Make tasty Korean fried chicken at home with this easy recipe. Fry the chicken wings twice for ultimate crispiness, then coat them in homemade gochujang yangnyeom sauce–all in 40 minutes. Serve it up for game night or share with family and friends for a Chimaek feast!.

Korean fried chicken is plated in a bowl lined with a paper and served with cold drinks.

“I have been using your recipe for KFC for ages now, and just wanted to say that it is the BEST! My partner even thinks it is better than any KFC he has had before (in restaurants)!”

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Crispy, crunchy, juicy fried chicken is a beloved dish around the world. The world famous Korean fried chicken (yangnyeom chicken) is trending and became a must-try Korean dish.

There are many varieties of phenomenal Korean chicken, but this spicy Korean fried chicken recipe is perhaps the most popular. If you’re looking for an authentic Korean dinner recipe, you can’t go wrong with this dish.

Korean fried chicken and beer

Have you heard of ‘Chimaek (치맥)’? The term combines the English word “chicken (치킨)” with the Korean word for beer (maekju 맥주).

This popular pairing of Korean fried chicken and beer is not only a game night finger food, but it also takes center stage every Friday after work during happy hour get-togethers among friends and co-workers in Korea.

You will find numerous chimaek restaurants in back allies in business districts or the downtown area of major cities. There are more chimaek restaurants in South Korea than there are McDonald’s in the entire world!

Chimaek is a significant social phenomenon in South Korean drinking culture. You will often find chimaek scenes in Korean movies and K-dramas.

We don’t drink alcoholic beverages in my household, so we enjoy it with our favorite soda drink: root beer!

Korean chicken wings are brushed with gochujang based spicy sauce.

It’s common for people to mistake Korean fried chicken wings for another dish, dakgangjeong, which is made with boneless chicken thigh pieces and a sticky sauce similar to chicken nuggets.

However, the sauce recipe for Korean fried chicken is different. If you’re interested in trying out different Korean recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, where you can find a unique and delicious take on Korean fried chicken with a distinct sauce.

Want to avoid the deep frying, but still would like to enjoy the goodness of Korean chicken wings? Try my Korean honey garlic chicken wings. They are healthier wings and still as delicious.

Also, don’t miss out on my most popular chicken recipe, Korean BBQ chicken!

Secrets of crispy and crunchy chicken texture

The key to achieving a crispy and crunchy texture for Korean fried chicken is double-frying the chicken. This method ensures that the chicken is fully cooked without burning the outside coating. The second fry also removes any extra moisture in the chicken that might have been retained during the first fry.

In addition to the double-frying method, using cornstarch in the coating helps the chicken stay crispy for a longer time, even after adding a glaze.

A bunch of fried chicken wings coated with spicy sauce is inside bowl lined with parchment paper

Yangnyeom sauce

The red spicy sauce that coats the wings are called yangnyeom sauce (양념소스). It is made with gohujang (Korean chili paste) with the addition of ketchup, sugar, vinegar, and an unusual ingredient — apricot jam (or strawberry jam)!

This unusual ingredient is a restaurant secret that adds brightness to the flavor without being overpowering. The sauce is quick and easy to make – simply mix the ingredients in a pan and heat them up.

Once the yangnyeom sauce is ready, you can brush it onto the crispy chicken wings or coat them in it. The sauce is a perfect combination of sweet, salty, tangy, and mildly spicy. It has a mild heat level that even young children can enjoy.

Korean gochujang paste

Gochujang

Gochujang is a traditional fermented condiment used in Korean cuisine. Its savory and pungent taste is created with brown rice, fermented soybeans and red pepper powder.

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A piece of spicy red sauce fried chicken piece is on the plate next to the whole batch with root beer bottle.

Recipe Tips

These few recipe tips will help you make the best Korean chicken you’ve ever tasted.

  1. Gluten-free recipe: Using cornstarch instead of wheat flour makes these chicken wings not only crispier but make them gluten-free chicken wings as long as you use gluten-free gochujang in the sauce.
  2. Add a touch of baking powder in the coating: A small amount of baking powder mixed in with the cornstarch will enhances the browning of the chicken. The tiny air pockets created in hot oil makes the coating of the chicken crisper and crunchier.
  3. Double deep-frying: Double deep-frying always creates a crispier texture for any deep-fried dishes. The first frying should maintain a low temperature (about 330˚F), par-cooking the chicken to cook evenly, so it takes longer than the second frying. The second frying is at a higher temperature (about 350˚F) and takes a short time to complete. It is to brown the chicken coating and to crisp it up.
  4. Korean fried chicken sauce: The crispy texture is one thing, but the flavor of the sauce is another. The addition of pureed onion and apricot preserve (or strawberry jam) in the sauce adds a layer of flavor that differentiates it from others.

Ingredients you’ll need

For the chicken coating:

  • chicken party wings – fresh or frozen (thawed)
  • pureed ginger – reduce the gamy smell and adds a hint of aroma
  • rice wine
  • salt and pepper – to season
  • cornstarch – helps chicken to bind with the coating
  • baking powder – enhances the browning on the surface

For the Korean fried chicken sauce:

  • onion, garlic, ginger – savory ingredients
  • Korean chili paste (gochujang) – adds flavor, heat and thickness to the sauce
  • soy sauce – to season
  • ketchup – adds the tanginess and helps the bright red color in the sauce
  • rice wine – Korean sweet rice (mirim)
  • rice vinegar – adds the tanginess in the sauce
  • sugar – sweetener
  • apricot or strawberry jam – adds a fruity delicious taste in the sauce
  • corn syrup – brings a nice sheen to the sauce

How to make Korean fried chicken

Chicken seasoning

Chicken party wings are seasoned and set aside
  • To season: Combine chicken wings, pureed ginger, rice wine, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl; toss well together and set aside for 10 minutes.

Yangnyeom sauce

Onion and garlic are pureed in a mini blender
  • Puree: Put diced onion, garlic, and rice wine in a mini blender and process until smooth.
Sauce ingredients for Korean fried chicken recipe is combined in a pan.
  • Combine: In a small saucepan, combine all the sauce ingredients and pour in the onion garlic puree; mix well.
Kroean fried chicken sauce is boiling in a pan
  • Simmer: Bring the sauce to boil over medium heat until it bubbles up and thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  • Cool: Remove from heat and set aside to cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Chicken coating

Seasoned chicken wings gets coated with cornstarch in a zip bag.
  • Mix cornstarch and baking powder in a large plastic bag.
  • Add the chicken wings and shake them well to coat. Shake off extra coating from the chicken wings.

Deep-frying

Coated chicken wings enters hoil oil for deep frying.
  • First fry: Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium-low heat, to reach about 330˚F. Drop the chicken wings, shaking off the extra cornstarch coating, into the oil, and deep-fry for 3-4 minutes.
  • The oil temperature shouldn’t be too hot and the chicken will fry slowly. If the oil bubbles vigorously, reduce the temperature.

Tips: Do the deep-frying in small batches so that you don’t crowd the pan. Too much meat in one batch can drop the temperature of the oil and won’t cook the meat evenly. After each batch is finished, skim off any floating debris with a mini fat strainer to keep the oil clean for the next batch.

Chicken wings are deep-fried for the second time to ensure the crispiness.
  • Second fry: When all the batches of the first deep fry are finished, raise the heat to medium, about 350˚F. Drop the chicken again into the hot oil and deep-fry until the coating turns a deep golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Adjust the heat if it browns too quickly. Shake off the excess oil from the chicken and place them on a wire rack to allow the remaining oil to drip off the chicken.

Brushing with sauce

These double deep-fried Korean chicken wings are gluten-free.
Fried chicken wings are brushed with gochujang sauce
  • Brush: Using a pastry brush, apply sauce on the hot chicken wings.
  • Alternately, you can pour the sauce over the chicken and toss them to coat. I prefer brushing so that I can control the amount of sauce per chicken.
  • Garnish chicken wings with toasted sesame seeds or finely chopped nuts.

Serving suggestion

  • As always, fried chicken tastes best when it is hot. You’ll want to enjoy the crispy and crunchy texture of of skin coating. It’s best to serve with a cold beverage, such as your favorite beer or soda.
  • Often these crispy Korean wings are served with pickled white radish cubes.
  • You can also serve this Korean fried chicken as a main dish. In that case, serve with rice and simple Korean side dishes.

How to reheat

Reheating in the oven is the best way to maintain taste and texture. Place the chicken in the preheated 400˚F oven, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes until piping hot throughout, flipping halfway through.

A piece of bitten-off Korean fried chicken wing is placed on a small plate next to a bottle of root beer.

This recipe was originally posted in January, 2012. I’ve updated the recipe with a minor change, new photos, and more information.

Other popular Korean dishes

Korean foods are trending. Get to know some of the most popular Korean recipes. Here are a few you can start with:

Korean fried chicken is best served with cold drinks or beer (Chimaek).

How to Make Korean Fried Chicken (Chimaek)

Servings: 4 people
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Make crispy Korean fried chicken at home with this easy recipe. Double-fry the wings, then coat in homemade gochujang yangnyeom sauce for a tasty game night treat or Chimaek feast with family and friends.
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Ingredients

For chicken

For gochujang yangnyeom sauce

Instructions 

For the chicken seasoning

  • Combine chicken wings, pureed ginger, rice wine, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl; toss well together and set aside for 10 minutes.

For the sauce

  • Put diced onion, garlic, and rice wine in a mini blender and process until smooth.
  • In a small saucepan, combine all the sauce ingredients and pour in the onion garlic puree; mix well. Bring the sauce to boil over medium heat until it bubbles up and thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

For the deep-frying

  • Mix cornstarch and baking powder in a large plastic bag. Add the chicken wings and shake them well to coat. Shake off extra coating from the chicken wings.
  • For the first fry: Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium-low heat, to reach about 330˚F. Drop the chicken wings, shaking off the extra cornstarch coating, into the oil, and deep-fry for 3-4 minutes. The oil temperature shouldn’t be too hot and the chicken will fry slowly. If the oil bubbles vigorously, reduce the temperature.
  • For the second fry: When all the batches of the first deep fry are finished, raise the heat to medium, about 350˚F. Drop the chicken again into the hot oil and deep-fry until the coating turns a deep golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Adjust the heat if it browns too quickly. Shake off the excess oil from the chicken and place them on a wire rack to allow the remaining oil to drip off the chicken.
  • Brush or coat with sauce: Using a pastry brush, apply sauce on the hot chicken wings. Alternately, you can pour the sauce over the chicken and toss them to coat. Garnish chicken wings with toasted sesame seeds or finely chopped nuts. Serve these wings with your favorite cold beverage.

Notes

Gochujang:
Most gochujang sold in the market include wheat flour in the paste. Check this gluten-free gochujang if you want to avoid it.
Deep-frying tip:
Do the deep-frying in small batches so that you don’t crowd the pan. Too much meat in one batch can drop the temperature of the oil and won’t cook the meat evenly. After each batch is finished, skim off any floating debris with a mini fat strainer to keep the oil clean for the next batch.
How to reheat Korean fried chicken:
Reheating in the oven is the best way to maintain taste and texture. Place the chicken in the preheated 400˚F oven, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes until piping hot throughout, flipping halfway through.
Cuisine: Korean
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Author: Holly Ford
Web Story: https://www.beyondkimchee.com/web-stories/korean-fried-chicken-chimaek/
Calories: 578kcal, Carbohydrates: 57g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 118mg, Sodium: 884mg, Potassium: 368mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 328IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 82mg, Iron: 2mg
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