Sprite — Yes, Sprite — Is the Secret to a Juicy, Tender Chicken Dinner

Just when you thought you knew all the possible ways to cook chicken, YouTube throws an unexpected and ingenious new concept at you. At least, that's exactly what Cook and Taste's channel did to me. The idea of cooking chicken in soda was so far out of my imagination that I had never considered the juicy, tender dish that could result. But, with over 10 million views, this Sprite chicken recipe had my attention.

Combining soda and dinner might sound like a childhood dream come true, but as it turns out, Sprite and chicken are very good friends in the culinary world, creating tasty marinades and flavorful roasts. No need to worry about a sickly sweetness here — the sugar in the soda is mellowed out by additional ingredients such as soy sauce and oyster sauce, resulting in a tasty balance between salty and sweet.

In this recipe, the soda both steams and braises the chicken, giving you the perfect succulent texture. A low and slow simmer allows the flavors to combine and penetrate the chicken with hints of lemongrass and garlic. As stated by the recipe creator, "Once you do this, you will never buy chicken from a restaurant."

If you're also a newcomer to the combination of Sprite and chicken, let me welcome you in with this delicious recipe.

How to make Sprite Chicken

(recipe adapted from Cook and Taste)

• 1 whole chicken, uncooked
• ½ red onion, cut in chunks
• 5 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 stalk lemongrass
• 1 liter Sprite
• ½ cup oyster sauce
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• Pepper, to taste

1. Salt inside of the chicken generously. Stuff with the onion, garlic, and lemongrass. Spread remaining salt and pepper on outer skin.
2. Line a large pot with forks (or circular rack) to prevent the chicken from touching the bottom. Place the chicken in the pot breast-side up. Pour Sprite on top, then spread the exposed chicken skin with oyster sauce.
3. Bring the pot to a boil, then pour soy sauce over top. Cover and reduce heat to simmer for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until the sauce reduces.