Cola Chicken

Magic happens when you add a can of soda to your meat. It tenderizes the meat and deepens flavor by pulling the flavor of the marinade into the meat itself. The result is a beautifully sauced, tender Cola Chicken ready to pair with all your favorites. Can you tell I am a big fan of this recipe?

We’ve got a couple of other cola recipes in the books — you might want to check out our 3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Ribs or our brand-new recipe for Cola Meatballs. If you love all the recipes you have tried, be sure to join our Freezer Meals 101 Club. You get instant access to every new recipe we have, plus video content.

At a time when everything felt overwhelming, freezer meal cooking saved us, and honestly, has become a way of life. Keeping my freezer stacked means that no matter what kind of crisis arises, we can come home and get food on the table in minutes. It frees up my brain and nervous system to make decisions and solve problems in other areas because feeding my family isn’t hanging over my head in a way that only mothers probably understand. If you need a lifesaver, I highly recommend making a few of our recipes and stacking your freezer this weekend. Your weekday self will thank you.

Cola Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 10 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce divided
• 12 oz. cola, divided

Assembly Instructions

1. Add 1/2 cup of Coke and 1 cup of BBQ sauce to a medium bag.
2. Place chicken thighs, garlic, dry onion, 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, and 1 cup Coke in large resealable freezer bag.
3. Remove excess air, seal, staple bags together above the seal, and freeze.

Cooking Instructions

1. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
2. Add contents of large bag in slow cooker on low 2-3 hours.
3. Drain all liquid.
4. Add the sauce from the medium bag.
5. Cook for 1 more hour until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. An instant-read thermometer is a must-have kitchen tool for this purpose.
6. Alternate Instant Pot Instructions: Empty the large bag into the Instant Pot. Cook on manual high pressure for 8 min. Quick release. Drain liquid from the pot and return chicken to the pot. Add contents of medium bag. Use the sauté function to heat the sauce until it bubbles.

What kind of BBQ Sauce should I use?

Start by using your family’s favorite sauce the first time you make this recipe. If you don’t have a favorite, Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ is a great mild, simple sauce to start with. Once you’ve made the recipe a time or two, it’s a good idea to branch out and use different bbq sauces to change up the recipe and keep it fresh for your family. Plus, this is a low-threat way to introduce new flavor ideas and spice levels to your family.

What kind of cola should I use?

Again, this is your preference. The recipe works well with a basic cola like Coke or Pepsi, but can also work well with root beer, Dr. Pepper, or Cherry Coke. If you think it would be tasty, try it!

Cola Chicken Recipe Ideas

For extra heat, add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or ancho chili powder depending on the variety of your bbq sauce.

To bring up the sweetness, add honey or agave syrup.

I’m a garlic girl, so I’m a big proponent of adding multiple cloves to this recipe. I’ve seen other recipes call for up to ten cloves for ten chicken thighs.

If you’ve never tried them before, let me introduce you to Slow Cooker Liners. They make clean-up a breeze, and every mom needs an easier way to clean the mess.

If you love sauce, you can save what you drain off in step three of the cooking instructions and thicken it in a stockpot with a simple rue made from equal parts flour and butter. Then serve it in a gravy boat. You’ll need about four cups of liquid for three tablespoons each of flour and butter. If you don’t have 4 cups, add chicken broth.

How do I store Cola Chicken Leftovers

Leftover chicken should always be kept in the refrigerator. You can use a freezer-quality bag or an airtight container to keep the chicken sealed. It will keep for two or three days and reheat beautifully in a skillet. A short amount of time in the microwave will also work, but too much time in the waves will make the chicken rubbery.

What to Serve with Cola Chicken

While we served our Cola Chicken with white rice and steamed broccoli, you actually have so many options! This tender, flavorful chicken pairs perfectly with almost any vegetable or starch. Add mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, or risotto. Steam-in-the-bag veggies are an incredibly easy option, but roasted veggies are also amazing.

Try brussels sprouts, asparagus, or green beans tossed in olive oil and lemon pepper, roasted for 10-13 minutes at 400ºF. Perfection! Toasty garlic bread, biscuits, or a fresh loaf from your bread machine are all great options. Bagged salads are the bomb. Round out this meal any way you like, because it is sure to become a family favorite.

Print

Cola Chicken

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

3 hrs

Total Time

3 hrs 5 mins

 

Servings: 6

Calories: 557 kcal

Ingredients

• 10 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce divided
• 12 oz. cola divided

Instructions

Assembly Instructions

1. Add 1/2 cup of Coke and 1 cup of BBQ sauce to a medium bag.
2. Place chicken thighs, garlic, dry onion, 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, and 1 cup Coke in large resealable freezer bag.
3. Remove excess air, seal, staple bags together above the seal, and freeze.

Cooking Instructions

1. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
2. Add contents of large bag in slow cooker on low 2-3 hours.
3. Drain all liquid.
4. Add the sauce from the medium bag.
5. Cook for 1 more hour until the internal temperature of 165° is reached.
6. Alternate Instant Pot Instructions: Empty the large bag into the Instant Pot. Cook on manual high pressure for 8 min. Quick release. Drain liquid from the pot and return chicken to the pot. Add contents of medium bag. Use the sauté function to heat the sauce until it bubbles.