If you’re looking for a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory, this Honey Gochujang Sauce is about to be your new favorite! It’s incredibly versatile, simple to make, and packs bold, unforgettable flavor into every dish, pairing beautifully with crispy chicken wings or roasted veggies.
If you like swicy recipes, definitely check out my gochujang aioli and other Asian sauce recipes.
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✔️ Why This Recipe is Great
Easy to Make: This gochujang honey sauce comes together in just a few minutes and uses simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
Versatile: This sweet & spicy sauce can be used as a marinade, dipping sauce, or glaze for various proteins and vegetables.
Explosive Flavor: The combination of honey, gochujang paste, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame creates a burst of flavors in your mouth.
🍯 Ingredients
Gochujang: This is a Korean chili paste with a spicy, sweet, and savory flavor. It can be found in most Asian grocery stores or online, and can be bought gluten-free, though it's not naturally gluten-free.
Honey: Adds sweetness to balance out the spiciness of gochujang.
Soy Sauce: Gives savoriness and saltiness to the sauce, though opt for tamari or coconut aminos if you need to make a gluten-free version.
Garlic: Provide aromatic notes and depth of flavor.
Rice Vinegar: Adds a tangy and acidic element to the sauce; don't skimp on this.
Sesame Oil: Gives a nutty and rich flavor to the sauce.
See recipe card for exact ingredients and quantities.
🥣 How to Make Sweet Gochujang Sauce (Step-by-Step)
Step 1) In a medium saucepan, combine the gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, your choice of butter or sesame oil, minced garlic, and, if you’re using it, the grated ginger. Stir everything together until well mixed (image 1).
Step 2) Place the saucepan over medium heat. Cook the mixture, stirring frequently, until it’s warmed through and the ingredients are well combined, about 3-5 minutes (image 2).
Step 3) Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken quite a bit once cooled, but if you prefer a thinner sauce, add water a tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. If you want a thicker sauce, mix the cornstarch with water in a small bowl and add it to the saucepan, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 4) Once the sauce is at your preferred consistency, remove it from heat and let it cool slightly before using.
Step 5) Transfer the sauce to a jar or airtight container; it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
🥘 Storage and Reheating
This sweet gochujang sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for later use. To reheat, simply microwave it or warm the sauce in a small saucepan over low heat until it reaches your desired consistency, adding water or cornstarch as needed to adjust the thickness.
👨🏻🍳 Expert Notes & Tips
Balancing Sweetness: Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey based on your taste preference.
Less Heat: Use less-hot gochujang to make a less hot sweet sauce. If you love a bit of extra heat, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to kick things up a notch.
Adding Flavor: Feel free to experiment with additional ingredients like lime juice or sesame seeds for an extra layer of flavor!
❓ Other Gochujang Recipes to Try
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
Gochujang is a spicy, fermented Korean chili paste that is commonly used in Korean cuisine. It adds depth and flavor to dishes and can be found in most Asian or specialty grocery stores.
Yes, if you prefer not to use honey, you can substitute it with agave nectar, brown rice syrup, or brown sugar.
Yes, the cornstarch helps thicken the sauce, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can omit it. The sauce will still taste delicious!
Have you tried this recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Easy Honey Gochujang Sauce
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup gochujang 80g
- ½ cup honey 170g
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce 30ml
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 30ml
- 2 tablespoons butter OR sesame oil 30g or 30ml
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated optional
- 1-2 tablespoons 1-2 tablespoons water optional, to thin the sauce
- ½ teaspoon corn starch + 1 tablespoon hot water optional, for thickening
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, your choice of butter or sesame oil, minced garlic and, if you’re using it, the grated ginger. Stir everything together until well mixed.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Cook the mixture, stirring frequently, until it’s warmed through and the ingredients are well combined, about 3-5 minutes.
- Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken quite a bit once cooled, but if you prefer a thinner sauce, add water a tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. If you want a thicker sauce, mix the cornstarch with water in a small bowl and add it to the saucepan, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes.
- Once the sauce is at your preferred consistency, remove it from heat and let it cool slightly before using.
- Transfer the sauce to a jar or airtight container; it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
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