This spicy Korean BBQ Sauce will give a delicious kick to any recipe! A mixture of soy sauce, ginger, chili-garlic sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and more come together to create a flavor profile that will really wow. Use this as a marinade or dipping sauce with chicken thighs and wings, veggies, or any of your KBBQ favorites!
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What’s in this Korean BBQ Sauce Recipe?
A mixture of sweet, sour, savory, spicy, and umami flavors make this Asian-inspired BBQ sauce instantly crave-able. Perfect for serving with Korean BBQ Chicken!
- Soy Sauce: Adds a savory and umami element.
- Brown Sugar: Sweetens the sauce.
- Water: Helps the ingredients in the sauce to emulsify.
- Mirin: A type of sweetened rice wine (sake) that adds a distinctive sweetness.
- Sesame Oil: Adds nuttiness.
- Rice Vinegar: Adds a bit of tanginess.
- Chili-Garlic Sauce: Adds signature spice to this Korean BBQ sauce.
- Ginger + Garlic: Add a spicy and earthy flavor.
- Black Pepper: Enhances the spice.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce.
Pro Tip: Substitute gochujang for the chili garlic sauce for an extra kick of flavor!
Variations on KBBQ Dipping Sauce
For a spicier Korean BBQ sauce, increase the amount of chili-garlic sauce, or add some gochujang paste. Add some pineapple juice for a tropical twist, or some juiced fresh citrus for a tangier sauce.
For a smokier sauce, add some smoked paprika or liquid smoke. Or for a traditional touch of sweetness, blend or grate a ripe Korean or Asian pear, then add it to the sauce.
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Korean BBQ sauce is made of soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic. We use chili-garlic sauce in ours for extra spice, but you can also use the more traditional choice, gochujang.
American BBQ sauce tends to be sweet, smoky, and tomato based. Korean BBQ sauce has a greater balance of flavors and is red chili pepper based.
Yes, this sauce should be spicy. If you’re not a fan of spice, you can leave out the chili-garlic sauce (or use less).
How to Store
Store Korean BBQ sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
How to Freeze
Freeze KBBQ sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Serving Suggestions
Use this luscious sauce on baked Korean hot wings, beef bulgogi, pan-seared chicken, oven baked ribs, or grilled ribeyes. For dipping, this BBQ sauce goes great with cauliflower wings, grilled chicken wings, or even french fries.
Korean BBQ Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup mirin
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1-4 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce such as Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, mirin, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili-garlic sauce, ginger, garlic and pepper to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer.¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ¾ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup water, ¼ cup mirin, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1-4 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce, 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, 4 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- In a small bowl, stir the cornstarch and water together.2 tablespoon cornstarch
- Remove the pot from the heat, add the cornstarch slurry and whisk to combine. Return the sauce to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Use in your favorite recipes.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Substitute gochujang for the chili garlic sauce for an extra kick of flavor!
- Light or dark brown sugar work in this recipe.
- For a gluten-free alternative, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
Nutrition Information
