These Korean chicken wings are baked until crispy, then tossed in a bold, spicy-sweet gochujang glaze that packs so much flavor! Whether you're planning a party, game night, or just want something a little different for dinner, these wings are easy to make, irresistibly sticky, and always a crowd favorite.
Why You'll Love These Korean Chicken Wings
They've got that awesome sweet & spicy combination - These Korean chicken wings are coated in a sticky glaze made with gochujang, honey, and soy sauce. It's the perfect balance of sweet heat! It also has that umami something - if you know, you know.
They're baked, not fried - They get super crispy without the hassle of deep frying. It's easier and much less messy!
You can make the sauce ahead of time - The sauce comes together in just a few minutes and can be made ahead of time, so all you have to do is cook the wings!
Unique flavor - These wings are very flavorful and just different enough to stand out on a table filled with typical party food.
You can customize the heat level - Love it spicy? Add more gochugaru. Want it milder? Use less gochujang or stir in a little extra honey. You can easily adjust the kick to suit your taste.
They stand out amongst a sea of wing flavors - Just like my children, I love all my chicken wing recipes equally. But this one is just so deliciously different that I find myself craving it a bit more often.
Ingredients You'll Need
For the wings
- 3 lbs chicken wings
- 2 tablespoon canola oil (or another oil with a high smoke point)
- ½ teaspoon coarse salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2-3 tablespoon Gochujang (depending on how spicy you like them)
- ½ teaspoon Gochugaru
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
For topping
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, chopped
There are a couple of ingredients used to make Korean Chicken Wings that may be unfamiliar to you. Here's an explanation of what they are:
What is Gojuchang?
Gojuchang is a thick paste made from red chile pepper flakes, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt. It's spicy and slightly sweet, which makes it the perfect choice to use for Korean Chicken Wings.
You can find Gojuchang at well-stocked supermarkets, Asian markets and online at Amazon.
What is Gochugaru?
Gochugaru is made from dried chili peppers whose seeds have been removed. It has a texture between crushed red pepper flakes and a powder, and it adds a lot of flavor to these wings. If you can't find gochugaru (it's available on Amazon), you can use cayenne pepper in its place. It can also be omitted altogether if you don't want the extra spice.
How to Make Korean Chicken Wings
There are three steps to making this recipes:
- Toss the wings with the oil, place them on a wire rack set over a sheet pan, and cook until they're crispy!
- Make the sauce - this is very simple! All the sauce ingredients go into a saucepan, then just stir it frequently for a few minutes until it's smooth, hot, and the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Toss the wings with the sauce, sprinkle with the sesame seeds and green onions, and serve!
It's super easy to make, and even if it sounds a little exotic depending on where you live, just about anyone can pull it off!
Tips for Making the Best Korean Wings
- Pat the wings dry for crispier skin: Moisture is the enemy of crispy wings! Use paper towels to thoroughly dry the wings before tossing them in oil and baking. This helps the skin get golden and crisp in the oven.
- Using a wire rack helps the wings get crispier: Placing the wings on a wire rack over a sheet pan allows hot air to circulate around each wing. This helps them cook evenly and stay crisp on all sides without the need to flip them halfway through cooking time.
- Don't sauce too early: The gochujang sauce contains sugar, which can burn if you add it while the wings are cooking. Always wait until the wings are finished in the oven, then toss them in the warm sauce just before serving.
- Adjust spice level to taste: Gochujang varies in heat depending on the brand, and gochugaru adds even more kick. Start with a smaller amount if you're sensitive to spice. If you add too much and you can't take the heat (haha), add a little honey at a time to mellow it out.
- Don't skip the garnishes: That final sprinkle of sesame seeds and chopped green onions adds a lot of flavor!
- Make the sauce ahead of time: The sauce can be made a day or two in advance and stored in the fridge. Just warm it slightly before tossing with the wings so it's loose enough to coat them well.
- Air fry for a shortcut: If you're short on time, you can air fry the wings at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Follow the recipe as directed from there.
My friends and I have taken turns hosting our group once a week for years, which means that my turn to host comes about every 4-6 weeks. One of my favorite easy ways to cook for everyone is to throw a "wing party", which is just what I call our usual get-together when I make it an "all-wings night".
These Korean wings always make the cut (I'd be ostracized otherwise, haha). I try to do a variety of flavors to keep everyone's taste buds satisfied: these simple, crispy lemon pepper wings that everyone loves is always a popular choice, sticky honey wings, and if I have a little extra time, I'll break out my smoked chicken wings recipe. It's such a fun way to make dinner for a group and it's easy, too!
Please let me know if you try these yummy wings - snap a pic and send it to me personally or share it on your socials (it's the best part of my job)!
Korean Chicken Wings
This baked Korean Chicken Wing recipe is easy to make and has a wonderful sweet & spicy flavor.
Ingredients
For the wings
- 3 lbs chicken wings
- 2 tablespoon canola oil (or another oil with a high smoke point)
- ½ teaspoon coarse salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2-3 tablespoon Gochujang (depending on how spicy you like them)
- ½ teaspoon Gochugaru
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
For topping
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Toss the chicken wings and oil. Place the wings on a wire rack set on a baking sheet, taking care not to crowd wings. Bake the wings for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Meanwhile, place all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Stirring frequently, simmer for a few minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce is smooth.
- Toss the hot wings with the sauce and place them on a serving platter. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and green onions. Serve immediately.
Notes
Double the sauce ingredients if you like your wings on the saucy side, or if you'd like extra for dipping!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 878Total Fat: 61gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 36gCholesterol: 186mgSodium: 2274mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 2gSugar: 14gProtein: 40g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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