Whiskey Gochujang Grilled Chicken
Spicy, smokey, and so much flavor, this whiskey gochujang grilled chicken came out amazing! Chicken thighs are perfect for a nice bold marinade like this, and you can cook them for awhile on the grill to really get a nice char and render the fat on the inside so they stay super juicy.
The inspiration for this recipe
I have been craving some Korean BBQ recently and it occurred to me that a nice smokey whiskey would compliment the flavors in a bulgogi style of marinade. So why not add the whisky right into the marinade to really drive home that smokey flavor? I tried it out and served it with some grilled zucchini, rice, and kimchi, this really satisfied my cravings!
Make the whiskey gochujang marinade
The Black grouse gave me this bottle of whiskey to try and it was nice and smokey so I thought it would be perfect for what I was going for in this marinade. Along with the whiskey is honey, gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds.
Pour the marinade over the chicken and then just let it sit for a couple hours.
Grill the whiskey gochujang chicken
Look at this set-up. Not a bad day at the office! Chop the zucchini and add some salt, then brush it with oil. It only takes 10 minutes but the chicken takes 30 so get that on first.
Grill it all up nice. Â You want to grill the whiskey gochujang chicken low and slow so all the fat renders and the inside is tender and juicy.
Serve the whiskey gochujang grilled chicken
Chop it all up into large bite sized pieces. Then serve it with the zucchini and some rice and kimchi.
Such a great spread! I am a big proponent that if you use alcohol in a recipe, you should then also serve that same alcohol with the food.  It really helps bring out the flavors of the dish! Some people say opposites work better for contrast.
The whiskey gochujang grilled chicken is smokey, spicy, and tangy with just enough flavors of Korean BBQ to satisfy the craving. But not so much that your one annoying picky eater friend will complain.
Twists on this recipe
If you would like a traditional korean marinade for your chicken, this is a great recipe!
For more great gochujang recipes check out my honey gochujang sloppy joe sliders, lamb bulgogi bolognese, or this gochujang honey mustard fried chicken sandwich!
Whiskey Gochujang Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken and marinade
- 1/4 cup whiskey
- 1/4 cup gochujang
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 5 cloves garlic grated, smashed, or pressed
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Serve with
- rice
- grilled zucchini
- kimchi
Instructions
- Mix all the chicken ingredients (except the actual chicken) in a measuring cup. Put the chicken into a large bowl and lightly salt it. The marinade is salty so go light with the actual salt. Pour the marinade over the chicken. Marinate for at least 2 hours or as long as 12.
- Slice the zucchini into quarters, lightly salt, and brush with olive oil. Light the grill. Cook the chicken on medium to low heat for about 30 minutes until tender and nicely charred on the outside. Cook the zucchini for about 10 minutes on all sides until tender.
- Serve with the rice and kimchi, and of course, more scotch.
Welcome JP! I had the Balvenie 12yr DoubleWood for the first time over Thanksgiving in England, I’m a big fan of it because the swetsnees of the fruits and vanilla really come through after maturing the in the sherry casks.It definitely sounds like you got the better end of the deal though!
I really enjoyed this but did add some brown sugar to make it a little sweeter!