Coca Cola Glazed Grilled Chicken (Print Version)
Juicy grilled chicken breasts with a sticky, sweet Coca Cola glaze for a tangy BBQ twist.
# What You'll Need:
→ Poultry
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Marinade and 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
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the Coca-Cola, ketchup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt until fully blended and smooth.
02 - Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Reserve 1/2 cup of the glaze mixture 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 (around 375°F to 400°F). Lightly oil the grill grates 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. Cook 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 Coca Cola reduces into a glaze that tastes like you spent all day on it, but the actual hands on time is laughably short.
- That smoky char from the grill paired with the sweet tangy sauce hits every single flavor note you want from summer cooking.
02 -
- Never reuse the marinade that the raw chicken sat in. Only the separately reserved half cup is safe for basting.
- Chicken breasts can go from perfectly juicy to dry in what feels like sixty seconds, so a meat thermometer is truly your best friend here.
03 -
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before marinating so everything finishes cooking at the same time.
- If you are stuck indoors, a cast iron grill pan on high heat gives you excellent char and just as much flavor as an outdoor grill.