Description
A quick, one-pan Korean-inspired dish featuring juicy chicken thighs in a sweet, spicy, and savory gochujang glaze. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe offers restaurant-quality flavor at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (canola or avocado)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons gochujang paste
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons water
- 3–4 stalks scallions, sliced (white and green parts separated)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together gochujang, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and water until smooth.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs in a single layer and sear undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
- Flip chicken and cook for another 3-4 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Pour sauce mixture into the same skillet and add white parts of scallions. Simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to the pan and toss to coat evenly in the sauce. Simmer for 1 minute to absorb flavors.
- Remove from heat, drizzle with sesame oil, and transfer to a serving plate.
- Garnish with green parts of scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately over steamed rice or cauliflower rice.
Notes
Patting the chicken dry is crucial for a good sear. Do not substitute gochujang with chili powder or sriracha as the flavor profile is different. If using chicken breasts, reduce cooking time to prevent drying out. For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 32
Keywords: Korean chicken, gochujang, glazed chicken, one-pan dinner, easy takeout recipe, spicy chicken, weeknight dinner, chicken thighs