Spicy Peanut Gochujang Chicken

This Spicy Peanut Gochujang Chicken is intensely flavorful and made in one pan! It’s on my weekly rotation, and should be on yours too!

I’m absolutely in love with this Spicy Peanut Gochujang Chicken. There’s a ton of sauce, which makes it perfect for serving over rice or noodles! It’s a coconut milk based sauce, flavored with aromatics like scallions, garlic and ginger, and of course peanut butter and gochujang.

I love a spicy peanut sauce, and this is no exception! It’s creamy and extremely flavorful, perfectly pairing with the chicken breasts.

Don’t know what gochujang is? No problem! It’s a spicy red fermented chili paste made with red chilies, glutinous rice, and fermented soybean powder. It’s confusing, but glutinous rice is actually gluten-free! However, many gochujangs are not gluten-free because they contain malt, so make sure to look for one that is, if you’re following a gluten-free diet. Try this one by O’Food or this one by Sempio.

What Should You Serve This With?

Any steamed vegetable works very well with this Spicy Peanut Gochujang Chicken! But I also love my Soy-Ginger Braised Bok Choy. Alternatively, you can add vegetables into the pan when you cook the chicken, and the vegetables will cook in the sauce. I recommend broccoli, cauliflower, peas, zucchini, or green beans! As for a carb, try my Cilantro Lime Coconut Rice.

Ingredient Notes:

• Chicken Breasts – I used 4 medium-sized chicken breasts. However you can also use 2 very large ones, cut in half into cutlets. If you prefer thighs, you can use those instead.
• Coconut Milk – I like to use full-fat, not reduced fat here. You can also buy full fat coconut milk in a carton, instead if a can. Just make sure to weigh and measure out 14 oz. I recommend a kitchen scale, you can buy one here.
• Soy Sauce – I use Tamari, since it’s gluten-free, which you can find here.
• Gochujang – Many brands are not gluten-free. but O’Food and Sempio both make it gluten-free.
• Cilantro – If you hate cilantro, the scallion greens are still great on their own, but you can also sprinkle on fresh mint or basil.
• Peanuts – If you don’t have peanuts around, roasted cashews will work, too!

Spicy Peanut Gochujang Chicken

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian Fusion

Servings 4

Equipment

• 1 Large Skillet with high sides

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 chicken breasts about 2 lbs. worth
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Avocado oil
• 3 scallions thinly sliced, whites and greens separated
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger minced
• 1 14 oz. can coconut milk
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 5 teaspoons gochujang
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 lime cut into quarters
• Cilantro leaves to garnish
• ¼ cup roasted peanuts roughly chopped

Instructions

 

• Season chicken generously all over with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Heat a drizzle of avocado oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear until golden, 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and add scallion whites, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 1 minute. Add coconut milk, chicken stock, soy sauce, rice vinegar, peanut butter, gochujang, brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon of Kosher salt (double this amount of salt if doubling the recipe). Stir to combine and gently scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Then add the chicken back into the pan with any juices on the plate and turn to coat in the sauce. Bring to a simmer then turn heat to medium-low. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened, about 7-9 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir juice from half a lime (double this if doubling the recipe). Taste and season with more salt, if needed. Serve sprinkled with scallion greens, cilantro leaves, and peanuts, with extra lime wedges on the side.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.

If making ahead of time, store garnishes (scallion greens, cilantro, peanuts, and lime wedges) separately and only sprinkle on after the chicken has been reheated and when ready to serve. 

Keyword Sauce, Saucy, Spicy

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