Description
Coca Cola Chicken is a flavorful and tender dish featuring bone-in chicken thighs simmered in a sweet and tangy sauce made with cola, ketchup, and aromatic spices. This easy-to-make recipe yields succulent chicken with a caramelized glaze, perfect served over rice with steamed vegetables for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (or drumsticks)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- ½ small yellow onion, diced
- 12 ounces cola (regular or diet)
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
Instructions
- Brown the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken pieces evenly with salt and black pepper. Place the chicken skin side down in the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes per side, until each side is nicely browned. Drain any excess fat from the pan to prevent greasiness.
- Prepare and Add the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix together diced onions, cola, ketchup, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, dried oregano, and dry mustard powder. Pour this sauce mixture over the browned chicken in the skillet. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer with Lid On: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and cover the skillet with a lid. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and the chicken to partially cook through.
- Simmer with Lid Off and Finish Cooking: Remove the lid and continue simmering for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, turning the chicken occasionally. This helps thicken the sauce and caramelize the chicken. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- Serve: Plate the Coca Cola Chicken hot, ideally served with steamed vegetables and a side of rice to soak up the delicious sauce.
Notes
- You can use either regular or diet cola depending on your preference; regular cola will add more sweetness.
- Bone-in chicken thighs ensure juiciness, but drumsticks can be used as an alternative.
- Make sure to brown the chicken well to develop depth of flavor.
- Monitor the simmering to avoid burning the sauce as it thickens.
- For added texture, garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or green onions before serving.
