Coca-Cola chicken wings in a pan

Coca-Cola chicken wings (可乐鸡翅, Ke Le Ji Chi) is one of my favorite childhood dishes that my mom would make occasionally as a treat. These wings are tender, juicy and coated with a sticky glossy sauce just like BBQ wings. But since most Chinese households do not have an oven, the wings are actually made on the stovetop using a braising technique. 

Coca-Cola chicken wings ingredients 

The ingredient list for Coca-Cola chicken wings is short. 

The main ingredient is a can of Coke (regular, not diet or zero sugar). Along with soy sauce and Shaoxing wine, it creates a savory and sweet brown sauce that has a caramel aroma. It is further enhanced by fresh ginger, green onion and chili pepper.

Mise en place

When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:

  • Soy sauce
  • Salt
  • Shaoxing wine
  • Dried chili pepper
  • Chicken wings, pat dried
  • Green onion and ginger
  • Coke 
Coca-Cola chicken wings ingredients
Homemade Ke Le Ji Chi

How to cook Coca-Cola chicken wings

  1. Sear the wings until golden
  2. Saute the aromatics to release the fragrance
  3. Add the braising liquid 
  4. Braise the chicken while skimming the brown foam from the top
  5. Flip the wings occasionally until the liquid has reduced
  6. The wings are ready when the braising liquid has thickened enough to thinly coat the wings 

NOTE: At first, it might seem like there is a lot of braising liquid and the liquid is really thin. But as you approach the end of cooking, the liquid will reduce very quickly and thicken up enough to coat the wings and form a glaze. You should always keep a close eye on the chicken during the last 10 minutes of cooking to prevent the sauce from burning. 

Making Coca-Cola chicken wings step-by-step

Frequently asked questions

  • Why does my braising liquid not thicken after 20 minutes?

Depending on the type of pot you use and your heat level, you might need a longer cooking time for the liquid to evaporate enough to thicken the sauce. I used a large flat skillet and relatively high heat for the braising. If you use a dutch oven, you might need to cook for a longer time.

  • Can I freeze Coca-Cola chicken wings?

Yes! This dish freezes well and it is suitable for meal prep. 

  • Is it possible to cook it with Diet Coke instead of regular Coca-Cola? 

The dish uses the sugar in the Coca-Cola to thicken the sauce and create a caramelized result. The sauce won’t react the same way if using Diet Coke (or Coca-Cola Light or Coke Zero), since it only contains artificial sweetener.

Coca-Cola chicken wings in a pan close up

How to serve Coca-Cola chicken wings

You can serve the Coca-Cola chicken wings by themselves as a main dish or appetizer, however I prefer to serve them with steamed rice for a main course. I also recommend serving a few lighter dishes such as simple veggie stir fries or salad with it, to balance out the flavor. For example:

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Coca-Cola Chicken wings combine Chinese sauces and Coca-Cola to create savory and sweet glazed BBQ style wings on the stovetop. They are super easy to put together and fun to eat - perfect for a weekday dinner or meal prep for the week. {Gluten-Free Adaptable}

Coca-Cola Chicken Wings (可乐鸡翅)

By Maggie Zhu
5 from 12 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Coca-Cola Chicken wings combine Chinese sauces and Coca-Cola to create savory and sweet glazed BBQ style wings on the stovetop. They are super easy to put together and fun to eat – perfect for a weekday dinner or meal prep for the week. {Gluten-Free Adaptable}
To make this dish gluten-free, use tamari to replace the soy sauce, and use dry sherry instead of Shaoxing wine.

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1.5 to 2 lbs chicken wings , patted dry with a paper towel
  • 2 dried chili peppers
  • 3 green onions , cut into 4” (10cm) pieces (and extra for garnish, if needed)
  • 3 slices ginger
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
  • 1 can Coca-Cola (12 oz / 350 ml can)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (*Footnote 1)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (use 1/2 teaspoon salt if you do not plan to serve the dish with rice)

Instructions

  • Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the chicken wings, skin side down without overlapping. Let cook without moving until the bottom side turns golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the wings and cook the other side until golden, another 3 to 4 minutes. Turn to medium-low heat and transfer the wings to a big plate.
  • Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil and turn to medium-high heat again. Add the chili pepper, green onion and ginger. Stir for 1 minute to release the fragrance.
  • Pour in the Shaoxing wine and use a spatula to scrape off any brown bits from the pan. Add the Coca-Cola, soy sauce, and salt. Add the chicken wings. Stir a few times to coat with sauce.
  • When the sauce starts to boil, turn to medium heat or the heat level needed to maintain a vibrant boil for a total of 20 minutes. During the first 5 minutes, use a fine mesh strainer to skim off and discard any brown foam from the top of the broth. Check on the sauce every 5 minutes and flip the wings occasionally. During the last 5 minutes, the sauce will reduce to a lower level and you should check on the sauce often, because the sauce will start to thicken very quickly. When the sauce thickens, stir and flip the wings to coat them well with the sauce. Turn off the heat and transfer the wings to a serving platter to prevent the sauce from reducing too much.
  • Garnish with green onion if using. Serve hot as a main dish.

Video

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Notes

  1. Regular soy sauce gives the dish a nice color. You can also use 2 tablespoons of light soy sauce plus 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce to give the dish an appealing dark brown color.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 281kcal, Carbohydrates: 13.1g, Protein: 31.2g, Fat: 11.2g, Saturated Fat: 2.7g, Cholesterol: 93mg, Sodium: 902mg, Potassium: 305mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 10g, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 2mg

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