’t like bones in my food lol. Will check out more of your recipes.