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Quick & Easy Gochujang Chicken Recipe

4.7 from 134 reviews

Quick & Easy Gochujang Chicken is a flavorful Korean-inspired dish featuring crispy chicken thighs coated in a spicy, sweet, and savory gochujang sauce. Perfect for a weeknight meal, this recipe combines tender chicken with a sticky, delicious glaze made from gochujang, garlic, soy sauce, and a hint of sweetness.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
  • ½ onion, diced
  • ⅓ cup cornstarch or potato starch
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
  • 1 green onion, finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon sesame seeds (optional garnish)

Sauce

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoon white granulated sugar or cane sugar or honey
  • 2 tablespoon Gochujang
  • 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch or tapioca starch
  • 1 cup water, cold or room temperature

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. Dice the onion finely and set aside. In a bowl, coat the chicken pieces evenly with the cornstarch or potato starch to ensure a crispy texture once fried.
  2. Make the Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine minced garlic, sugar (white granulated or honey), gochujang, soy sauce, sesame seeds, sesame oil, cornstarch, and water. Whisk until smooth and set aside. This sauce will thicken and coat the chicken beautifully when heated.
  3. Fry the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the coated chicken pieces and diced onion. Fry until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, usually about 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally to cook evenly.
  4. Cook the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the fried chicken in the skillet. Stir continuously as the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, coating the chicken pieces nicely. This should take 2-3 minutes.
  5. Garnish and Serve: Once the sauce has thickened and the chicken is fully coated, turn off the heat. Garnish with finely chopped green onions and optional sesame seeds for added flavor and visual appeal. Serve immediately over steamed rice or alongside vegetables.

Notes

  • You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts, but thighs remain juicier and more flavorful.
  • Adjust the amount of gochujang to your preferred spice level; less for mild and more for spicy.
  • For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
  • The starch helps create a crispy chicken exterior; potato starch provides a lighter crispiness than cornstarch.
  • If you want the dish less sweet, reduce the sugar amount or substitute with less honey.

Keywords: Gochujang Chicken, Korean Chicken, Spicy Chicken, Fried Chicken, Korean Cuisine, Quick Dinner, Easy Chicken Recipe