Description
Bold and flavorful Spicy Gochujang Chicken coated in a sweet, spicy, and savory Korean chili paste glaze. Quick to prepare, versatile, and perfect for a homey weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless and skinless, cut into chunks
- 3 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish
- Optional: sliced cucumbers, kimchi, or steamed broccoli
Instructions
-
Pat chicken dry with paper towels to help the sauce cling and prevent steaming.
-
In a bowl, whisk gochujang, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Add chicken and coat evenly. Marinate 20–30 minutes if possible.
-
Stovetop: Heat neutral oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in batches until golden and caramelized, 5–6 minutes per side.
Oven-Baked: Spread chicken on foil-lined sheet pan. Bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway. Broil 2 minutes for crispy edges.
Grill: Place marinated chicken on a hot grill until lightly charred and cooked through. -
Drizzle sesame oil over finished chicken, toss with green onions, and sprinkle sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- Adjust spice by reducing gochujang for a milder flavor or adding gochugaru for extra heat. For an even gentler dish, add a bit of extra honey or brown sugar to help balance the heat. You can also serve the chicken with cooling sides like plain yogurt, sour cream, or a cucumber salad, which can tame the spice and make the dish more family-friendly.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors develop.
- Works well with rice, lettuce wraps, or tacos.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: or Grilled, Oven-Baked, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: ~420 kcal
- Sugar: ~10 g
- Sodium: ~850 mg
- Fat: ~20 g
- Saturated Fat: ~4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~15 g
- Trans Fat: ~0 g
- Carbohydrates: ~18 g
- Fiber: ~1 g
- Protein: ~38 g
- Cholesterol: ~140 mg