Diet Coke Chicken is a popular dish that has gained a lot of attention in recent years, particularly among those looking for a great way to lose weight. This dish is not only delicious and easy to prepare, but it is also low in calories and fat, making it a great option for anyone who wants to enjoy a flavorful meal without compromising their diet goals. With its sweet and tangy flavour, this Diet Coke Chicken dish has become a go-to recipe for those seeking a low-sugar and satisfying meal that won’t break the calorie bank.
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Why You Will Love This Diet Coke Chicken Recipe
- You will only need a handful of simple ingredients that won’t break the back.
- Diet Coke Chicken is a low-carb, low-calorie recipe that is suitable for weight watchers and people on their weight loss journey.
- A meal that the whole family will enjoy.
- The beauty of this dish is that comes together in under 30 minutes, making it a perfect meal for busy weeknights.
- It’s fun and unconventional, but equally easy and delicious!
Ingredients and Substitutes
- oil: vegetable, sunflower, avocado, rapeseed or olive oil, or any other oil suitable for cooking on high heat.
- chicken: we used boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but they can be replaced with chicken thighs. Note that thigh meat takes a little longer to cook through.
- bell pepper: yellow, red or green pepper. You may use a variety of different vegetables in this recipe: baby corn, mange tout, courgettes etc.
- red onion: small onion cut into wedges.
- diet coke: can be replaced with coke zero, or regular cola, if you don’t mind the added sugar.
- tomato puree: also known as tomato paste. If you wish, you can replace it with tomato ketchup, but note that it typically contains lots of sugar, and the tomato flavour isn’t as intense.
- Worcestershire sauce: also known as Worcester sauce. You may replace it with an equal amount of balsamic vinegar.
- chicken broth / stock: vegetable stock will work just as well.
- garlic: if you’ve run out of fresh garlic cloves, 1 garlic clove can be replaced with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Method
Season the chicken with salt and pepper (you may add some cayenne pepper or smoked paprika for extra flavour too).
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat (you may use low-calorie nonstick cooking spray too).
Add the chicken pieces and stir fry until the chicken fully changes colour, but it doesn’t have to be fully cooked through (3-4 minutes depending on how large your pieces are).
Take the chicken out of the pan, and set aside. To the same pan, add the onions, pepper and garlic. Increase the heat to high and stir fry the veggies for 4-5 minutes, until slightly charred, but retain the crunch. Take the veggies out of the pan and set aside.
In the same frying pan, pour in the Diet Coke, tomato paste, Worcester sauce and stock, and mix to combine. Bring it to a rapid boil and cook to reduce it by about a third (about 5 minutes on high heat).
Add the chicken pieces back into the pan with the tomato sauce, reduce the read slightly and cook for 10 minutes. The chicken should cook through completely and the sauce should reach the required consistency to coat the chicken. Stir in the veggies. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
Serve the diet coke chicken with rice or noodles, and your favourite vegetable sides (some suggestions below).
Tips and Tricks For Success
- Don’t fully cook the chicken to start with. Just fry it enough for it to change surface colour. The chicken will finish cooking in the Diet Coke sauce.
- Make sure your vegetables are still very crunchy before you add the wet ingredients to the pan, overwise they will overcook and will turn mushy.
- Reduce the sauce by at least ⅓ before adding the chicken back into the pan, otherwise, your sauce will be too runny.
- If you like a bit more sweetness in your sauce, add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Using regular cola will also produce a sweeter sauce.
- To add more depth to the flavorful sauce, add some finely chopped ginger!
Watch How To Make Diet Coke Chicken
Recipe FAQs
Yes. To freeze, let the chicken cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. The chicken can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Absolutely! You can also use regular coke if you don’t find the sugar in it.
If your sauce isn’t reducing, increase the heat and let it bubble for a few minutes. Another way to thicken it is to make a slurry of 1 teaspoon of cornflour (cornstarch) with 2 tablespoon of water and then mix it into the sauce. Stir it for a few moments until it thickens.
We love some spring onions or fresh coriander on top of our chicken.
Storage and Reheating
To store diet coke chicken leftovers, first let the chicken cool to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate it promptly. The chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, simply place it in the microwave, or reheat it on the stove.
When reheating frozen diet coke chicken, it’s best to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. You can then reheat the chicken in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven (make sure to cover the dish with foil) until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Be sure to stir the sauce occasionally during reheating to ensure that it heats evenly.
What To Serve With Diet Coke Chicken?
We love this dish with simple boiled rice or egg noodles, but if you are looking for a low-carb meal, try it with cauliflower rice. A lovely vegetable side will not go amiss here either. Our favourites include:
Other Easy Chicken Recipes
Quick and easy chicken recipes are great for any busy weeknight. Some of our most popular dishes include:
- Creamy Chicken Pasanda Curry
- Chinese Salt And Pepper Chicken
- Chicken Limone (Italian Pollo Al Limone)
- Quick Chicken Manchurian
Recipe Card
Easy Diet Coke Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 400 g chicken breast cut into large pieces
- 1 red onion cut into 8 wedges
- 1 bell pepper cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 garlic clove
- 60 g tomato puree
- 150 ml diet coke
- 100 ml chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper (you may add some cayenne pepper or smoked paprika for extra flavour too).
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat (you may use low-calorie nonstick cooking spray too).
- Add the chicken pieces and stir fry until the chicken fully changes colour, but it doesn't have to be cooly cooked through (3-4 minutes depending on how large your pieces are).
- Take the chicken out of the pan, and set aside. To the same pan, add the onions, pepper and garlic. Increase the heat to high and stir fry the veggies for 4-5 minutes, until slightly charred, but retain the crunch. Take the veggies out of the pan and set aside.
- To the same frying pan, pour in the Diet Coke, tomato paste, Worcester sauce and stock, and mix to combine. Bring it to a rapid boil and cook to reduce it by about a third.
- Add the chicken pieces back into the pan with the tomato sauce, reduce the read slightly and cook for 10 minutes. The chicken should cook through completely and the sauce should reach the required consistency to coat the chicken. Stir in the veggies. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
- Serve the diet coke chicken with rice or noodles, and your favourite vegetable sides (some suggestions below).
Video
Nutrition
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