Description
This Korean BBQ Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken thighs and drumsticks marinated in a flavorful homemade sauce made with soy sauce, brown sugar, gochujang, and aromatic spices. Grilled to perfection with a crispy skin, this dish is garnished with sesame seeds and green onions for a classic Korean touch.
Ingredients
Scale
BBQ Sauce
- ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup mirin
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons gochujang
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
Chicken
- 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks
Garnish
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the sauce: Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, mirin, sesame oil, rice vinegar, gochujang, ginger, garlic, and black pepper to a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Prepare cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water until smooth.
- Thicken the sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat, stir in the cornstarch slurry, whisk to combine, then return to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes until thickened. Set aside to cool completely.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken in a large bowl, pour half of the cooled BBQ sauce over it, and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours to allow flavors to penetrate. Reserve the remaining sauce for serving.
- Preheat the grill: Heat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Grill the chicken (skin side down): Place the marinated chicken skin side down on the grill and cook for about 10 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden.
- Cook through: Flip the chicken, reduce the heat to medium or medium-low, and continue cooking until fully cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F / 74°C), about another 10 minutes depending on thickness.
- Serve: Remove chicken from the grill, garnish with thinly sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve with the reserved BBQ sauce on the side for dipping or drizzling.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for at least 2 hours allows the flavors to fully penetrate for a delicious result.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can use a grill pan or broiler as alternatives.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Gochujang can be adjusted to taste depending on your preferred spice level.
- The leftover BBQ sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
