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–+ servings
Spicy chicken bulgogi in a rectangular plate
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4.64 from 50 votes

Spicy Chicken Bulgogi

Chicken thighs marinated in a spicy, flavorful Korean marinade and grilled to perfection!
Course: Main
Cuisine: Asian, Korean
Keyword: bulgogi, chicken, spicy
Servings: 4
Author: Hyosun

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless chicken thigh You can use chicken breast if you want

For the marinade

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons gochugaru (고추가루), Korean red chili pepper flakes or to taste (this only changes the spicy level, so you can also omit it for less spicy chicken)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (or light brown sugar) or your favorite sugar substitute
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine or mirin white wine is good too
  • 2 tablespoons gochujang (고추장), Korean red chili pepper paste
  • 2 tablespoons maesil chung, 매실청 (or 2 to 3 tablespoons pineapple juice or grated apple) You can simply use more sugar, honey, or oiligodang (올리고당) (about a tablespoon) instead.
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1/4 medium onion, grated (about 1/4 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons grated ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • pepper to taste

For the garnish

  • 2 tablespoons chopped scallions
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Rinse chicken pieces. Drain. Trim off excess fat. Cut each chicken thigh in half crosswise. Cut open any thick parts.
    spicy Korean grilled chicken
  • Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
    Spicy Korean grilled chicken
  • Coat the chicken with the marinade. Marinate for a few hours (preferably overnight) in the refrigerator.
    Spicy Korean grilled chicken
  • Preheat a lightly oiled grill over medium high heat. When hot, add the chicken pieces. Cook until cooked through and slightly caramelized, about 4 to 6 minutes each side. Reduce the heat if the chicken starts to burn. You can also cook the chicken indoor on a grill pan or in a skillet.

Notes

Grill some vegetables such as onion, zucchini, and/or mushrooms. Simply cut them up, toss with some olive oil (or sesame oil) and sprinkle with salt and pepper before grilling. You will have an easy side dish to serve with the meat.