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Sticky Honey Gochujang Chicken Recipe

5 from 101 reviews

Sticky Honey Gochujang Chicken features tender boneless chicken thighs marinated in a flavorful blend of gochujang paste, honey, garlic, and rice vinegar, then cooked to perfection with a sticky, caramelized glaze. This dish offers a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors, ideal for a quick and satisfying meal prepared easily in an air fryer or oven.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 6 boneless chicken thighs, skin on

Marinade

  • 2 cloves garlic, grated with microplane
  • 3 stalks green onions, white and green parts separated
  • 2 tablespoons gochujang paste
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Instructions

  1. Debone the Chicken: If your chicken thighs are not already boneless, carefully use a sharp knife or kitchen shears to remove the bones while keeping the skin intact.
  2. Prepare the Marinade: Grate the garlic finely using a microplane. Thinly slice the green onions, keeping the white parts separate from the green parts for different uses.
  3. Mix the Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the gochujang paste, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and grated garlic until smooth. Stir in the white parts of the green onions to infuse extra flavor.
  4. Marinate the Chicken: Coat each chicken thigh thoroughly in the marinade, ensuring every piece is well covered. Allow the chicken to rest in the marinade for at least 15 minutes to develop flavors. For deeper flavor, marinate longer if possible.
  5. Cook the Chicken:
    Air Fryer method: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (200°C). Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer in the basket without overlapping. Cook for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through to ensure even browning and cooking. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
    Oven method: Preheat the oven to 425°F (200°C). Place the chicken thighs on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through. In the last 3 minutes, switch the oven to broil to crisp and brown the skin beautifully.
  6. Serve: Serve your sticky honey gochujang chicken hot over freshly cooked rice. Garnish generously with the green parts of the sliced green onions for a fresh, vibrant finish and enjoy!

Notes

  • Marinate chicken for longer than 15 minutes if time allows to enhance flavor.
  • Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
  • Adjust honey and gochujang quantities to balance sweetness and heat to your preference.
  • If you prefer a thicker glaze, you can spoon additional marinade over the chicken during cooking in the last 5 minutes.
  • Use a thermometer to accurately check doneness and avoid overcooking.

Keywords: Gochujang chicken, honey chicken, Korean chicken recipe, sticky chicken, air fryer chicken, easy chicken dinner