I took a happy memory meal and made this ginger ale chicken to showcase on my blog. My friend who taught me this recipe, originally made it with coke. And she also just banged everything into one dish before popping it into the oven.

Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Ginger Ale Chicken ♥
Making memories
I have zero interest in watching tennis. But as a twenty something year old, a friend organized a Wimbledon Finals weekend at her house. It was more about the drinking than the television to be fair. She made her signature dish of chicken cooked in coke. It had its own special name, and for years I have made this dish without much adjustment. It reminds me of my friend who lives very far from me. And even though we are in constant contact, it is not the same as being in the same place. When making her chicken dish I decided to go with the less sweet ginger ale. Regardless, this is still her dish, and I hope you try my version.
Let’s talk about ginger ale
Before I became sucrose intolerant, my drink of choice was Red Heart Rum and ginger ale. Actual ginger should be used to flavour this soft drink, and for the most part, it is used as a mixer. Did you know there are two types of ginger ale? There is the golden one which is Irish in origin, and the one we get in South Africa. And then there is the Canada pale or dry ginger ale, which is milder in flavour. Today, this drink is produced commercially using carbonated water, a sweetener of some sort, and ginger flavouring. This can be artificial or natural and I would be interested to know what goes into the ginger ale you drink? Mine is made carbonated spring water, flavourings, non-nutritive sweetener and colourant. Not a hint of ginger anywhere!
Take a look at this inspiring recipe for ♥ Ginger Ale Chicken ♥ from Lavender and Lime #LavenderAndLime Share on X
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
Ginger Ale Chicken
Ingredients
- 15 mls olive oil
- 2 chicken thighs
- 2 chicken drumsticks
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to season
- 2 shallots, peeled, cut in half and thinly sliced
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
- 75 g cous cous
- 2 large tomatoes, cut in half and thinly sliced
- 2.5 mls dried mixed herbs
- 1.25 mls ground cumin
- 200 mls gingerale
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180° Celsius
- Place the oil into a large frying pan and heat over a high temperature
- Brown the chicken pieces, and season them generously as you turn them
- Remove from the pan and set aside
- Reduce the temperature and add the shallots
- Sauté until soft then add the garlic and season
- Cook until fragrant then remove from the heat
- Place the cous cous into an ovenproof dish and layer the shallots on top
- Layer the tomatoes on top of the shallots then place the chicken on top of the tomatoes
- Sprinkle over the herbs and cumin then add the ginger ale
- Place into the oven and cook for 50 minutes
- Remove from the oven and serve
See the links below for blog posts I published on July 11:
- 2023: Aubergine Caviar
- 2022: Purea Di Peperoni
- 2021: Tall Bones
- 2018: Bonnievale Wines
- 2016: Red Cabbage
- 2014: 11 July 2014: Out And About
- 2013: Sourdough Bread Rolls
- 2012: Hands On Workshop with Giorgio Locatelli
- 2011: Bayede
What a great idea
Thank you 🙂
Nobody wants to truly know what’s in our American Ginger Ale (laugh). There is a more spicy Ginger Ale on the market called Red Rock which is delicious over crushed ice.
The best dishes are those that provide us with good memories.
I will have to look into the Red Rock to see what is in it 🙂
Certainly an interesting idea to cook with he flavors of soda/pop. I did not know the background of ginger ale although it it my husband’s favorite ! Sounds like a fun recipe!
Thank you Judee 🙂
I don’t drink ginger ale but I can make this chicken. Is ginger ale and ginger beer the same? Its a stupid question but I just realized my husband makes Mosco Mule and it requires ginger beer. I have had that.
Ginger beer is much stronger in flavour, and I think will be perfect to make this with 🙂
I doubt there is any real ginger in our ginger ale here:) Tho I did just check and the schweppes brand does have ginger extract! This dish sounds very interesting.
I wonder if our Schweppes is the same?
Wow, I’ve never heard nor thought of using ginger ale for cooking chicken. It sounds intriguing and delicious!
Thank you, and I hope you try it 🙂