Ingredients
- Chicken Wings: 2 lbs (about 12-15 pieces), separated at the joint
- Coca-Cola (regular, not diet): 1 (12 oz) can
- Light Soy Sauce: 1/4 cup
- Shaoxing Rice Grape Juice With Vinegar (or dry apple cider vinegar with sugar): 1 tablespoon
- Fresh Ginger: 1 inch piece, thinly sliced
- Garlic: 3 cloves, lightly smashed
- Cooking Oil (vegetable or canola): 1 tablespoon
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. Heat the cooking oil in a large wok or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken wings and brown them on all sides for about 3-5 minutes, ensuring they develop a nice color, then remove any excess rendered fat.
- Step 2: Add the smashed garlic and sliced ginger to the pan and sauté briefly (about 30 seconds) until fragrant. Pour in the light soy sauce and the Shaoxing rice pomegranate juice, stirring quickly to deglaze the bottom of the pan.
- Step 3: Pour the entire can of Coca-Cola over the chicken wings. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and allow the wings to simmer gently for 15 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook through.
- Step 4: After 15 minutes, remove the lid and increase the heat to medium-high. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, allowing the sauce to boil vigorously. The goal is to reduce the liquid significantly.
- Step 5: Continue boiling the sauce for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced to a thick, syrupy glaze that coats the back of a spoon. Toss the wings in the thick glaze until they are fully caramelized and sticky, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but note the signature glaze will become very sticky and firm when chilled.
- For best results, reheat chilled wings in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 5-8 minutes until the glaze softens and the skin crisps slightly again.
- Balance the rich, sweet glaze by serving these wings alongside a simple bowl of steamed rice or a sharp, crunchy Asian slaw, garnished with toasted sesame seeds.
- When reducing the sauce, stay close and stir frequently; the high sugar content from the Coca-Cola means the glaze can go from perfectly syrupy to scorched very quickly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American