Coca Cola Chicken Drumsticks

Coca Cola chicken drumsticks are marinated in a combination of soda, brown sugar, ketchup, and fresh ginger for a sauce that’s sticky, sweet and yummy.

 

“It’s not soda, it’s not pop–it’s Coke, no matter what brand or flavor.”
-Bon Appétit,
Mac ‘n’ Cheese Is a Vegetable … and 21 More Reasons Why We Love the Southland

A word of advice if you show up thirsty in Mississippi – don’t ask for a pop.  Don’t ask for a soda.  Ask for a Coke.  It doesn’t matter if you really want a Sprite or a Dr. Pepper.  We’ll get to that later.

Think of it like this way: How often do you ask for a tissue to wipe your nose?  Or lip balm for your chapped lips?  No, you ask for a Kleenex and some Chap-Stick.  In the South, Coke is more than just a brand.  It’s an all encompassing term used to describe any carbonated, syrup-sweetened beverage.

Last week, cookbook author Martha Hall Foose visited my local library to do a reading from her newest book, A Southerly Course, and a book signing.  Martha’s first cookbook, Screen Doors and Sweet Tea not only won a James Beard award, but it is one of my favorite cookbooks.

You may wonder how someone does a reading from a cookbook.  No, it did not involve reading recipes aloud.  Martha’s books are intertwined with lovely stories of the South.  Stories so descriptive, that if I didn’t already live here I would want to pack up my things and move here.  Something about her stories makes me want to kick off my shoes, wiggle my toes, and spend an afternoon in a hammock with a glass of lemonade.

I chose this recipe from A Southerly Course because it was marinated in Coke.  Or as Martha refers to it in her book, “Co-Cola.”  Either pronunciation is perfectly acceptable around here.

Coca-Cola Chicken Drumsticks

Coca cola chicken drumsticks are marinated in a combination of soda, brown sugar, ketchup, and fresh ginger for a sauce that's sticky, sweet and yummy.

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Prep Time: 8 hours hours

Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes

Total Time: 8 hours hours 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

Author: Lisa B.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) bottle soda
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 pounds chicken drumsticks
• 1 cup chicken broth

Instructions

• Mix together first 10 ingredients in a large bowl or resealable bag. Add chicken and toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, preferably up to 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Remove chicken and reserve remaining marinade. Bring reserved marinade and chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Continue to boil for 15-20 minutes.
• Arrange drumsticks on a large baking sheet and bake for 45-55 minutes, occasionally basting with reserved marinade mixture, until the skin is brown and crisp and juices run clear.