If you’ve ever craved a dish that’s equal parts savory, sweet, and just the right amount of spicy, then Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken will quickly become your go-to recipe. This tantalizing chicken dish is beautifully balanced, offering something exciting in every bite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bold Flavors: The combination of garlic, honey, and gochujang creates a symphony of flavors that’s hard to resist.
- Quick and Easy: From start to finish, this dish is ready in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for weeknights.
- Versatile: Serve it over rice, make it a wrap, or pair it with veggies for a complete meal.
- Family-Friendly: Adjust the spice level to suit everyone’s taste, making it a hit with kids and adults alike.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients for Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken are simple yet essential. Each one plays a vital role in building the dish’s delightful layers of flavor and texture.
- Boneless, skinless chicken: Use any cut you prefer; thighs add more flavor and moisture.
- Baking soda: Helps tenderize the chicken, making it juicy and succulent.
- Gochujang paste: A staple in Korean cuisine, this paste brings the perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and umami.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic infuses the dish with its unmistakable aroma and taste.
- Honey: Acts as a natural sweetener, creating a sticky sauce that glazes the chicken beautifully.
- Soy sauce and sesame oil: These add depth and a nutty aroma to the overall taste.
- Green onions and toasted sesame seeds: For an added punch of color and flavor on top.
Variations
Feel free to get creative with Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken. This recipe is incredibly adaptable to whatever you have on hand or how adventurous you feel.
- Spicy Variation: Add extra gochujang or a pinch of red pepper flakes to increase the heat level.
- Sweeter Sauce: Increase the quantity of honey for a sweeter finish that kids will love.
- Vegetarian Option: Swap the chicken for tofu or tempeh to cater to a vegetarian preference.
How to Make Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken
Step 1: Velvet the Chicken
Start by cutting the chicken into small, manageable pieces. Then, create a marinade with water, baking soda, kosher salt, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, and a tablespoon of soy sauce. This combination helps tenderize the chicken, setting the stage for juicy, melt-in-your-mouth bites. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to work its magic.
Step 2: Coat and Cook
Add cornstarch to the marinated chicken, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. This will help give your chicken that gorgeous, golden-brown crust. When ready, fry the chicken in oil over medium-high heat until perfectly cooked through and caramelized outside. It’s a simple yet transformative process that ensures flavor at every turn.
Step 3: Prepare the Sauce
Next, mix together the remaining soy sauce, honey, gochujang paste, and rice vinegar to create a sauce that’s simultaneously savory, sweet, and spicy. Let the sauce simmer on medium-high heat, then add the cooked chicken back to the pan, tossing it to coat every piece. Top with green onions and sesame seeds for an aromatic finish.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy
Now it’s time to serve up your culinary masterpiece. Layer it over a bed of fluffy rice or alongside your favorite vegetables. Each bite will have you falling in love with Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken all over again.
Pro Tips for Making Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken
- Chicken Choice: Using thighs adds more juiciness, but breasts are perfect for a leaner option.
- Marinade Magic: Don’t skip the marinade—baking soda is the secret to incredibly tender chicken.
- Sauce Sizzle: Ensure the sauce bubbles well to thicken as it cooks to adhere beautifully to the chicken.
- Balancing Heat: Adjust the amount of gochujang to cater to your preferred spice level.
How to Serve Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken
Garnishes
Top your dish with vibrant green onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. These garnishes add a wonderful freshness and crunch, elevating the dish’s flavor and visual appeal.
Side Dishes
Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken pairs exceptionally well with steamed vegetables or a simple side of fluffy jasmine or brown rice. These help soak up the delicious sauce and provide a nice complement to the chicken’s flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
Consider serving this dish over a bowl of wild rice with colorful vegetables mixed in. Alternatively, wrap the chicken in lettuce leaves for an enticing, hands-on dining experience that turns dinner into something exciting.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. This dish tastes just as amazing the next day, as the flavors have had more time to meld.
Freezing
If you want to freeze the chicken, let it cool completely before placing it in a freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to two months, and it’s a joy to find waiting for you on a busy night.
Reheating
Reheat your Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through. To keep the chicken tender, it’s best to avoid overheating, which might dry it out.
FAQs
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Can I use a different type of meat for this recipe?
Absolutely! Pork or beef can also be delicious alternatives. Just adjust the cooking time appropriately to ensure the meat is cooked through.
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How can I make this dish gluten-free?
Use tamari instead of soy sauce and double-check that all other ingredients are gluten-free. Rice flour can replace cornstarch if needed.
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What can I serve with Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken?
Serve it with steamed vegetables, rice, or even a simple salad to keep the meal colorful and nutritious.
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How do I know when the chicken is cooked?
The chicken is done when it’s no longer pink inside and the juices run clear. Using a meat thermometer, it should register at least 165°F at the thickest point.
Final Thoughts
Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken is simple enough for any home cook yet impressive enough to serve at any gathering. It’s truly a dish that brings people together over its irresistible flavors. Go ahead, give this recipe a try and enjoy the magic it brings to your meals!
Print
Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4-5 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Korean-inspired
Description
Enjoy a flavorful and sticky Korean-inspired chicken dish with savory garlic and spicy gochujang sauce. Perfectly crisp on the outside and tender inside, this quick recipe is ideal for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests with a taste of bold Asian flavors.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken (breasts, thighs, tenders, etc.)
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce, divided
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
For the Sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoon gochujang paste (or more to taste)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
For the Garnish
- Green onions, sliced
- Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Velvet the Chicken: Cut the chicken into small, ¾ inch pieces. In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon water, baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, and 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Stir well until the baking soda dissolves. Add the chicken, stir to coat, and let sit for 10 minutes to tenderize.
- Coat with Cornstarch: Add the cornstarch to the bowl with the chicken and stir to evenly coat each piece, creating a light coating that will crisp during frying.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a measuring cup or bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons soy sauce, honey, gochujang paste, and rice vinegar until smooth and integrated.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat 3 tablespoons avocado oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the chicken pieces and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until golden. Flip and cook for another 2-4 minutes, until fully cooked and crispy. Remove to a plate, then cook the remaining chicken in the same manner.
- Make the Sauce Base: Reduce the skillet heat to medium-low and allow it to cool for 2 minutes. Add a small drizzle of oil and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Increase heat to high, pour in the prepared sauce, and let it sizzle and bubble for about 1 minute.
- Combine and Coat: Add the cooked chicken to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly with the sauce. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the chicken is well coated and heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat. Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot over steamed rice alongside your favorite vegetables.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of gochujang according to your spice preference.
- Use a neutral oil like avocado oil for frying to prevent flavor interference.
- Ensure the oil is hot enough before adding chicken for optimal crispiness.
- You can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days, reheating in a hot skillet.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 150 grams)
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 15 grams
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 grams
- Saturated Fat: 3 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 45 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 30 grams
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
