Slow Cooker Chicken Chili with Cola

It may sound all kinds of wrong to consider making chicken chili in the slow cooker using a can of cola, but once you try it, I’m confident you’re going to love it. The Coke adds a hint of sweetness that balances out the spice so that every flavor in this recipe just comes alive on your palate.

Slow Cooker Chicken Chili with Cola

Most of the recipes I saw on Pinterest for chili made with Coca-Cola involved a red meat of one sort or another, such as brisket or pot roast. I will try those very soon but in the meantime I had boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the freezer that I wanted to use up. Why not try the slow cooker and cola method with them? Boy am I glad I did.

This is the epitome of a dump-and-run Crock Pot recipe. Or a set-and-forget-it slow cooker takes on chili. You are literally dumping everything into the crock, setting the timer and walking away. When you come back six hours later, dinner is served.

The next time I need to make a dish for a potluck, I’m making this chicken chili with cola and bringing it along in my Crock Pot. I’m not sure if I’ll reveal that secret ingredient up front or wait for everyone to taste it and then tell them the surprise.

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup frozen peppers can use fresh
• 1/2 cup frozen onions can use fresh
• 15 ounces black beans rinsed
• 15 ounces red chili beans not rinsed
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 7 ounces green chiles, chopped
• 28 ounces tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 7.5 ounces cola one mini can of Coke
• 1 ounce chili seasoning

Instructions 

1. To your slow cooker add the chicken, peppers and onions, black beans, chili beans, garlic, green chiles, chili seasoning, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce and the whole can of cola. Stir and cover.
2. Cook on low for six hours.
3. When done ladle into bowls and serve with your favorite chili toppings, such as sour cream or plain Greek yogurt or shredded cheese.

Notes

The recipe as written breaks out the onions and peppers into separate ingredients. However, if you find a peppers-and-onion mix in the freezer section of your supermarket, grab it. You can use one cup of that mix. Alternately, you can use fresh ingredients but frozen cuts down on prep time.

As you can see from the photos, I used actual Coca-Cola when making this chicken chili recipe. However, you can substitute another brand of cola or even a generic version. Don’t have Coke? Try Dr. Pepper instead.