Coca-Cola Chicken

This incredibly tasty Coca-Cola chicken recipe can be on the table in 40 minutes. The succulent sauce is a combination of savory soy sauce, Worcestershire, garlic, ketchup, and, of course, Coca-Cola. You’ve never had more flavorful chicken than this!

Overhead shot of coca-cola chicken in a skillet.

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy to Make:  With basic ingredients, one pan, and 40 minutes, you will have this recipe ready and on the table in no time! Serve with my air-fryer roasted broccoli and my creamy scalloped potatoes!
  • Flavor: The cola does an incredible job of helping infuse the flavors into the chicken. You won’t want to eat chicken any other way after this.

Ingredients Needed to Make Coca-Cola Chicken

You should have most of these ingredients already in your kitchen. If you’re like me, then you might have to get the full-sugar soda because I’m stocked up on my favorite diet soda. Scroll to the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Chicken Thighs: The perfect protein to absorb the flavor. Chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs, cooking times will vary, just be sure the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • Salt and Black Pepper: Enhance the flavors in the dish.
  • Olive Oil: Helps cook the onions and chicken thighs.
  • Minced Onion: Adds a savory flavor and slight crunch.
  • Can Coca-Cola: The star of the dish. It helps to tenderize the meat and create a caramelized vanilla flavor to the sauce. You can use Pepsi as well. I just don’t recommend diet soda.
  • Minced Garlic: Provides a strong savory flavor that cuts through the sweet.
  • Ketchup: Helps thicken the sauce and adds a sweet and tangy flavor.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: It gives a kick of flavor you can’t get from anything else but makes an amazing impact.
  • Soy Sauce: Adds all of the good salty, savory flavor you expect in a chicken sauce.
Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.

How to Make Coca-Cola Chicken Thighs

You will love how easy these chicken thighs are to make. Not only are they easy, but they are also so flavorful! Follow my instructions below to get started.

  1. Season Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel, then season them with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Sautée: Add the onion to the skillet and cook until the onions are tender, about 3 minutes.
  3. Cook Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in the skillet skin side down. Cook the chicken for 3 minutes, flip the chicken, then cook for another 3 minutes.
  4. Mix Sauce: While the chicken is cooking, mix the Coca-Cola, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce in a medium-sized bowl.
  5. Combine: Pour the coke sauce over the chicken and stir to coat each thigh well. Flip the chicken thighs skin side down again and let them cook in the sauce, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
  6. Coat Chicken with Sauce: Flip the chicken once more and cook for another 5-8 minutes. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. While the chicken cooks, spoon the sauce over it occasionally. Remove the chicken from heat and serve fresh!
Angle shot of chicken thighs seasoned with salt and pepper.
Angle shot of onions cooking in a skillet.
Angle shot of chicken thighs cooking in a skillet.
Angle shot of sauce ingredients whisked in a bowl.
Angle shot of someone pouring sauce over chicken thighs in skillet.
Angle shot of coca-cola chicken cooking in the skillet.

Coca-Cola Chicken Tips and Variations

This recipe is great for changing things up to suit your taste. You can also make this in the crock pot. Ideas and instructions are below.

  • Full Sugar: You can use any brand of cola. I recommend using full-sugar cola rather than diet. 
  • Type of Chicken: Chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs, cooking times will vary, just be sure the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • Thicken Sauce: If you want a thicker sauce, remove ¼ cup of the sauce and whisk one teaspoon of cornstarch into it. Pour the mixture into the pan with the chicken and stir to incorporate. Cook until it thickens.
  • Crock Pot Instructions: Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then place it in the bottom of a slow cooker. Mix the onion, coca-cola, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce, then pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. 
Close up shot of coca-cola chicken thighs in a skillet.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Coca-Cola Chicken

  • Refrigerator: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 
  • Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. 
  • Reheat in the Oven: I recommend you reheat leftovers in the oven. Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, place the chicken into an oven-safe dish, and cook for 8-10 minutes if refrigerated or 20-25 minutes if frozen.
Overhead shot of plated coca-cola chicken thighs over rice and brocolli.

More Chicken Recipes For You To Try

Chicken recipes get me through my week. I know my kids will eat it, and it will be quick and simple. Exactly what us busy moms need. Here are a few recipes to help make your life easier.

Print

Coca-Cola Chicken Thighs

This incredibly tasty Coca-Cola chicken thigh recipe can be on the table in 40 minutes. The succulent sauce is a combination of savory soy sauce, Worcestershire, garlic, ketchup, and, of course, Coca-Cola. You've never had more flavorful chicken thighs than these!
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword coca cola chicken recipe, coca cola chicken thighs, coca-cola chicken, coca-cola chicken thigh recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 298kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and season them with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion to the skillet and cook until the onions are tender, about 3 minutes.
  • Place the chicken thighs in the skillet skin side down, and cook for 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 3 minutes.
  • While the chicken is cooking, mix the Coca-Cola, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce.
  • Pour the coke sauce over the chicken and stir to coat each thigh well. Flip the chicken thighs skin side down and let them cook in the sauce, uncovered for 5 minutes.
  • Flip the chicken once again and cook for another 5-8 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. While the chicken cooks, spoon the sauce over it occasionally.
  • Remove the chicken from heat and serve fresh!

Notes

Chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs; cooking times will vary; just be sure the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Crockpot cooking: season the chicken with salt and pepper and place it in the bottom of a slow cooker. Mix the onion, coca-cola, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
To thicken the sauce, remove ¼ cup of the sauce and whisk two teaspoons of cornstarch into it. Pour the mixture into the pan with the chicken and stir to incorporate.  Cook until it thickens.

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 821mg | Potassium: 380mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 170IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg


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