Grilled Coca Cola Chicken (Printable Version)

Juicy grilled chicken breasts with a sticky, sweet Coca Cola glaze for a tangy BBQ favorite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

→ Marinade & Glaze

02 - 1 cup Coca Cola (regular, not diet)
03 - 1/3 cup ketchup
04 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
05 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
06 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Optional Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# How To Make:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine the Coca Cola, ketchup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Whisk until fully blended and the sugar has dissolved.
02 - Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade for basting later, then pour the remaining marinade over the chicken. Seal and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours for deeper flavor.
03 - Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, approximately 375°F to 400°F. Oil the grill grates thoroughly to prevent the chicken from sticking.
04 - Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the used marinade. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side with the lid closed, basting occasionally with the reserved Coca Cola glaze, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cola does double duty, tenderizing the chicken while its sugars build a caramel crust that no regular BBQ sauce can match.
  • It uses ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen right now, which means dinner can start in fifteen minutes.
02 -
  • Never reuse the marinade that touched raw chicken as a finishing sauce, which is why you reserve that half cup before anything comes near the meat.
  • If the glaze starts to blacken too quickly, move the chicken to a cooler part of the grill because sugar burns fast over direct flame.
03 -
  • If your cola has gone flat, use it anyway because the bubbles do not matter once everything is whisked together and reduced on the grill.
  • Brush the final layer of glaze on during the last two minutes of cooking with the lid open, which gives you that lacquered finish without burning the sugar.

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