Korean Fried Chicken
February 6, 2023
Fried Chicken Korean Main Dishes Recipes
This Korean Fried Chicken were some of the best chicken I have ever made! I used chicken tenders here, and they were perfectly crispy, juicy, and so flavorful with the sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. Make these for a party and they will not last long!
One of the things that make these chicken tenders so crispy is a double-frying method! The tenders are dredged and fried once for a longer period of time, then fried a second time to achieve a super crispy exterior. It’s so easy to make restaurant-quality fried chicken at home!
Watch the Korean Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe Video Below!
Ingredients for Korean Fried Chicken
I love this Korean Fried Chicken recipe because only a few ingredients will make crispy, juicy chicken. Firstly, here are the ingredients you will need!
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne powder
Gochujang Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 1/2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flake)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
Seasoning Flour
- 2 cups flour all-purpose
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp white pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Wet Batter
- 1/2 cup flour all-purpose
- 1 egg
- 1 cup cold soda water
Plain Flour
- 1 cup flour all-purpose
Oil
- 2 quart neutral oil for frying
INGREDIENTS TIPS
GOCHUGARU
Gochugaru is Korean red chili pepper flakes (or powder, depending on which version you purchase). It’s vibrant in color and smoky in flavor, and while the heat level varies, it’s definitely on the spicy side. I love using this ingredient because of the layers of flavor it adds! I recommend you adjust the amount based on your spice tolerance level.
GOCHUJANG
Gochujang is a Korean pepper paste that is spicy, sweet, with a hint of umami. It has a STRONG flavor, so you only need a little to go a long way. I would adjust this to your spice preference – if you are new to the flavor or don’t enjoy spice as much, I would even start with 1/2 of what the recipe calls for!
NEUTRAL OIL
My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola, vegetable, or peanut oil!
Korean Fried Chicken: Recipe Instructions
Marinating the Chicken
These were some of the crispiest, most flavorful Korean fried chicken tenders I have ever made! The first step to amazing chicken tenders is seasoning a spice marinade. Here is what you’ll need:
- Kosher Salt
- White pepper
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Ginger Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
Create the seasoned dredge for the Korean Fried Chicken
In another bowl, combine your ingredients for the Seasoning Flour and mix well. Add additional sparkling water to the seasoning flour 1-2 tbsp at a time and rub the flour with your hands to create additional craggily bits.
In another bowl, mix together your Wet Batter ingredients and whisk to combine. In a third bowl, add 1 cup of plain flour.
Dredge the chicken prior to frying
Dust the chicken in the plain flour, then dip your chicken in the Wet Batter and let any excess batter drip off. Next, coat the chicken in the Seasoning Flour and use your hands to pack the coating into the chicken. Place on a tray and let the chicken rest for 15 minutes while you heat up the oil.
Once the chicken has been seasoned, let the chicken tenders sit for at least 20 minutes to allow the salt to absorb into the meat. This is called “dry brining” which will result in a more juicy chicken tender.
Once the chicken tenders are breaded, let them sit on a tray for at least 15 minutes on a tray. I’ve found that letting the chicken sit once it is dredged in the season flour allows the breading to stick when frying.
Fry the chicken twice for extra crispiness
Fry the chicken tenders in batches at 350F in a large Dutch oven or cast iron skillet. It is extremely important that the oil does not drop below 325F when frying – do not overcrowd the pan! Once the first batch is done, let the oil return to temperature then fry a second time for EXTRA crispiness!
Make the Korean Gochujang sauce for the chicken
The sauce is extremely simple to make and is so flavorful! I love how it brings a sweet and spicy kick to the already crispy chicken.
In a small to medium sized saucepan, mix together soy sauce, sugar, honey, gochujang, gochugaru, vinegar, and water. Heat over medium high until the sauce bubbles and thickens, simmering for about 4-5 minutes.
RECIPE TIPS
“DRY BRINE”
This is the KEY tip for quick but JUICY chicken! Season the chicken with salt & pepper for 15 minutes before cooking to allow the salt absorb into the meat. This “dry brine” will result in crispy skin and juicy meat. The salt will draw out some moisturize, so make sure to pat the chicken as dry as possible with a paper towel prior to sauteing in the pan. (Otherwise your skin will not get as crispy!)
DOUBLE FRY
I love to double fry my chicken, as this ensures my chicken tenders are both well-crisped AND cooked thoroughly. I know it’s a little bit extra work but I guarantee it’s worth it! If excess batter pieces are floating in the oil, strain them out with a strainer to prevent them from burning during the 2nd fry.
INTERNAL TEMPERATURE
If you are not a seasoned pro at cooking (and honestly, even if you are!) I would highly recommend you use a meat thermometer to check your chicken – you want the internal temp to be at 165F. Undercooked chicken can lead to food poisoning, so always err on the side of caution!
If you liked this Korean Fried Chicken recipe, check out some of the most popular fried chicken recipes on the blog!
Korean Fried Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne powder
Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 1/2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flake)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
Seasoning Flour
- 2 cups flour all-purpose
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp white pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Wet Batter
- 1/2 cup flour all-purpose
- 1 egg
- 1 cup cold soda water
Plain Flour
- 1 cup flour all-purpose
Oil
- 2 quart neutral oil for frying
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together kosher salt, white pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, ginger powder, and cayenne pepper. Season the chicken tenders for at least 20 minutes to allow the salt to absorb into the chicken.
- In another bowl, combine your ingredients for the Seasoning Flour and mix well. Add additional sparkling water to the seasoning flour 1-2 tbsp at a time and rub the flour with your hands to create additional craggily bits.
- In a separate bowl, mix together your Wet Batter ingredients and whisk to combine. In a third bowl, add 1 cup of plain flour.
- Dust the chicken in the plain flour, then dip your chicken in the Wet Batter and let any excess batter drip off. Next, coat the chicken in the Seasoning Flour and use your hands to pack the coating into the chicken. Place on a tray and let the chicken rest for 15 minutes while you heat up the oil.
- Fry the chicken in batches at 350F for 4-5 minutes. Remove the chicken and let the oil come back up to 350F, then fry a 2nd time for 1-2 minutes. Remove to a tray and let rest.
- In a medium saucepan, mix together the Sauce ingredients and simmer over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Coat the chicken in the sauce and enjoy!
Looks delicious! I can’t wait to try making this recipe. So delighted that I have found you on Instagram.
Thanks for your dedication to easy cooking and good eating!
Thank you so much, Mona! I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
Making this tonight! I’ve been gathering my condiments & now I’m ready. I prepped as much as i could ahead of time & the sauce is so good. I know once it gets thickened it’s going to be even better.
Question, what do you normally serve as your sides with this?
Can I give this 10 stars????? This is hands down the best fried chicken I’ve ever had! Thank you so very much for taking the time to share your recipes
Thank you so much, Dawn! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!
Great recipe! My kids devoured these!
I’m so glad you and your kids enjoyed them!
Made this tonight. DELICIOUS !
Had to substitute cayenne for Korean pepper flakes and
used a Thai chili sauce for the Korean paste. It was a hit !
Thanks so much Rick! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe has been a really special recipe for me.
The best fried chicken recipe! I’ve tried tons and nothing compared to this. The crispiness of the chicken was amazing along with the spices and it wasn’t greasy at all. The sauce was delicious sweet and spicy.
Being half Korean this brought back memories of my mother who passed away. Thank you so much.
Definitely a keeper.
Can’t wait to try other recipes from you.
This means so much to me – thank you Carol!!!
This was amazingly good!!! Far better than any KFC recipe hands down! We may cut back on the salt next time, and next time we are doubling this recipe and making more to put in the freezer! (We will have to refrain from eating them however 😉)
Thanks so much, Gary! I’m glad you enjoyed them 🙂