Description
Korean-inspired sticky honey gochujang chicken brings explosive flavor right to your dinner table. Spicy-sweet sauce coats tender chicken pieces, creating a memorable meal that disappears faster than you can say delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons gochujang
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Seasonings and Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Combine gochujang, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, black pepper, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk until the marinade looks smooth and vibrant red.
- Transfer chicken thighs to a large bowl or zip-top bag. Pour entire marinade over the meat, massaging to ensure complete coverage. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate up to 12 hours.
- Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil, swirling to coat the pan’s surface. Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off.
- Place chicken pieces into hot skillet, spacing them apart. Cook for 6-7 minutes on first side until deep golden brown. Flip and continue cooking 5-6 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water to create a slurry. Pour reserved marinade into skillet, stirring constantly. Add cornstarch mixture and simmer for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens and glossily coats chicken.
- Remove skillet from heat. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and chopped green onions over chicken for a fresh, crunchy garnish.
- Plate chicken immediately over steamed rice or inside butter lettuce wraps. Enjoy while sauce is warm and sticky.
Notes
- Check chicken temperatures carefully, aiming for 165°F internal heat to ensure food safety without drying out the meat.
- Toast sesame seeds before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a deeper, more complex crunch to the dish.
- Adjust the gochujang amount based on personal spice tolerance, starting with less and tasting as you go for perfect heat balance.
- Use a meat thermometer to prevent overcooking, as chicken breasts can quickly become tough and dry when exposed to high heat for too long.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg