K is for: Ketchup Cola Marinade {a Tailgate Special}

Coca Cola Classic is the secret ingredient for this BBQ sauce

I’m not sure where I stumbled upon the idea to use cola in a marinade, but I’m so glad I did because I loved it! It totally sounds like a weird component of a BBQ sauce, but I can personally vouch for it.

I’m a big fan of marinating meats…especially when you’re planning to cook them on the grill. It helps keep the meat from drying out, and it infuses a lot of flavors into each bite.

This one is basically a twist on a basic BBQ sauce, with Cola and Ketchup being the main ingredients.
(**UPDATE 1/1/13: Most of the Authentic Eats links on the website seem to be broken, so I’m posting the original recipe here).

I’m a big fan of marinating meats…especially when you’re planning to cook them on the grill. It helps keep the meat from drying out, and it infuses a lot of flavors into each bite. Usually, there’s some sort of oil, an acid (vinegar or citrus), and then whatever other flavors you like.

I’m not sure where I stumbled upon the idea to use cola in a marinade, but I’m so glad I did because I loved it! It totally sounds like a weird component of a BBQ sauce, but I can personally vouch for it. The sugars really lend well to producing a caramely finish. (And I can’t help but think the carbonation did something magical as well). I combined it with some ketchup, dry yellow mustard, paprika, garlic, apple cider vinegar, and garlic. I marinated boneless chicken breasts, but I think this would work well on pork or beef as well. I also used Coca Cola Classic, but I think Dr. Pepper or Cherry Coke might be good too. Just DON’T use diet…it doesn’t contain sugar.

Basically all you need to do is mix it all together in a bowl. Reserve about a half cup to use for brushing later, and pour the rest over your meat in a large Ziplock bag and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Grill your meat on medium-high heat, brushing with reserved sauce until cooked through and serve with additional sauce. Just a few simple ingredients will really take your tailgate food up a notch!