Coca Cola BBQ Chicken Crockpot version

As promised, the results of my home experimentation.  I don't think I'll make this recipe any way but in the crockpot from now on!

This version of this recipe double-ups the goodness by 1) becoming crockpot-friendly and 2) reducing the amount of fat in the recipe. 


You'll need to buy skinless bone-in chicken parts, or more likely yank the skin off your cut-up chicken.  It's not hard.  Hold the chicken in one hand (my left, since I'm a rightie), and use a paper towel to get a better grip on the skin with your other hand (my right, since I'm a rightie).  Pull.  Don't be afraid.  Just do it.  Yank.  Yank some more.  It will come off.  Don't sweat getting every tiny bit of skin off. 



Skinned chicken, chicken skin and sauce

Now what to do with that skin?  You can fling it, or if you want to be extremely resourceful and frugal, you can a) render it like bacon for chicken fat, a.k.a. schmaltz or b) spread it flat on a rack placed over a baking sheet and bake it until crisp to make a poultry version of pork rinds.  Or you can chop it up, saute it quickly and feed it to your dogs.

If we're taking the skin off, why don't we just use boneless chicken and save ourselves the fuss of working around bones in the cooked dish?  Because i) the bones will fall right out after a day of crockpot cookery and really not present much of a problem and ii) the bone-in structure will help keep your crockpot from way-overcooking these bad boys.


Crockpot Coca Cola BBQ Chicken
Makes 6-8 servings

Labelled kit

1 chicken, cut up into serving pieces OR 2 1/2 lbs. bone-in chicken breasts/quarters, skinned
2 ribs celery, chopped
1/2 large bell pepper, any color, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped or 1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 cup Coke
1 cup ketchup
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp liquid smoke
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp pepper
dash hot sauce
Rice, to serve

To make a freezer kit, make sure the chicken is well-wrapped.  Combine remaining ingredients to make sauce and transfer to a bag or container. Freeze all together with cooking instructions.

To cook, thaw overnight.  Put chicken in crockpot and top with sauce (it's OK if everything is not totally thawed).  Cook 8-10 hours (or longer with partially frozen parts) on LOW.  Serve over rice. Pin It