Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (2024)

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Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (1)

by: Judy

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You don’t hear many murmurs about Coca Cola Chicken Wings in the States these days, but it was all the rage among Asians in the early 1990s. These days, when I sit down to watch my trashy Chinese soap operas, they still write in scenarios of kids requesting Coca Cola Chicken Wings from their parents in intense anticipation of a yummy meal–it’s definitely a reward and incentive!

I tried to find some fun facts about this dish, like who invented it, but I think the jury is still out. Some of the (obvious and not that helpful) contenders cited are the Chinese, the Taiwanese, and the Americans. Provenance aside, one thing that I’m sure of is that these wings are finger-lickin’ good, and I do not use that term lightly.

But you’ve seen the photos, so you knew that.

Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (3)

Perhaps more important is the elephant in the room–we all know that soda is not good for your health. Under normal circ*mstances, soda is not found in my household at any time. Think of these Coca Cola Chicken Wings as a once-in-a-while treat–kind of like fried chicken or hotdogs. Moreover, this is not an endorsem*nt for Coca-Cola! Any cola will do in this recipe.

So if you were born after the 90’s (or don’t remember much from the 90’s), think of this recipe as a piece of history. Invite a bunch of friends and give this recipe a try so you can see what all the hoopla is about AND save yourself from taking down a batch of Coca-Cola Chicken Wings all by yourself.

Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (4)

Coca Cola Chicken Wings: Recipe Instructions

Wash and clean the chicken wings. Cut the wings at the joint, and pat the chickendry with a paper towel.

Pre-heat the wok until it starts to smoke. Add the oil, and spread it around to coat the bottom of the wok. Now add the ginger and the chicken wings. Spread out the wing pieces in a single layer, and lightly brown them for a few minutes on each side. The wok should be over high heat.

Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (5)

Now add the cola…

Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (6)

And the Shaoxing wine, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, and (if using), the dried orange peel and cinnamon stick.

Bring it to a boil, cover the lid, and turn down the heat to medium.

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Let simmer for 12-15 minutes–until the sauce is almost dry (though there shouldstill bea small pool of sauce at the bottom of the wok). Stir the wings, and add salt to taste.

Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (9)

Now turn up the heat, and quickly stir the wings until the sauce coats each piece. Serve!

Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (10)
Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (11)
Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (12)
Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (13)

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4.36 from 17 votes

Coca Cola Chicken Wings

You don’t hear many murmurs about Coca Cola Chicken Wings in the States these days, but it was all the rage among Asians in the early 1990s! They're a once-in-a-while delicious treat.

by: Judy

Course:Chicken

Cuisine:Chinese

Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (14)

serves: 8

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 25 minutes minutes

Total: 40 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken wings (900g)
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 3 slices ginger
  • 1 can cola (regular, not diet)
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 1 piece of dried orange peel (optional)
  • 1 small cinnamon stick (optional)
  • Salt (to taste)

Instructions

  • Wash and clean the chicken wings. Cut the wings at the joint, and pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.

  • Pre-heat the wok until it starts to smoke. Add the oil, and spread it around to coat the bottom of the wok. Now add the ginger and the chicken wings. Spread out the wing pieces in a single layer, and lightly brown them for a few minutes on each side. The wok should be over high heat.

  • Now add the cola, Shaoxing wine, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, and (if using), the orange peel and cinnamon stick. Bring it to a boil, cover the lid, and turn down the heat to medium. Let simmer for 12-15 minutes–until the sauce is almost dry (though there should still be a small pool of sauce at the bottom of the wok). Stir the wings, and add salt to taste.

  • Now turn up the heat, and quickly stir the wings until the sauce coats each piece. Serve!

nutrition facts

Calories: 190kcal (10%) Carbohydrates: 5g (2%) Protein: 12g (24%) Fat: 13g (20%) Saturated Fat: 3g (15%) Cholesterol: 47mg (16%) Sodium: 569mg (24%) Potassium: 110mg (3%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 4g (4%) Vitamin A: 90IU (2%) Vitamin C: 0.4mg Calcium: 7mg (1%) Iron: 0.8mg (4%)

nutritional info disclaimer

TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.

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Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (19)

About Judy

Judy is the mom of The Woks of Life family. Born in Shanghai, she arrived in the U.S. at age 16. Fluent in both English and three separate Chinese dialects, she's our professional menu translator when we're eating our way through China. Dedicated to preserving disappearing recipes and traditions, her specialty is all things traditional, from mooncakes to home-style stir-fries.

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Coca Cola Chicken Wings Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why add co*ke to wings? ›

You wouldn't guess just how delicious it is based on the simple ingredients. In this recipe that's a favorite of home cooks in China, Cola-Cola and soy sauce meld to form a great sweet and savory glaze for the chicken. You get a great caramelized flavor without the work!

What does Coca-Cola chicken taste like? ›

Cola chicken has been described as a dish that has flavor elements of sweet and sour, and the cola has been described as imparting a rich flavor to the chicken meat.

Why soak chicken wings in water and baking soda? ›

Here's why it works. Baking soda is alkaline, so it raises the pH level of chicken skin, breaking down the peptide bonds and jumpstarting the browning process, meaning the wings got browner and crispier faster than they would on their own.

What is the baking soda trick for chicken? ›

You can velvet meat and make it melt-in-your-mouth tender by quickly tossing chunks of beef or chicken in about ¾ tsp of baking soda for about 15 minutes before your next stir fry, then rinse and pat the meat dry before putting in the pan.

Why do people soak chicken in co*ke? ›

Baking the chicken in the cola marinade makes it ultra-tender and moist, and it's especially good for chicken thighs, drumsticks and chicken wings. The thick co*ke sauce tenderizes the meat, which makes it mouthwateringly succulent and juicy.

What does cooking meat in co*ke do? ›

Cola's high acidity and caramel flavor makes a surprisingly good meat tenderizer. Cola typically has a pH of about 2.7—for comparison, lemon juice has a pH of 2—making it acidic enough to break down some proteins without dissolving your meat.

Does KFC use Coca-Cola? ›

KFC serves a selection of soft drinks, including popular carbonated options like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, and more. You can often choose from various sizes, such as small, medium, and large.

What is Coca-Cola's main flavor? ›

The modern source of that additive is probably caffeine citrate, a byproduct of the decaffeination of coffee. The primary taste of Coca-Cola is thought to come from vanilla and cinnamon, with trace amounts of essential oils, and spices such as nutmeg.

Do I have to rinse baking soda off chicken? ›

Allow the meat to soak in the baking soda solution for 15 minutes. Remove the meat from the liquid and briefly rinse the meat in plain water to strip off the baking soda solution (or as much of it as possible). Cook as desired.

What makes wings crispy cornstarch or baking soda? ›

This recipe uses a handful of pantry-staple ingredients and a little bit of science to achieve the perfect oven-fried chicken wing. Follow the recipe carefully for the best results! There are 3 secrets to super crispy baked wings: Coat them in cornstarch, salt, and aluminum-free baking powder (NOT baking soda).

How long to leave baking soda on chicken wings? ›

In a large bowl, combine wings with baking powder and salt and toss until thoroughly and evenly coated. Place on rack, leaving a slight space between each wing. Repeat with remaining 2 batches of wings. Place baking sheet with wings in refrigerator and allow to rest, uncovered, at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

Do you need to rinse baking soda off meat? ›

Carefully rub the baking soda into the meat's surface before moving it to a zip-top bag or glass bowl. From there, leave it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight. Then take the meat out of the container and rinse it ensuring that all—or most—of the baking soda is off the steak.

How do Chinese get chicken so tender? ›

Ever notice how the chicken in stir fries at your favourite Chinese restaurant is incredibly tender? It's because they tenderise chicken using a simple method called Velveting Chicken using baking soda. It's a quick and easy method that any home cook can do, and can also be used for beef.

What happens if you put too much baking soda on chicken? ›

All you actually need is a dash of baking soda to make the crispiest wings possible. While that special ingredient will help create the best texture possible, it does come with a slight flavor drawback — too much of it will cause your wings to taste metallic and bitter.

Why do people use co*ke in cooking? ›

If you're not from the south, it may not have occurred to you that you can cook with Coca-Cola. But the king of sodas has been used in southern cooking for years — particularly in marinades and sauces for beef and pork. Its sweet acidity can help to tenderize meat, making it an ideal addition for a long slow brine.

What does co*ke do to spicy food? ›

When it comes to cooling down after eating something spicy, there are certain foods and drinks that you should avoid. For instance, carbonated drinks like soda or beer will only intensify the heat in your mouth. Some will argue that those can help, but there isn't any science behind it.

Why do people marinate meat in co*ke? ›

Like any acidic liquid, soda can indeed help meat become more tender and flavorful due to its low pH of around 2 or 3. The acid in co*ke, Dr. Pepper, and a variety of sodas slightly penetrates the meat, gently breaking down the proteins and resulting in a softer, more enjoyable texture.

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