Coca Cola Glazed Chicken (Printable Version)
Juicy grilled chicken breasts with a sweet, tangy Coca Cola glaze, perfect for barbecues and family meals.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Marinade & Glaze
02 - 1 cup Coca Cola (not diet)
03 - 3 tablespoons ketchup
04 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
05 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
06 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
# Directions:
01 - In a small saucepan, combine the Coca Cola, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the glaze reduces by about half and thickens, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and brush evenly with olive oil. Season lightly with additional salt and pepper.
03 - Reserve 1/3 cup of the prepared glaze for basting during grilling. Place the remaining glaze and the seasoned chicken breasts into a large resealable bag or shallow dish. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
04 - Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, targeting approximately 400°F. Oil the grates thoroughly to prevent the chicken from sticking.
05 - Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the used marinade. Place the chicken breasts onto the hot grill and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved glaze, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the exterior is nicely caramelized.
06 - Transfer the grilled chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Drizzle with any remaining glaze if desired and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cola reduces into a glossy, caramel like glaze that tastes like you spent hours on a complex sauce.
- It turns ordinary chicken into the kind of dish that disappears before everything else at a cookout.
02 -
- Discard the used marinade because it has had raw chicken sitting in it and is not safe to reuse.
- The glaze can go from caramelized to burnt quickly at the end, so watch it closely during the last few minutes of grilling.
03 -
- Pound the chicken to even thickness before marinating so everything finishes cooking at the same time.
- Apply the reserved glaze only during the last few minutes of grilling to prevent burning the sugars.