For a dish that’s bursting with flavor, look no further than these gochujang chicken thighs! With the perfect balance of spicy, savory, and slightly sweet, they’ll tantalize your taste buds and have you coming back for seconds.
If you like gochujang recipes, you should check out my gochujang potatoes and easy gochujang sauce on my website.
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✔️ Why This Recipe is Great
Easy to Make: One of the things that makes this spicy chicken thighs recipe so great is how easy it is to prepare. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can have a delicious meal ready in no time!
Versatile: Although this recipe specifically calls for chicken thighs, you could easily substitute any cut of chicken or even tofu for a vegetarian option.
Flavorful: This recipe combines tender, juicy chicken with a bold Korean-inspired marinade that’s unbelievably easy to make - the combination of spicy, savory, and sweet flavors in this dish makes for a flavor explosion in every bite.
🍯 Ingredients
Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance out the spice in the gochujang sauce.
Gochujang: The star ingredient, this Korean chili paste gives the dish its signature spicy kick.
Soy Sauce: Brings a salty umami flavor to the marinade.
Garlic: Adds depth and richness to the overall flavor profile.
Chicken Thighs: This recipe calls for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, but feel free to use your preferred cut of chicken.
Sesame Oil (or Butter): Adds richness and depth to the marinade.
Rice Vinegar: Helps to balance out the flavors and adds a touch of acidity.
Ginger: Adding a hint of freshness and warmth to the marinade.
Green Onions: For added flavor and a pop of color in the dish.
🥣 How to Make Gochujang Chicken (Step-by-Step)
Step 1) Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2) In a mixing bowl, combine the gochujang, honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, sesame oil (or butter), rice vinegar, and optional ginger. Whisk until well combined to create a smooth sauce. (image 1)
Step 3) Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and sprinkle with salt on both sides (image 2).
Step 4) In a large oven-safe skillet, heat a drizzle of oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken thighs skin-side down. Sear for about 5-7 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy (image 3).
Step 5) Flip the chicken thighs over and pour the honey gochujang sauce over them, ensuring they’re well coated (image 4).
Step 6) Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, then flip back again so the skin is on top and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F) and the sauce is bubbly (image 5).
Step 7) Once done, remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes; this helps keep it juicy. If the sauce is too liquid, remove the chicken temporarily and reduce it on the stove until you achieve the desired consistency. Then serve the chicken thighs topped with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for an extra touch.
🥘 Storage and Reheating
This spicy gochujang chicken is perfect for using frozen chicken thighs and makes a quick weeknight meal. It can keep in the fridge for up to three days in a well-sealed container, though I wouldn't try to freeze it again if you made it from frozen chicken in the first place. Otherwise, it will keep well frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat them in a skillet or the air fryer.
👨🏻🍳 Expert Notes & Tips
Extra Heat: If you prefer a spicier kick, feel free to add more gochujang or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Serving Sugestions: This chicken pairs wonderfully with steamed rice or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
❓ Other Gochujang Recipes to Try
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use chicken breasts for this recipe. However, keep in mind that they may cook faster than the thighs, and any skin may not get as crispy.
Ideally, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to an hour before cooking - this allows the flavors to develop and infuse into the meat.
Yes, gochujang has some level of spice to it. If you prefer a milder version, you can adjust the amount used in this recipe, use the least spicy type of gochujang, or mix it with equal parts honey to balance out the spice.
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📖 Recipe
Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce (in 5 Minutes)
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice ~½ large lemon
- 1 clove fresh garlic minced alt. 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup heavy cream for a thicker sauce use 1 tablespoon less butter (optional) for a thicker sauce; use 1 tablespoon less butter
Instructions
- Prepare your fresh lemon juice and mince the garlic (or use 2 teaspoons of the stuff from the fridge; we won’t tell) before you get started cooking. Then put a heavy-bottom pan over medium heat, and cut the butter into a few pieces and add it all to the pan.
- Once it's melted, lower the heat to low and add the garlic. Let it cook for about 1-2 minutes, until the garlic pieces are just starting to brown.
- Then turn off the heat and move the pan to a cool burner. If using heavy cream, add that to the mixture now and stir it until fully incorporated and the sauce is all the same temperature. Slowly stir in the lemon juice, salt, and pepper (and then slowly drizzle in the cream, if using), then your sauce is ready to use.
- This is the perfect lemon butter sauce for pasta, chicken, or fish; we even drizzle it on top of asparagus and steamed broccoli.
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