This Chinese inspired coca cola chicken recipe with chilli and cashew nuts is a great alternative to ordering a takeaway. The coca cola makes it deliciously sweet and sticky while the fresh vegetables and herbs keep it light and vibrant.
I've always been fascinated by recipes that use coca cola. There's something a little naughty about cooking with a drink my mother wouldn't let me drink as a child. Maybe it's also the fact that it's such an artificial but addictive flavour that makes it seem just a little edgy. A glass of orange juice may be just as sweet but wouldn't seem half as wild.
Can you make this coca cola chicken with diet coke?
To be honest, I don't often drink cola and when I do I usually have the diet versions. However, for making this coca cola chicken recipe you need the sugar that's in the real thing. You can make this with Diet Coke but it's just not the same.
Can you taste the cola in this chicken recipe?
In essence, this is a Chinese style dish with a sweet and sticky sauce like so many Chinese dishes have. The only difference is where the sweet and sticky sauce comes from. The dish doesn't actually taste of cola but the cola does give a rich flavour to the sauce. The coca cola sauce is sweet, but not too sweet.
For me, that's a good thing as I'm not a huge fan of overly sweet savoury dishes. So you're probably wondering why I wanted to cook with cola in the first place. It must be that rebellious streak in me!
The inspiration for this coca cola chicken recipe
I've read a lot of cola recipes online over the last few years. Whenever I come across one I read through the recipe and imagine how it'll taste. The recipe this is nearest to is this one on Milk and Honey. I've added more vegetables, more coriander and a little less soy sauce.
What can you serve with this coca cola chilli chicken?
The sauce is rich and sticky so I think a light rice side dish is best. Plain rice such as jasmine, brown rice or basmati all work well.
You could also serve it with plain noodles.
Can you reheat the leftovers?
Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to three days and then reheated in the microwave or in the oven. Make sure it's piping hot before serving.
Coca Cola Chicken Recipe with Chilli
Recipe
Coca Cola Chicken with Chilli
Ingredients
- 300 g chicken cut into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 birds eye chilli pepper sliced
- 1 tablespoon ginger finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 330 ml coca cola
- 4 tablespoon coriander leaves roughly chopped
- 30 g cashew nuts
- 300 g Chinese vegetables sugar snap peas, baby corn
- 1 teaspoon cornflour Mixed into 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Put the chicken, cornflour and soy sauce in a bowl. Stir well and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour before you make the rest of the dish.
- Put a little oil in a pan and add the chilli, ginger and garlic. Fry them for about a minute and then add the chicken.
- Keep stirring the chicken so it doesn't stick and when it is beginning to brown, add the cola. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 10 minutes.
- While the chicken is simmering. Heat a dry frying pan and dry fry the cashews. Keep shaking the pan so they turn over and don't burn.
- Add the vegetables and half of the coriander to the pan with the chicken and continue to simmer for about 3 minutes.
- Add the cornflour and water mixture and stir to thicken the sauce.
- Serve with rice and top with the cashew nuts and the extra coriander leaf.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Chinese Inspired Recipes
I'm sure you'll love my easy Chinese chicken curry
Or how about this slow cooker chicken stew with stir fried vegetables?
If you like spicy recipes then do check out my easy spicy midweek meals recipe collection!
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Anonymous
I will definitely give a go to this dish tomorrow. Looks so tasty
Corina Blum
I hope you like it! Do let me know!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
I love everything here, Corina. I am eating cashews everyday and I love that you included cashews in this amazing dish. Thanks for sharing! Stay safe and healthy!
Corina Blum
I'm so pleased you like it Jhuls! I hope you are keeping well.
mohan kumar
Super easy to follow and quick. A very delicious meal.
Julie is HostessAtHeart
This looks delicious! I wonder if you could replace cola with brown sugar? Might have to break down and grab a can for this though.
Corina
I'm sure you could but you'd need to add some liquid too. It probably wouldn't be quite the same but as long as it's delicious then who cares!
Bunny Eats Design
The Koala is a recovering Coca Cola addict. If we have any in the house, he cannot stop until it's all gone. So we don't buy it anymore it's a shame because I like it every now and then. I'll have to buy a can and hide it in the pantry if I want to cook with it, but i like the idea of using it in a sauce.
Dana Fashina
Wow!
Now this is something neat!
More definitely OGE worthy 🙂
Caroline @ Shrinking Single
I was thinking about trying a coca cola recipe for our growing edge - great minds think a like! But I am not going to make it this month as I am on holiday for most of October with no cooking. Will definitely have to try this when I get back.
Corina
I hope you have a great holiday. I'm sure you'll love this if you try it. I'm definitely going to try a few more cola recipes now I've done my first one and I'll look forward to hearing about how yours go.
Ben
I've usually heard of colas as additives to barbeques or braises. I've never thought about it this way.
Corina
It's probably far more versatile than any of us have thought!