We live in Georgia, the home of Coca-Cola. We say “I want a Coke” to refer to any type of soft drink. Coke is the most popularly sold cola in our state. I even have a cookbook entitled “Classic Cooking with Coca-Cola” written by members of Coke’s founding family. No wonder we have tons of recipes that feature Coke. It’s an ingredient that can be added to everything from this amazing Coca-Cola Barbecue Chicken Recipe to Coca-Cola cake.
Coca-Cola Barbecue Chicken Recipe
This naturally gluten-free barbecue sauce recipe has been used by our family for years. It’s a tangy sauce with a touch of sweetness.
Our family has a (sort-of) funny family story about Coca-Cola. It seems that one of Bryan’s great-great-something grandfathers was friends with the inventor of Coca-Cola, Ada Chandler. Mr. Chandler asked great-something Grandpa if he wanted to invest in his new product. What happened next can only be called the dumbest decision ever made. Grandpa said, “No. I don’t think this product will ever amount to anything.”
I still complain we could have been rich, but probably not. I met Bryan in college. He’d probably have gone to a more expensive college if he’d been rich. I \still fantasize about how it would feel to be rich when I’m eating my chicken.
Cooking Methods:
The best part about this chicken recipe is that it can be cooked in several ways. I usually bake it but it can be grilled or prepared in the slow cooker.
- Slow Cooker Method: Want a savory supper after a long day at work? Place the chicken in the slow cooker and cover it with the barbecue sauce. Cook the chicken on low for 8 hours or on high for four hours.
- Grilling Method: Place the chicken in a plastic storage container or in a plastic freezer bag. Cover the chicken with sauce. Allow the chicken to marinate for 2 to 4 hours. Remove the chicken from the marinade.
- Cook the chicken on the grill until the internal temperature reaches around 160 degrees. The cooking time will vary on the pieces of chicken used. You may want to prepare some additional sauce to use for basting or to spoon over the finished grilled chicken.
Use this Sauce on Other Types of Meat:
This recipe works equally well on
- pork chops, tenderloin, or spare ribs
- turkey
Embarrassing story using this sauce: I posted a picture of my favorite “Coca-Cola Barbeque Chicken” online. Someone asked me, “Why does your chicken look so weird?” It was because I accidentally posted barbeque ribs. It was embarrassing to admit I didn’t even realize it wasn’t a chicken when I posted the picture.
Cooking Tips:
- You can use different types of chicken in this recipe. I usually use legs or thighs because they’re cheaper, but you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer.
- You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer. The cooking time needs to be adjusted if you use boneless because boneless breasts take less time to cook.
- If you use boneless chicken you might also want to cover the dish with foil to prevent the chicken from drying out during the cooking process.
- Use a sweet onion for the best flavor.
- This mixture will be thin when it is prepared and should thicken after baking.
Prepare the Sauce in Advance:
This barbeque sauce can be prepared in advance. Store it in an airtight container and keep it in the freezer for up to a month or in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Advance Cooking Directions: To prepare this in advance, mix all the ingredients together in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and allow the mixture to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Seal the mixture tightly and store it in the fridge or freezer until ready to use.
Printable Recipe:
Coca Cola Barbecue Chicken Recipe
4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcalIngredients
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups Coca-Cola
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 to 2 pounds chicken legs or chicken thighs
Directions
- Mix the pepper, garlic powder, salt, cornstarch, and brown sugar together in a large bowl.
- Add the Coca-Cola, ketchup, and vinegar to dry ingredients. Stir until blended. Add the onion and stir.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the chicken legs or thighs in a 9″ by 13″ baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken legs or thighs. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until meat reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
This is a recipe we use all year round! It’s great for grilling season, tailgating season, and just for a comfort meal. Have you ever tried Coca-Cola Barbecue Chicken? What is your favorite barbecue chicken dish? Do you have a simple barbecue recipe?
You Might Like These Recipes:
Bacon and Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs
Soft Lemon Drop Cookies
Southern Style Baked Beans
Love your cookbook the New Southern Cookbook!!
Can’t wait to try all the delicious recipes.
Also love all the family stories related to each recipe.
Thank you so much, Sue! I hope you and your family enjoy the recipes!
That chicken looks really juice and perfectly cooked. I love to cook with cocoa cola but never thought making a barbecue marinade with ti.
Oh my, this looks amazing. I can imagine the Coca-Cola makes all the difference. Thanks!
This sounds delicious. I’m always looking for new recipes for chicken too. Chicken is one of our favorites.
Ohhh, reading the title makes me curious on how it taste. Now, I am printing the recipe so I can try this out on my own, Let’s see how will it be.
I bet the coca cola makes the chicken so moist! What a great recipe, pinning to try it later.
Yum. Many years ago I made something like this with pork chops and coca cola. It was a huge family hit. i’ll have to try this with them too! Looks yummy.
Your chicken looks delicious! Chicken thighs would be delicious but a mixture of different pieces would be great.
This recipe looks like a winner to me. I can’t wait to try to make it. It will be so delicious. I bet it carmalizes nicely.
That’s an interesting recipe, and it sounds like it would be delicious. Thanks for sharing, it sounds interesting and fun to make too.
Soda can really give any type of meat anice twist of flavor. I always incorporate it when BBQing pork but now that I saw your recipe, I’ll try this chicken dish.
Coca Cola has such a great versatile taste. I have used it to make fudge before! I gotta try it to flavor chicken!!
That’s right up there with the Coca-Cola Cake. But I have never thought of using it as a marinade.
Your chicken came out really good I have never tried coke before when marinating the chicken breast. I would love to try your recipe and see it for my self.
meals like this are always something i enjoy making esp bc they are QUICK. love a good BBQ chicken!
This looks so tasty! I love a good BBQ chicken and this one looks incredible. I need to make it for dinner soon.
We have used different colas to cook and BBQ with before including coke products and Dr. Pepper. They all tenderize and carmel the meat so it breaks everything down.
We have a similar story in our family but it involves Dr. Pepper! How funny! I have made Cola Chicken, Cola BBQ sauce and Cola cake. The BBQ sauce is enhanced by the cola in a lovely, sweet way.
What a unique way to make chicken! I cook with chicken a couple of nights a week and always looking for ideas, so will pin for later.