This Diet Coke Chicken recipe takes 5 minutes to prepare and produces a sweet and sticky easy dinner option, whether you’re following a Weight Watchers diet, counting calories, or simply want a homemade healthy meal.
Made with chicken broth, tomato paste, lean chicken, and a can of coca cola, you can cook this family-friendly dish on the stovetop, in a crock pot, or in an Instant Pot.
Diet Coke Chicken (aka Cola Chicken)
Our Diet Coke Chicken is similar to the original Slimming World Diet Coke Chicken recipe, but this revised version removes the Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce and replaces them with some simple seasonings.
Diet coke and chicken may seem like an odd combination, but cooking with cola is actually a low-calorie, low-carb liquid that makes the most delicious sticky sweet bbq sauce when mixed with tomato paste.
This healthy diet cola chicken is perfectly flavorful for anyone following a calorie-controlled diet and fits with most low carb, gluten free, dairy free meal plans.
In a matter of minutes, you can make your barbecue sauce, pour it over the poultry, and cook it all together until it’s thick enough to be served over vegetables, a whole grain, or your other favorite sides.
Why We Love This Diet Coke BBQ Chicken Recipe
- Quick and easy to make.
- Uses simple kitchen staple ingredients.
- Homemade sauce has a sweet flavor and sticky texture that coats each piece of chicken.
- Alternative sugar free cola products can be used if you prefer not to consume aspartame (regular “full-fat” Coke will work fine as well).
- Use a slow cooker to prepare tender pulled chicken that can be stuffed in tacos and sandwiches or served over rice and salads.
- Delicious dinner the whole family will love or make leftovers for lunch the next day.
More Easy Healthy Dinner Recipes
Ingredients for Diet Coke Chicken
- Chicken broth
- Tomato paste
- Smoked paprika
- Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Cayenne pepper (optional)
- Diet Coke
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: You can use chicken breasts if you prefer white meat.
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley (optional garnish)
Substitutions and Additions
- Soda Swap: Feel free to use Diet Pepsi (or Pepsi Max), Coke Zero, or a store brand cola for this recipe.
- Add Some Spice: You can increase the cayenne pepper to ¼ – ½ teaspoon for a spicier version of sauce or substitute ground chipotle chili peppers for the cayenne pepper.
Recommended Tools
- Whisk
- 10 to 12-inch deep, nonstick skillet
See Full Recipe Card Below
Jump to RecipeHow to Make Diet Coke Chicken
- Make The Sauce: Whisk together the chicken broth, tomato paste, paprika, salt, cracked pepper, and cayenne. Whisk in the Diet Coke.
- Cook: Place the chicken in a skillet and pour the diet coke mixture over the pieces. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, turning the chicken every 7-8 minutes. After 20 minutes, cook uncovered for another 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve while hot. Enjoy!
Tips for Making Diet Coke Chicken
- If you want to avoid aspartame, you can use regular cola instead of diet. Keep in mind that this will increase the calorie count.
- You can cook the dish in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or 6 hours on low.
- You can substitute 1 cup of ketchup for the chicken broth and tomato paste.
- You can serve the dish over cooked rice or cooked mixed vegetables.
How to Store Leftover Diet Coke BBQ Chicken
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the Diet Coke chicken for up to 1 month. Allow the chicken to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
Other Easy Chicken Recipes
- Crack Chicken Chili
- Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Firecracker Chicken
- Garlic Butter Chicken and Potatoes Skillet
- Hawaiian Grilled Chicken Kabobs
- Chicken a la King
Diet Coke Chicken
Serves — 4
Diet Coke Chicken is a sweet and sticky healthy meal that is so easy to make. Perfect if you’re following a calorie or carb controlled diet and fits many of the major food plans.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Ingredients
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- 6 ounces can of tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 12 ounces can of Diet Coke
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley optional garnish
Instructions
- Add the chicken broth, tomato paste, smoked paprika, kosher salt, cracked pepper, and cayenne to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Whisk in the Diet Coke.
- Add the chicken thighs to a 10 to 12-inch deep, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Pour the Diet Coke mixture over the chicken. Cover with a lid, and cook for 20 minutes, turning the chicken every 7-8 minutes. After 20 minutes, cook uncovered for another 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat, garnish with parsley, and serve while hot.
Jenn’s Notes
Servings: 4 individual servings of 2 thighs each
Storage:
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the Diet Coke chicken for up to 1 month. Allow the chicken to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
- If you want to avoid aspartame, you can use regular cola instead of diet. Keep in mind that this will increase the calorie count.
- You can cook the dish in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or 6 hours on low.
- You can substitute 1 cup of ketchup for the chicken broth and tomato paste.
- You can serve the dish over cooked rice or cooked mixed vegetables.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 216mg | Sodium: 1287mg | Potassium: 1032mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1308IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg
