Coca Cola Chicken (Pollo a la Coca Cola)

Coca Cola Chicken, or Pollo a la Coca Cola, is a mouthwatering chicken dish that uses an unexpected combination to create tender, flavorful chicken that is literally melt-in-your-mouth good!

Receta en Español

What is Pollo a la Coca Cola?

Pollo a la Coca Cola is made with a whole chicken, broken down and simmered in a sweet-savory glaze made from Coca Cola. It originates from Latin America and is particularly popular in countries like Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. The soda works with other seasonings to tenderize the chicken while developing a complex flavor profile that’s both unique and comforting.

Why You Should Make This Coca Cola Chicken Recipe

1. Super tender chicken. The Coca-Cola helps tenderize the chicken while keeping it juicy. With this combination, the chicken literally melts in your mouth. The soda also gives the chicken a beautiful golden color.
2. Doesn’t taste like Coke! You cannot detect the pure Coca-Cola flavor in the chicken. The end result is a delicious mix of salty and subtly caramelized sweet flavors.
3. Easy to make. This pollo a la coca cola recipe is very inexpensive, easy, and quick to prepare. If you pair it with French fries or white rice, you have a simple meal. But with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables, it reaches another level.
4. Because, why not?! You should try, innovate, and do new things. Good cooking is experimentation. Even though Coca Cola chicken might sound weird, it is definitely worth a try.

Ingredient Notes

• Whole Chicken: You can break down a whole chicken to have a variety of pieces, or use about 3 pounds of one cut of chicken. For the most flavor, use chicken with bones and skin.
• Salt & Pepper: To taste!
• Garlic: Fresh garlic adds the best flavor here.
• Oil: You will need a bit of oil to sear the chicken before simmering it in the sauce!
• Red Onion: A bit of red onion adds a depth of savory flavor and will caramelize beautifully in the sauce.
• Coca Cola: This is the secret ingredient that tenderizes the chicken and creates a beautiful caramelized glaze.
• Cornstarch & Water: Always mix the cornstarch with some water before adding it to the sauce. This will prevent clumps!

Tips for Success

Here are my top tips that apply to all “chicken-in-sauce” recipes:

1. First, always marinate the chicken. Prepare a generous paste of crushed garlic, salt, and pepper. Rub the chicken with this seasoning and let it rest for a couple of hours. With this alone, you’ve won half the battle.
2. Second, always sear the chicken. Heat the pot and oil where you’ll cook the chicken. It’s essential to sear the chicken, and this is only achieved by cooking it in a very hot pan, so make sure it is preheated. This initial heat blast cooks the chicken on the outside, browns it, and seals it, preventing the juices from escaping. The result is chicken that’s golden on the outside and juicy inside. If the pan isn’t hot enough, the chicken will literally simmer in its own juice, becoming dry and pale.
3. Third, add a thickener. Sauces need a bit of starch or thickener to become smooth. Dissolve a teaspoon of cornstarch in a bit of water, add it to the pan about five minutes before turning it off, and you’re done.

Lastly, we don’t have any preference for Coca-Cola. This recipe also works wonderfully with Pepsi or Dr. Pepper (Texas-style). With any dark soda similar to Coca-Cola, the difference in the final product is imperceptible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use diet Coca-Cola instead?

I would avoid using diet sodas here, as the sugar helps create the caramelization that makes this dish special.

How long does this keep in the refrigerator?

Stored properly in an airtight container, Pollo a la Coca Cola will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Is this dish kid-friendly?

Absolutely! The cooking process removes the caffeine, and kids typically love the slightly sweet flavor of the sauce.

How should I serve coca cola chicken?

For a quick and indulgent meal, serve it with French fries. For a more complete meal, I recommend serving it over a bed of white rice or creamy mashed potatoes. To balance out the flavor, add a simple side salad like this tomato and avocado salad!

Coca Cola Chicken (Pollo a la Coca Cola)

Easy and delicious chicken recipe made with assorted chicken pieces, garlic, onion, oil, corn starch, and cola.

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Course: Main dish

Cuisine: Colombian, Ecuadorian, International, Latin American, Latin fusion, Peruvian

Keyword: Chicken, Coca-Cola, Quick and easy, Soda

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 to 8 portions

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken cut into different parts, about 3 lbs or 1.5 kg, skin removed – you can also use the same amount of a specific chicken part if you prefer (thighs, breasts, drumsticks, etc.)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2-4 tablespoons oil
• 1 red onion 100 g (you can use white onion if you don't have red onions)
• 1 Coca-Cola 330 ml
• 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch
• ¼ cup water

Serve with:

• White rice or
• French fries or
• Mashed potatoes
• Cucumber salad

Instructions

• Peel the onion and chop it into thin slices. Set aside. In a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic and make a paste with the crushed garlic, salt, and pepper.
  
• Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl. Season the chicken with the garlic paste; make sure that all the chicken pieces are well coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for a couple of hours if you have time. If you can do this the night before cooking the chicken, even better.
  
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Pour the oil into a heavy-bottom skillet or pot and turn the stove to high heat. When the oil is hot, it’s time to add the chicken pieces, meat (skin if using) side down. Cook for five to seven minutes until golden brown.
  
• After this time, turn them over and add the sliced onions. Cook for about five more minutes.
  
• Add the Coca-Cola and reduce the heat to medium. Cook covered for about 10-15 more minutes, turning the chicken pieces occasionally.
  
• When you notice the Coca-Cola has reduced by half, dilute the cornstarch in a quarter cup of water, stir until well dissolved, and mix it in with the sauce. Stir well. Cook for another 5-10 or until the sauce thickens and the chicken is fully cooked.
  
• You can serve this coca cola chicken with almost anything: mashed potatoes, French fries, rice, or pasta with white sauce.
  

Step by step preparation photos for Coca Cola Chicken:

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