This post may contain affiliate links. Please read thedisclosure policy.
Simple Korean Fried Chicken Recipe
Korean Fried Chicken is has become so popular that restaurants, like the franchise Bonchon, have popped up all over the country featuring KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) as their signature dish. Even fast food restaurants like Shake Shack have jumped on the trend by adding their version to their menu. Interesting side note, Shake Shack’s KFC has caused some controversy in the news. I find it just means Korean Fried Chicken in itself has gained fame.
There are so many versions of Korean Fried Chicken that finding a recipe that is delicious but fairly easy can be daunting. We wanted to create a recipe that was a go to for busy families, something you can make for a last minute dinner or to satisfy a KFC craving in a pinch. Our Simple Korean Fried Chicken recipe uses pantry staples so that you can make this for dinner without having to go out and buy a load of groceries you’ll hardly every use.
Simple Ingredients
Our Simple Korean Fried Chicken recipe uses 2.5-3 lbs of boneless skinless chicken which makes enough for 6 servings.
Chop chicken into 2 inch pieces. Combine minced garlic and the chicken in a bowl. Mix well, cover and set aside.
Sauce
Make the sauce in a bowl that is large enough to toss the fried chicken in. Combine gochujang, seasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, dark brown sugar. Mix well. Set aside.
Gochujang is a spicy and salty Korean fermented red pepper paste. It is a staple item in our home because it is used in a variety of Korean recipes. You can find gochujang at your local Asian Market or online below.
We do get asked regularly about the type vinegar we use. We use Marukan Seasoned Rice Vinegar, it is sweet and tangy. And we use it in a variety of recipes like, Korean Pickled Radish and Easy Chicken Adobo. It is our pantry staple. You should be able to find it at any grocery store that has an Asian food isle. Or you can buy it online below.
Frying
Choose a pan that is deep enough to hold enough oil to deep fry your chicken. Heat the oil to medium/high heat.
Once your oil is hot (375 degrees), take your chicken pieces and coat in the following order. 1st coat in flour, 2nd egg bath, 3rd coat in tapioca starch. I like to use gloves and maintain a dry hand and wet hand through this process to make it a little less messy.
Carefully drop the chicken into the oil and fry.
Once your chicken is fully cooked and batter is golden brown, drain the chicken and place into the sauce bowl and toss to coat.
Toss
Top with garnishing
Top with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Korean Fried Chicken is best served with Korean pickled radish (daikon).
2½-3lbsboneless skinless chicken thighschopped into 2 inch pieces
6clovesgarlicminced
1cuptapioca starch
1cupall purpose flour
3eggsscrambled
oilenough to deep fry
¼cupgreen onionschopped for garnish
1 tsptoasted sesame seedsgarnish
Korean Fried Chicken Sauce
½cupgochujang (Korean pepper paste)
8Tbspseasoned rice vinegar
⅔cupdark brown sugar
4Tbspsoy sauce
Instructions
Combine chicken and garlic and mix well and cover, and set aside.
In a bowl, combine gochujang, seasoned rice vinegar, dark brown sugar and soy sauce. Mix well.
In a deep pan fill with oil high enough to deep fry. Heat oil to Medium/High heat.
1st, coat chicken in flour.
2nd, place in egg bath.
3rd, coat in tapioca starch.
Place coated chicken pieces into hot oil and fry until batter is chicken is fully cooked and the batter is golden brown
Drain the fully cooked fried chicken and place the pieces into the bowl of Korean Fried Chicken sauce and toss to coat.
Top with green onions and toasted sesame seeds and serve with Korean pickled daikon (Korean Radish).
Notes
Korean Fried Chicken is best paired with Korean pickled daikon (Korean Radish).
Recipe for Korean Pickled Daikon is available >> here <<.
Keyword Boneless Skinless Chicken, Chicken dinner, Easy Korean Chicken, Easy Korean Fried Chicken, Easy Korean recipes, Fried chicken, Gochujang, Korean Chicken, Korean Fried Chicken, Simple Korean Fried Chicken, Spicy Chicken
The Korean fried chicken is super crispy because potato starch is added to its batter and the chicken is fried twice. This second frying also cooks off the excess water in the chicken from the first frying. Korean fried chicken is known to stay extra crispy for a long time, even with a glazed surface.
The chicken itself is often marinated in a mixture of buttermilk, spices, and sometimes even fruit juice to add flavor and tenderize the meat. This step ensures that every bite is bursting with juicy, flavorful chicken. Of course, you can't talk about Korean fried chicken without mentioning the side dishes.
One thing that sets Korean fried chicken apart from its competitors is that it's usually less greasy and heavy than other varieties. It is because it's typically cooked without skin, making it a healthier option for those watching their waistlines.
Of all the flavours, yangnyeom is the most popular of all. Made with a glaze from gochujang, a sweet and spicy Korean paste used in many sauces, it creates a sensational taste and sticky texture. Don't forget to lick your fingers after each bite!
Chicken mu is Korean pickled radish that is specifically for pairing with Korean fried chicken, but it is also a great side dish for pretty much anything. It's sweet, tangy, crunchy, and totally necessary with Korean fried chicken in my opinion! Mu is Korean radish, and it is used to make MANY things in Korean cuisine!
When mixed with the flour, the cornstarch makes the flour coating crispier and gives it that golden brown color! (It has to do with prevention of gluten development.) The baking powder reacts with the oil and creates tiny air bubbles, which also helps form a crispy coating.
Try adding some corn starch to lighten the flour as well. The combination of corn starch and baking powder will help to make your fried chicken lighter and crispier than plain flour alone.
Both flour and cornstarch are used to coat chicken, fish, and vegetables before deep-frying. Cornstarch typically makes for a crispier finish than flour. Cornstarch absorbs moisture from the food and expands, giving deep-fried foods a crispy coating.
Of course, if you don't know this brand, you'll say it's barbecue. In Korea, the word BBQ is more commonly referred to as this brand name than barbecue. Started in a small village in the countryside in 1995, this brand is the number one fried chicken brand in Korea as of 2022.
According to a survey conducted in June 2021 among South Korean consumers on their favorite brand of fried chicken, 36.63 percent of respondents answered it was Kyochon.
In addition to the chicken, Korean fried chicken is also marinated in a unique blend of spices and sauces, giving it its distinct flavor. These sauces often require high-quality ingredients, such as Korean chili paste, soy sauce, and rice vinegar.
All-purpose flour gives the buttermilk and seasonings something to stick to, while ensuring a wonderfully crispy crust. This crispy fried chicken recipe calls for paprika (which helps with browning), salt, and pepper. You can add more spices and seasonings to taste.
While most people could indulge in this dish occasionally without sabotaging their eating plans, Korean fried chicken contains such high amounts of fat, calories, cholesterol, carbs and sodium that it can't be considered a healthy food.
It makes chicken more crispy and tender inside. These starches create a light and crunchy texture that adheres well to the chicken. The combination of double frying and starch coating contribute to the signature crispiness of Korean fried chicken.
The air fryer method is another way to reheat Korean fried chicken, which can help maintain its crispy texture. Here are the steps: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook it for 3-5 minutes until it's heated through and crispy.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.