Spicy Gochujang Chicken (Print View)
Sweet and spicy Korean-style chicken with gochujang glaze, soy, honey, and sesame. Ready in 40 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Marinade
02 - 3 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
03 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
04 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
05 - 2 tbsp honey (or brown sugar)
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
09 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnishes
10 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
11 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
# How to Make:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the gochujang, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and well blended.
02 - Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Allow the chicken to marinate at room temperature for at least 20 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for more pronounced flavor.
03 - Heat a large skillet or non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Transfer the marinated chicken along with any remaining marinade into the pan. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes per side until the chicken is fully cooked through and the exterior is slightly caramelized.
04 - Remove the pan from heat. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately alongside steamed rice or in crisp lettuce wraps.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The gochujang does all the heavy lifting, so you get layers of flavor with almost zero technique required.
- It reheats beautifully the next day, which means lunch at work suddenly becomes something people ask you about.
02 -
- Crowding the pan steams the chicken instead of searing it, so cook in two batches if your skillet is not wide enough.
- The marinade will look thick and pasty at first but thins out as the chicken releases its juices during cooking.
03 -
- Let the cooked chicken rest for two minutes off the heat before serving so the glaze sets instead of running everywhere.
- A teaspoon of gochugaru mixed into the marinade transforms this from pleasantly spicy to genuinely fiery if that is your mood.