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    Home | Appetizers

    Korean gochujang chicken wings (baked/air fried)

    Published: Dec 10, 2020 by Viola. This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    These Korean inspired gochujang chicken wings are crispy, garlicky, spicy, sticky and totally irresistible! The wings are air fried/baked until super crispy and the tossed in the most incredible gochujang sauce. They are so good, super easy to make for a large crowd and highly addictive!

    Korean gochujang chicken wings

    Gochujang chicken wings!

    These air fried/baked gochujang chicken wings are so good, and so highly addictive. They are incredible crispy on the outside but yet very juicy and flavorful on the inside. Keep reading to discover the best way to cook chicken wings for maximum crunch and browning without frying.

    I toss these chicken wings in a Korean inspired sauce that is so complex in flavor. It is spicy, salty, sour and sweet, full of umami, hits all the right notes and goes so well with these crispy chicken wings. You will be mind blown at how amazing these wings turn out!

    Korean gochujang chicken wings

    How to air fry/bake chicken wings and make them SUPER crispy!

    Air fried/baked chicken wings can still turn out super crispy and delicious. Here's what you've gotta do:

    1. Pat dry the chicken really well. Moisture is the enemy of all things crispy and will cause the chicken to steam leading to soggy chicken. Make sure your chicken is patted dry really well.
    2. Baking powder. It might sound crazy to use baking powder on chicken wings, but trust me it works! The baking powder is the secret ingredient that makes the chicken skin super crispy. Make sure that you use aluminum free baking powder in this recipe, otherwise you might end up with a bitter aftertaste.
    3. Wire rack. It is important to keep the air circulating around the chicken wings for maximum crispiness. Use a perforated baking rack or wire rack to allow for maximum air circulation.
    4. Single layer. It is important that you don't overlap the chicken otherwise it will lead to steaming instead of crisping. Place the chicken in a single layer with a gap between them.
    Korean gochujang chicken wings

    Air frying v/s baking

    Both air frying and baking produce amazingly crispy chicken wings that are juicy and tender on the inside. Which option you use to make these amazing gochujang chicken wings will depend on a couple of criteria:

    • Air fryer: air fried chicken turns out super crispy and the biggest advantage of this method is that it takes about half the time to cook compared to the oven method. However, most air fryers are small and this method will work well only if you are making a small batch of chicken wings.
    • Oven: oven baked wings also turn out amazing but take twice the amount of time compared to an air fryer. However, if you are making a large batch, then this is the way to go. You can make a very huge batch at once using multiple baking trays and they will all be perfectly crispy and ready at the same time!
    Korean gochujang chicken wings
    Air fried wings
    Korean gochujang chicken wings
    Oven baked wings

    What is gochujang?

    Gochujang is a savory, sweet, and spicy fermented condiment, very popular in Korean cooking. It is made from chili powder, glutinous rice, fermented soybean powder, barley malt powder and salt. The sweetness comes from the starch of cooked glutinous rice, cultured during the fermentation process.

    It has an amazing, complex flavor and goes so well in so many different styles of cooking. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend giving it a go. Gochujang is so versatile and once you've tried it, you will find yourself reaching out for it constantly, it is that good!

    The most amazing gochujang sauce

    Gochujang is the main flavoring ingredient in this amazing sauce and adds so much flavor. I also add in rice syrup (for sweetness), Kashmiri red chilli powder (for color and spice), rice vinegar (for tang), ginger, garlic & green onions and a dash of toasted sesame oil for a nutty flavor. This sauce is spicy, sweet, sour, salty & nutty with a wonderful savory flavor from the ginger & garlic. It reminds me of so many Indo-Chinese dishes like Manchurian, and will go super well with different kinds of protein or veggies. 

    Korean gochujang chicken wings

    Making a large batch for a crowd!

    To make these gochujang chicken wings for a crowd, definitely use the oven instead of the air fryer. You can use multiple wire rack lined baking trays at the same time. Line the baking trays with aluminum foil for easier clean up. The cooking time will remain the same and all the wings will be perfectly cooked and crispy at the same time!

    Korean gochujang chicken wings

    How to make this recipe vegan/vegetarian

    Tofu/paneer would be perfect replacements for chicken in this recipe. The best part of this recipe is the sauce, and crispy tofu/paneer coated in this amazing sauce would be such a delicious treat.

    To use tofu/paneer, cut it into 1" cubes and replace baking powder with the same amount of cornstarch. Reduce the cooking time to only a third of the time below. Everything else will remain the same!

    More recipes to try!

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    Za'atar shrimp with parsley tahini sauce
    Masala salmon with mango avocado salsa
    Masala salmon with mango avocado salas
    Love this recipe?Rate the recipe by clicking on the stars in the recipe card below
    Korean gochujang chicken wings

    Korean gochujang chicken wings (baked/air fried)

    Korean gochujang chicken wings (baked/air fried) 1Viola
    These Korean inspired gochujang chicken wings are air fried/baked until super crispy and the tossed in the most incredible gochujang sauce that is garlicky, spicy, sticky and totally irresistible!
    4.90 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Appetizers
    Cuisine Indian Fusion, Korean
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 277 kcal

    Equipment

    Baking pan
    Baking pan(s)
    Wire rack
    Wire rack
    Air-Fryer
    Air fryer/Oven

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1.65 pounds chicken wings (about 16 half wings, see notes for vegetarian option)
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (or Korean gochugaru chili flakes)
    • kosher salt

    For the sauce:

    • 1 teaspoon avocado oil
    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 1 inch ginger root
    • 1 stalk green onions
    • 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean fermented red pepper paste)
    • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
    • 1 tablespoon rice syrup (or any other sweetener of your choice)
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
    • kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves

    For garnish & serving

    • ¼ teaspoon sesame seeds
    • 1 lime cut into wedges

    Instructions
     

    • Mix together all the spices for the chicken wings.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings
    • Dry the chicken wings with paper towels thoroughly. Sprinkle the spice mix evenly over the chicken wings and toss to coat.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings

    Air fryer instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer at 375F/190C for 3 minutes and then place the chicken wings in a single layer. Air fry it for 12 minutes on one side, then flip over and cook for another 12 minutes.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings
    • Increase the heat to 400F/205C (or as high as it will go), flip and cook for another 2-5 minutes or until the skin is crispy and brown.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings

    Oven instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 425F/220C. Place the chicken wings in a single layer on a baking rack over a foil lined baking sheet and cook it in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip all the wings and bake an additional 20 minutes.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings
    • Finally, remove from oven and flip once more and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the skin is crispy and brown.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings

    Sauce

    • Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat and add in finely chopped ginger, garlic and green onions (save the green tops for garnish). Cook the aromatics for 2-3 minutes.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings
    • Mix the rest of the sauce ingredients (except the sesame oil and cilantro) in a separate bowl and add it into the frying pan. Cook the sauce for about 2 minutes or until it starts to thicken slightly. Finally turn off the heat and mix in the toasted sesame oil and chopped cilantro leaves.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings
    • Toss the wings as soon as they come out of the oven with the sauce. Garnish the wings with sesame seeds and green onion tops and serve immediately with lime wedges.
      Korean gochujang chicken wings

    Notes

    Vegetarian/vegan replacements:
    Use tofu/paneer instead of chicken in this recipe.
    Cut it into 1" cubes and replace baking powder with the same amount of cornstarch. Reduce the cooking time to only a third of the time above. Everything else will remain the same!

    Estimated Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Korean gochujang chicken wings (baked/air fried)
    Calories
    277
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    17
    g
    26
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    31
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    78
    mg
    26
    %
    Sodium
     
    294
    mg
    13
    %
    Potassium
     
    226
    mg
    6
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    11
    g
    4
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    6
    g
    7
    %
    Protein
     
    19
    g
    38
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    210
    IU
    4
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    5
    mg
    6
    %
    Calcium
     
    137
    mg
    14
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    *Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @LimeThymeRecipes and tag #limethymerecipes
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Clotty Gomes says

      December 11, 2020 at 4:07 am

      5 stars
      Superb recipe. Mouth watering!

      Reply
    2. Mark says

      December 12, 2020 at 7:05 am

      5 stars
      I love korean food and since these are spicy I cant wait to cook them in my air fryer.

      I had one question however, can you store them for a day or two? If so, whats the correct way to store them?

      I would appreciate if you could shed some light on the same.

      Reply
      • Viola says

        December 12, 2020 at 10:35 am

        If you'd like to store them, I'd recommend air frying for 24 minutes only and then storing them in the refrigerator. Right before serving, air fry them at 400/425F for 5-8 minutes flipping halfway and then toss with the sauce right before serving. Let me know how they turn out!

        Reply
        • Mark says

          December 12, 2020 at 11:21 pm

          5 stars
          Thanks a lot. I will let you know how it goes.

          Reply
    3. Tina says

      December 12, 2020 at 2:47 pm

      5 stars
      I made this yesterday for my kids and Oh.My.God ! It was wiped off in minutes! It was an instant hit and begged for more! Thank you for this bomb recipe Viola! **Chef's Kiss**

      Reply
      • Viola says

        December 12, 2020 at 9:39 pm

        Haha, I am so happy your kids loved this recipe! ❤ Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    4. Manisha Nigam says

      December 22, 2020 at 3:12 am

      5 stars
      Viola Gomes, my hubby and I recreated this tonight. He made the sauce (with minor tweaks) while I used 4 lbs of wings 2/3 in the oven and 1/3 in the airfryer. The recipe is “THE BOMB”.
      I am in food coma right now. Three of us have finished 3.5 lbs of wings. I had to grudgingly save some for my daughter who will be home later tonight. This is THE BEST wings recipe IMHO.
      Thanks so much!! On a side note: I think the airfryer won by 20%. The wings were crispier in the airfryer

      Reply
      • Viola says

        December 22, 2020 at 3:17 am

        Wow, this is amazing! I am SOOO happy that your family loved my recipe 🥰 I definitely liked the results of the air fryer more too. Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    5. Lynne LV says

      February 09, 2021 at 5:14 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is outstanding!!!! I made minor tweaks, that included cayenne pepper in the seasoning, but other than that, it was fantastic!

      Reply
      • Viola says

        February 12, 2021 at 2:26 pm

        Oh yay! I'm so happy to know that you loved this recipe!

        Reply

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    About Me Lime Thyme

    HEY, I'M VIOLA!

    I'm a self taught recipe developer, food photographer and videographer living in Seattle.

    Welcome to Lime Thyme, where you'll find  find easy, flavorful and innovative Indian inspired recipes using seasonal and fresh ingredients!

    Learn more about me here.

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