Air Fryer Gochujang Chicken Thighs are sweet spicy perfection. These chicken thighs are full of umami flavors thanks to the Korean condiment.
Boneless skinless chicken thighs cook up so quickly in the air fryer. So I love seasoning them in so many different ways!
Gochujang chicken thighs are a favorite. The gochujang adds such a delicious flavor. There is a touch of sweetness from the brown sugar. This recipe is just so easy to make.
You do marinade the chicken thighs for 30 minutes (up to 2 hours), so just work that into your prep time. But once that's done, the chicken thighs cook in less than 15 minutes once added to the air fryer!
(Looking to make bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs? Try these air fryer chicken thighs with crispy skin).
Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Gochujang paste
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Brown sugar
- Green onions and sesame seeds for serving (optional)
What is gochujang?
Gochujang is a fermented chili paste that has a spicy sweet umami flavor. It's used in Korean cooking and is made from red chili pepper flakes, sticky rice (glutinous rice), fermented soybeans, and salt.
You can find gochujang at Korean grocery stores, on Amazon, many regular grocery stores have it, and Trader Joe's even carries a version! It's almost always in these small red tubs.
How to customize
This recipe can be customized in so many ways! Want a smokier flavor? Add some smoked paprika to the sauce.
Want it spicier? Add some sriracha or chili paste.
The brown sugar could be swapped out for honey or maple syrup.
What to serve with the gochujang chicken thighs?
I love serving the chicken thighs with rice (or sesame rice), sesame seeds, and green onions. They are delicious as a main or sliced up and served in a bowl or salad.
If serving as a main course, I love adding air fryer sesame green beans, or some air fryer frozen edamame.
Recipe notes
- All air fryers cook differently. Adjust cooking times based on your air fryer and size of the chicken thighs.
- Honey or maple syrup could be swapped out for brown sugar.
- Different brands of gochujang may have different spice levels. Adjust accordingly based on your desired level of spice.
How to make air fryer gochujang chicken thighs
Add gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, onion powder, and garlic powder to a bowl.
Stir until completely combined.
Add boneless skinless chicken thighs to the bowl and mix so that sauce covers all the chicken thighs.
Cover and place bowl in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours) to marinate.
Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes, then brush or spray the basket with a little oil to keep chicken from sticking.
Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket.
Cook for 13-15 minutes, flipping once, until temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F, though the sweet spot for chicken thighs is between 175 to 195 degrees F, so aim for that if you want tender and juicy chicken thighs.
I highly recommend a meat thermometer to check for the temperature of your chicken.
Remove chicken thighs from the air fryer. Let rest for 5 minutes. Plate as desired and enjoy!
More air fryer chicken recipes
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken
- Air Fryer Honey Dijon Chicken
Recipes to love
Air Fryer Gochujang Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs boneless skinless
- 3 Tablespoons gochujang
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- green onion optional
- sesame seeds optional
- oil for air fryer basket
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir until combined.
- Add chicken thighs to the bowl and mix together until chicken thighs are coated in the sauce. Cover and let marinade in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (up to 2 hours).
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F. Brush or lightly spray the basket with oil.
- Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 400 degrees F for 13-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Remove and plate.
Notes
- All air fryers cook differently. Adjust cooking times based on your air fryer and size of the chicken thighs.
- Honey or maple syrup could be swapped out for brown sugar.
- Different brands of gochujang may have different spice levels. Adjust accordingly based on your desired level of spice.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
Ash
Tried this recipe on a whim and really enjoyed it - chicken turned out crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Flavor of the gochujang comes through with just enough kick.