Korean Fried Chicken Sauce

Spark the delight in your tastebuds with a drizzle of this spicy and sweet sauce over your chicken wings, rice bowl, or salad.

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This Korean-inspired fried chicken sauce is the down-and-dirty (but definitely delicious) cousin of the iconic sauces and dips found in Korean barbecue. This sauce packs a punch, so it’s perfect for dunking chicken wings into, of course, but it also makes a great dip for vegetable tempura or a dressing for salads. Whichever route you take, you’re bound to fall in love with its dynamic taste.

Since it conveniently stays fresh for a longer period of time compared to most sauces, you can make a big batch of this and store it in sealed refrigerated jars for weeks in advance. While it’s a good idea to keep an eye on it for any signs of spoilage, when stored correctly, it can last up to a whole month. This is partially because the honey acts as a natural preservative. With such long-lasting flavors that mature gracefully like fine wine, you can’t go wrong with this satisfying sauce.

Is Korean Fried Chicken Sauce Healthy?

Overall, this recipe is more wholesome than store-bought options, although I recommend using tomato paste instead of ketchup if you want to completely avoid added sweeteners or preservatives. If you want to make this sauce more authentic, just swap the chili-garlic sauce and red pepper flakes for gochujang.

Honey isn’t just a sweetener and preservative; it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, too. I recommend using raw, local honey if possible. Overall, this sauce is a lighter, cleaner version than most store-bought versions, but it should still be enjoyed in moderation.

The Saucy Backstory

This sauce is inspired by the OG fried chicken sauce used across Korea. Particularly known as yangnyeom chicken, this sweet, spicy, and sour sauce has its roots in the late 20th century. In the mid-20th century after the Korean War, fried chicken became more popular thanks to the influence of American soldiers.

Since then, the sauce has become thicker, sweeter, and more widely used on all kinds of dishes, and it’s especially enjoyed at a noraebang, which is the term for places in Korea where you can eat, drink, and socialize with your friends, and even hire a karaoke room! In the early 2000s, K-drama shows helped introduce this unique fried chicken sauce to Western audiences, and since then, it has become a well-loved treat in restaurants all over the globe.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup ketchup
2 green onions, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, juiced
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon chili-garlic sauce
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup water
Salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine

Mix all ingredients except water and salt in a saucepan.

Simmer

Add water, simmer to thicken and blend flavors.

Season

Cool and season with salt to taste.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store

If you’d like to prep and mix the ingredients together ahead of time, you can do so. Uncooked, this sauce can sit in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before cooking. Once it’s been thoroughly mixed and cooked on the stove, you can store the sauce for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Make sure to let it cool completely before storing in the refrigerator, and stir well before serving.

How do you make it less sweet?

While many fans of this sauce enjoy the balance of sweet, spicy, and savory, some prefer less sweet and more spicy. If this is you, I recommend cutting out 1 tablespoon of honey, and adding in some sriracha or gochujang. You could also add more lemon juice for tanginess, or 1 tablespoon of miso paste for more umami.

Is this the same as yangnyeom sauce?

While both sauces have the same base of tomato, soy sauce, and vinegar, this sauce is inspired by yangnyeom, rather than being an authentic recipe for yangnyeom. In modern yangnyeom recipes, maple syrup and strawberry jam can be used to enhance its sweetness and fruity tang, but this Korean fried chicken sauce is spicier and easier to drizzle, as it doesn’t contain gochujang and other thickening agents.

Serving Suggestions

Dunk your homemade Fried Chicken Wings or Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings in this sauce for a dippable appetizer, or serve it as a main with a beautiful bed of Sushi Rice and a side of this Cucumber Salad. For a lower-carb option, try making these Korean Lettuce Wraps and drizzle this sauce all over before devouring!

You can also use this sauce as a marinade for Pork Chops, or toss it with these Chicken Meatballs.