Cola chicken is a surprisingly delicious dish that combines the bold flavors of soy sauce and garlic with the sweetness of cola to create a sticky, savory glaze. It’s an easy-to-make recipe that’s packed with flavor, perfect for a weeknight dinner or when you’re craving something a bit different.
The beauty of cola chicken lies in its simplicity. You start by cooking bone-in chicken pieces (like thighs or drumsticks) in a hot pan until they’re crispy and golden brown. The skin crisps up beautifully, providing a nice contrast to the tender, juicy meat.
Then comes the magic, pour in cola, soy sauce, garlic, and a touch of ginger, and let the mixture simmer. The cola caramelizes, infusing the chicken with a rich sweetness while the soy sauce adds savory depth. A little sugar helps to enhance the glaze, creating a sweet and salty flavor that sticks to the chicken perfectly.
As the sauce reduces and thickens, it creates a luscious, glossy coating on the chicken, making each bite even more flavorful. The resulting glaze is both sweet and tangy, with hints of umami from the soy sauce and a slight kick of garlic and ginger. It’s a simple, but satisfying combination that makes the chicken irresistibly good.
Serve cola chicken over steamed rice or alongside roasted vegetables to soak up all that delicious sauce. The sweet, savory, and slightly sticky coating makes this dish a hit with kids and adults alike. You can even make it ahead and reheat for an easy meal prep option.
Cola chicken is a fun and unique way to switch up your usual dinner routine. It’s flavorful, tender, and offers a comforting sweetness that makes it an easy favorite in any household. Whether you’re looking for something new or just want to try a different take on chicken, cola chicken is a must-try!

Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup cola
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp ginger grated
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 Green onions chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Combine soy sauce, ketchup, cola, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, salt, and black pepper in a bowl to make the marinade.
- Place the chicken thighs in a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over them.
- Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place the marinated chicken thighs in a baking dish and pour the marinade over them.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thickened.
- Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.
Not bad, but I feel like it could use something else, maybe some hot sauce?
I think hot sauce would be a great touch! Spicy food is the best! 🍽️
Hmmm, never thought about cola with chicken. I got some left over cola from BBQ party, hm…🤔
I’m not a fan of mixing sweet stuff with meat. It was too weird for me. Sorry but no thanks!
Honestly, chicken with cola? That sounds gross. I’m sticking to my BBQ sauces!
I get what you mean, mixing sweet and savory can be a bit strange! But I love this recipe! The cola adds a unique flavor!
Tastes like a sweet barbecue! Reminds me of summer cookouts!
I don’t like ginger, can I leave it out? Will that ruin the dish?
Best chicken recipe ever!!! Definitely a keeper! 🙂
I tried this recipe last night and my family loved it! It’s so easy and delicious. Thanks for sharing!
It was ok, but my chicken came out dry. Maybe I baked it too long.
Way to easyyy! I kinda burnt it tho…still tasty. 🍗🔥
This was surprisingly good! Who knew cola could make chicken so tasty?
Family loved it! Will definitely make again, especially with the garlic. Yumm!
I tried it too! So good Thanks for sharing 😊
Sounds nice, but cola? Really? I don’t think that combo makes sense. Can’t imagine how that would taste.
Chicken! Yummy!!!
This was surprisingly good! I didn’t think cola would work in a chicken recipe, but it adds a nice sweetness. Will definitely make again!
Simple and nice! Took me longer than 40 minutes tho, my oven can be a bit slow.
Y’all are gonna think I’m crazy, but I added a cup of cola instead of a quarter. It was a lil too sweet but still tasty! 😋
Isn’t it just chicken in cola? My friend told me it’s like a sweet brine? Am I right?
Cola chicken?? This sounds like something my grandma would make when she ran out of real drink. 😂
Sounds easy but what if you don’t have ketchup? Can you just use barbacue sauce instead? Asking for a friend… lol
Didn’t have cola, used root beer instead, whoops! Still tasted nice tho.
Cola or root beer, it’s still chicken! I guess it would taste kinda sweet with root beer but I’m not sure. 🤔
Root beer? That’s interesting! I never thought to switch it up like that. Glad it still turned out nice for you!
I don’t cook much so I’m really proud of how this turned out! Please, give me more easy recipes like this!
Congrats on your cooking! This recipe is super easy and delicious. I’ll definitely share more like this!
This recipe is stupid. Who puts soda on chicken? What’s next, chocolate chicken?
Super easy to make! Just make sure you don’t skip the ginger!
I made this last night and my hubby loved it! Even my picky eater kid ate it! Huge win! 🍗❤️
I made this last week, and my family loved it! Super easy and tasty.
This recipe is a bit weird. I mean, cola? Really? I tried it but I think I prefer my chicken plain. 🤷♀️
I was super skeptical but wow, this was surprisingly good! Who knew cola could make chicken taste so juicy? 🤯
I was skeptical too, but after making it, I’m a believer! The flavor is just unreal. 🤤
Seriously? Cola in chicken? Sounds weird, but maybe I’ll give it a try. 🤔
Perfect! I had all ingredients at home already. Who needs takeout when you got this! 10/10 would recommend!
This looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try it tonight.
Cola in chicken? That sounds weird. I dunno if I would ever try that. 🤔
I tried this recipe last week and it was a hit! The cola really adds a unique flavor. So good!
5 stars! This recipe is a keeper. My friends asked for the recipe!
Absolutely love this! I made it last night and my family couldn’t get enough. Thanks for sharing!
I dunno, cola in chicken? Sounds weird to me. Does it really taste good?
So easy and delicious! Perfect for a quick dinner. The kids loved it too! I will def make this again.
Super easy to make! I used diet cola because it’s what I had and it turned out fine. My kids totally loved it!
Okay, but can someone explain why anyone would put soda on meat? That’s bizarre!
Sounds strange tbh. I’d rather use spices than some fizzy drink. Can’t imagine it tasting good.
I used to think that too, but the cola actually tenderizes the meat and adds a unique sweetness! You’ve gotta try it!
Yum! Just made it! It was finger-licking good!
Not a fan of the taste. The sweetness is just too much for me. Sorry.
Wow, this cola chicken is a game changer! So juicy and flavorful.
It was okay… I think my oven aint work right. Took longer to bake.
Sounds weird! Coca-cola on chicken? Idk about that! Gonna stick with my BBQ sauce.
I was skeptical too, but trust me, the cola adds a sweet tang you wouldn’t expect! Give it a shot!
I dunno about this combination. Seems like it could be a flop? I might try it but only if I have nothing else to cook.
Super easy and my kids loved it! Will add more garlic next time.
I used diet cola and it was still amazing. Highly recommend!
I was skeptical about using cola, but it turned out surprisingly good. Will make again!
Glad you liked it! Cola really does add a sweet flavor to chicken. I never would have thought it would work.
I don’t know about this recipe, sounds kinda weird. Like, who puts soda on chicken? 🤔
Cola? Really? I thought it was only for mixing with rum… Interesting!
Wow just wow! This dish made me feel like a chef. Didn’t even need a fancy restaurant. Best meal ever!
Really? Cola in chicken? Sounds kinda weird… I ain’t sure about that!
This sounds amazing! I’m gonna try it this weekend! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Loved every bite! Will try with diet cola next time for health. 👍🥰
Ketchup and soy sauce together? I don’t think that sounds good. Just stick to BBQ!
Whoa, cola in chicken? Sounds strange. Are you sure this will taste good?