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Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes

Korean BBQ Chicken {Chicken Bulgogi}

Published: Feb 19, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

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Korean BBQ Chicken is an easy-to-make, delicious chicken recipe that your family will love. Tangy, earthy, sweet, and spicy, the flavors of this chicken dish will amaze your family, and they’ll agree it’s better than take-out.

Korean BBQ Chicken over jasmine rice on a white plate with broccoli.


 

My Korean BBQ Chicken Recipe is my version of the Classic Korean recipe that’s commonly referred to as Chicken Bulgogi in Asian restaurants or Dak Bulgogi in a Korean restaurant.

In Korean, Bulgogi translates to “fire meat.” The name is derived from the cooking process, grilled over fire (or grill pan), not from the spices. Korean BBQ sauce can be as spicy as you like or just a little spicy, like my recipe.

Korean BBQ Chicken over jasmine rice on a white plate.

The sweet and savory earthy flavors of Chicken Bugogi make this simple dish one you’ll enjoy making and your family will enjoy eating.

If you’re a fan of Korean Cuisine, use the sauce to make Korean BBQ Chicken Wings or to make Korean BBQ Chicken Thighs.

Table of Contents:
  • Ingredients to make Korean BBQ Chicken
  • How to toast sesame seeds
  • How to make Korean BBQ Sauce
  • How to make Korean BBQ Chicken
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • More Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Korean Barbecue Chicken

Ingredients to make Korean BBQ Chicken

Ingredients to make recipe.

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Korean BBQ Chicken. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Ingredients readily available at your local grocery store

  • chicken breasts
  • soy sauce
  • sesame oil
  • rice wine vinegar
  • sweet chili sauce
  • ketchup
  • brown sugar
  • honey
  • garlic 
  • chicken broth 
  • cornstarch
  • salt and black pepper
  • sesame seeds – optional
  • green onions – optional

If you’d like to kick up the heat, replace the sweet chili sauce with siracha, Korean chili paste, or add red pepper flakes.

If you enjoy Asian cuisine having these pantry staples on hand will help you create more of the dishes you love.

How to toast sesame seeds

toasted sesame seeds.

I love toasted sesame seeds, and the easiest way to make them is to heat up a frying pan, add the sesame seeds to the pan, and swirl the seeds over the heat. As soon as they start to brown, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool.

How to make Korean BBQ Sauce

collage to make sauce.
  • Add the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sweet chili sauce, and garlic to a saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Stir the sauce ingredients together and bring the mixture to a light boil.
  • Add the chicken broth and cornstarch to a small bowl and mix until the cornstarch is dissolved, then add to the sauce.
  • Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce and bring it back to a light boil. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside until needed.

*Replace the sesame oil with olive oil if you have any allergies.

How to make Korean BBQ Chicken

Cut the chicken breast into bite-size pieces. Season with salt and black pepper.

collage showing how to prepare chicken.
  • Add one teaspoon of sesame oil (or olive oil) to a large frying pan, and when the pan is hot, add the chicken pieces to the pan.
  • Cook the chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes over medium heat, then turn them over and continue cooking the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes.
sauce added to chicken.

Add most of the Korean BBQ sauce to the pan and stir to fully coat the chicken pieces.

*Use as much of the sauce as needed. If the sauce is too thick add a little water to the pan.

Korean BBQ Chicken over jasmine rice on a white plate with broccoli.

Serve the Korean BBQ Chicken over Jasmine rice and garnish the dish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. This delicious dish is sure to become one of your family’s favorite chicken recipes!

Recipe FAQ’s

What goes with Korean BBQ Chicken?

Jasmine rice is my favorite side dish, along with steamed broccoli. But you can also serve this dish over cellophane noodles, white rice, or fried rice.

What is Korean BBQ chicken called?

This dish is also known as Chicken Bulgogi or Dak Bulgogi. Originally cooked over fire which caramelizes the meat, making this slightly sweet and savory chicken so flavorful.

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    BBQ Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks
  • Korean Pork Barbecue and spinach on a white plate
    Korean Pork Barbecue Recipe
  • Chinese Barbecued Pork, fried rice
    Pork Fried Rice and Chinese Barbecued Pork

Korean BBQ Chicken over jasmine rice on a white plate with broccoli.

Korean Barbecue Chicken

Chef Dennis Littley
Korean BBQ Chicken is an easy-to-make, delicious chicken recipe that your family will love. Tangy, earthy, sweet, and spicy, the flavors of this chicken dish will amaze your family and they'll agree its better than take-out
5 from 43 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Entree
Cuisine Korean
Servings 4
Calories 370 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Korean Barbecue Sauce

  • ½ cup soy sauce low sodium or regular
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 3 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic finely minced
  • ⅓ cup chicken broth or water
  • 2 teaspoon corn starch
  • 2 tablespoon sesame oil

Chicken

  • 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts boneless skinless – cut into 1½ inch pieces
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 green onions optional – sliced for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds optional – garnish

Instructions
 

Korean Barbecue Sauce

  • In a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat stir together the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha, and garlic. Bring to a boil.
  • In a small bowl stir together cold water and corn starch til dissolved. Stir into boiling sauce
  • Remove from heat and divide between two bowls. Reserve one bowl for serving later.

Chicken

  • Cut the chicken breast into bite-size pieces. Season with salt and black pepper.
  • Add one teaspoon of sesame oil (or olive oil) to a large frying pan, and when the pan is hot, add the chicken pieces to the pan.
  • Cook the chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes over medium heat, then turn them over and continue cooking the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes.
  • Add most of the Korean BBQ sauce to the pan and stir to fully coat the chicken pieces.
    Use as much of the sauce as needed. If the sauce is too thick add a little water to the pan.
  • Serve the chicken over Jasmine rice. Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Notes

* Chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 40gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1627mgPotassium: 845mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 223IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    5 from 43 votes (40 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Tim Thober says

    March 15, 2024 at 5:02 pm

    Good evening Chef Dennis
    I’m trying out your Korean BBQ Chicken recipe. However, I’m not sure how much siracha sauce to include and it’s not listed in the amounts/measurements listing.
    Please help.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      March 15, 2024 at 6:42 pm

      if you use it to replace the sweet chili sauce it would be 1 tablespoon.

      Reply
  2. Jeannie says

    November 25, 2023 at 2:58 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness.. another winner.. folks.. you just can not go wrong with any of Chef Dennis recipes.. every one of his recipes is so well explained and that’s what I need!! Awesome Chef!!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      November 25, 2023 at 3:09 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  3. Colleen says

    April 26, 2023 at 7:14 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve tried this recipe as it and it was fantastic. Do you believe the sauce will also be good with beef?

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      April 26, 2023 at 11:23 pm

      I would think it would work well with beef and pork. It just depends on what kind of cut you use for the dish. I’m thinking pieces sliced a little on the thin side, quickly stir-fried, and then add the sauce.

      Reply
  4. Anderson kirimi says

    February 25, 2023 at 8:32 am

    5 stars
    Grateful

    Reply


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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