Deutsch This Air Fryer Gochujang Chicken is ideal for a quick and wholesome weeknight meal, needing only 30 minutes of your time.
The chicken thighs are marinated in Gochujang, a Korean chili paste, then grilled in an air fryer. They boast a delightful balance of sweetness and smokiness.
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What is Gochujang?
Gochujang (고추장) is a Korean spicy fermented condiment made by fermenting a mixture of red chili pepper flakes (gochugaru), sticky rice, fermented soybeans, and salt.
Similar to how fish sauce is integral to Vietnamese cuisine, gochujang is a staple in Korean cooking. It has an umami taste, thanks to the fermented soybeans, much like Japanese miso, but it stands out with its spicy and smoky flavor.
In Korean cuisine, you’ll also find doenjang (된장), a non-spicy fermented soybean paste. From gochujang, you can create other condiments like ssamjang (쌈장), a spicy dip for food wrapped in leaves, and chogochujang (초고추장), a sweet, tangy, and spicy dipping sauce.
Gochujang has a long shelf life due to its beneficial bacteria and high salt content. While it won’t spoil, its flavor may fade over time. To keep it fresh indefinitely, refrigerate it after opening and use it until finished.
How I develope this recipe
It was several years ago when I still lived in Vietnam. I would like to make BBQ chicken wings but I ran out of the Vietnamese chili sauce. At this time, there was some Gochujang in my fridge. As a huge fan of Kpop and Korean cuisine, I always keep some Gochujang for my favorite Kimchi stew and Tteokbokki.
With no other options, I used Gochujang for my marinade, and it turned out freaking good. The marinade is not only awesome on chicken wings but also on pork ribs. It has captured my heart.
I wouldn’t classify it as a Korean recipe, as many Koreans say that simply adding Gochujang to your dish doesn’t make it Korean. I totally agree, just like how I’ve found many so-called Vietnamese recipes on the internet that you can’t actually find in Vietnam.
However, it does have a Korean vibe, and the best part is how easy it is to make.
Related Recipes | More Easy Asian Recipes with Chicken Thighs:
Ingredients for Gochujang Marinade Chicken
- Deboned chicken thighs
- Gochujang chili paste
- Soysauce, Korean cooking syrup, sesame oil, and cooking wine.
- Minced garlic and minced ginger.
Instructions
- Use a fork or knife to puncture the chicken thighs. It helps the marinade to penetrate deeper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all the other ingredients with the chicken. Let the chicken rest for 15 minutes at room temperature.
- Before cooking, preheat your air fryer to 356°F (180°C).
- Place the marinated chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer, ensuring they don’t overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
- Air fry the chicken thighs upside down for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over, generously brush the marinated sauce onto the chicken, coating them with a flavorful glaze.
- Then continue air frying at 400°F (200°C) for an additional 5 minutes or until the thighs are cooked through and the skin is crispy and golden.
Helpful Tips
- Chicken drumsticks or wings also work well with this recipe. If you use chicken breasts, they will take less time to cook.
- If you are not a chilihead, feel free to substitute a half of gochujang in my recipe with ketchup.
- Korean cooking syrup can be replaced with other sweeteners such as honey, agave syrup, corn syrup, rice syrup, or even sugar.
- To enhance the flavor, you could marinate the chicken in advance. The longer the chicken marinates, the better the taste. However, remember to let the marinated chicken sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before air frying.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can also pan fry or oven-bake the chicken to achieve a similar delicious outcome.
What to serve with Gochujang Chicken Thighs
Here are some ideas for what to serve alongside your Gochujang chicken thighs:
Air Fryer Gochujang Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1.1 pound deboned chicken thighs (500g)
- 2 tbsp Gochujang chili paste
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Korean cooking syrup (or honey, sugar, brown sugar…)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp cooking wine (optional)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
Instructions
- Puncture the chicken thighs with a knife or a fork, allowing the marinade to penetrate deeper into the meat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all the other ingredients with the chicken, ensuring that the thighs are well coated. Then, let the mixture rest for 15 minutes at room temperature.
- Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (356°F).
- Place the marinated chicken thighs in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, making sure they don't overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches to ensure even cooking.
- Air fry the chicken thighs at 180°C (356°F) for 10 minutes, ensuring they are placed upside down.
- Flip the chicken thighs. Generously brush the marinated sauce onto the chicken.
- Then, continue air frying the chicken at 200°C (400°F) for an additional 5 minutes, or until the thighs are cooked through and the skin is crispy and golden.
