Gochujang Chicken Korean Style (Print Version)

Tender chicken glazed in spicy Korean gochujang sauce with honey and sesame.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Marinade & Sauce

02 - 3 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
03 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
04 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
05 - 2 tbsp honey
06 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
09 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

→ Garnish

11 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
12 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a large bowl, combine gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and black pepper. Mix well to create the marinade.
02 - Add chicken pieces to the bowl, tossing to coat evenly. Cover and marinate for at least 15 minutes (up to 2 hours for deeper flavor).
03 - Preheat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat.
04 - Add marinated chicken (shaking off excess marinade) to the pan in a single layer. Cook for 5–7 minutes per side, turning occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and caramelized at the edges.
05 - Pour any remaining marinade into the pan, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
06 - Transfer chicken to a serving plate. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot with steamed rice or your choice of sides.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce hits every note sweet, spicy, savory, and sticky in perfect harmony
  • Ready in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • The caramelized edges on the chicken are absolutely irresistible
02 -
  • Do not skip the marinade time, even 15 minutes makes a noticeable difference
  • The sauce will burn if the heat is too high, so listen to your pan
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully but the sauce thickens in the fridge
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before adding to the marinade for better adhesion
  • Let the pan get properly hot before adding any chicken
  • Use a splatter guard if you have one, the honey can pop

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