Sweet and Spicy Chili Sauce For Korean Fried Chicken Recipe

Korean fried chicken gets its kick from fiery gochujang.

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated February 20, 2025

This sauce is intended to go with this recipe for Korean fried chicken. If you prefer a milder sauce, check out my sweet soy sauce for Korean fried chicken.

20200513-korean-fried-chicken-sweet-spicy-chili-sauce-reshoot-vicky-wasik-1-7
Vicky Wasik

Recipe Details

Sweet and Spicy Chili Sauce For Korean Fried Chicken Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Active 10 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 4 servings
Makes 1/2 cup
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup gochujang (see notes)

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

  • 3 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)

  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

Directions

  1. Combine gochujang, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Gochujang can be inconsistent in its thickness. Add up to 2 tablespoons water until sauce is just barely thin enough to drop off a spoon with inverted. Serve with Korean Fried Chicken.

Notes

Gochujang is a mildly spicy and sweet Korean chile paste that can be found in most Asian markets.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
127 Calories
4g Fat
23g Carbs
1g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 127
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1335mg 58%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 4mg 18%
Calcium 18mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 73mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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