Slightly sweet and deliciously spicy Korean chicken wings that are so tasty they are finger licking good!   This simple wing sauce is perfect when paired with juicy, smoky grilled wings making any night of the week, “wing night.”  Make these for an easy and satisfying appetizer for your next gathering or Super Bowl party, or serve them with some sweet potato fries and poppyseed apple kale slaw for a nutritious meal!

If you aren’t familiar with what gochujang is, it is a fermented spicy bean paste that is a staple in countless Korean dishes, my kids actually like to call it Korean ketchup!  Most versions you find at the Korean market or even grocery stores are made with soybeans and contain gluten.  However, there are gluten free and soy free options you can use instead, like what I used in this recipe!

Why Chicken is So Good For You!

We all know that chicken is a tasty and fantastic source of protein, but do you know why it is so good for you?  Chicken, along with many other sources of animal protein, such as beef, eggs and fish, are a complete source of protein.  This means that all nine essential amino acids are present and available to you when you eat these foods.  When it comes to nutrients, anything labeled as “essential”  means that your body cannot make or synthesize this nutrient, so it must be provided to your body by the foods you eat.

As mentioned above, there are nine essential amino acids that we must eat everyday to provide our bodies energy as well as the building blocks necessary in everyday functions such as growth and repair, immune support, and in the synthesis of our hormones and neurotransmitters.

The nine essential amino acids and their roles are [1]:

• Histidine: necessary for the production of histamine and also plays a role in nervous system health
  
• Valine: necessary in energy production as well as muscle growth and repair
  
• Phenylalanine: building block for neurotransmitters like dopamine and epinephrine (adrenaline), and in the production of other amino acids.
  
• Leucine: necessary in stimulating wound healing, muscle repair, and blood sugar regulation.
  
• Isoleucine:  necessary in immune function and energy regulation.
  
• Tryptophan: necessary building block for serotonin.
  
• Methionine: necessary in detoxification, metabolism, and in your body’s ability to absorb selenium (supports thyroid health) and zinc (necessary in production of HCl in your stomach).
  
• Threonine: necessary in skin and connective tissue health.
  
• Lysine: necessary in hormone production and your body’s ability to absorb calcium (bone, heart, muscle and nerve health.)
  

So grab some chicken wings and let’s get cooking!

Gochujang Wings Ingredients

Serves 4-6

For the Wings:

3 lbs Chicken Wings, wing tips removed

1 Tbsp Avocado Oil

1 tsp Fine Sea Salt

1 tsp Ground Black Pepper

1/4 cup Green Onions, diced (opt)

For the Gochujang Wing Sauce:

1/2 cup Paleo Gochujang

1 tsp Gochugaru Flakes (opt)

2 Cloves Garlic, finely minced

1 Tbsp Pure Sesame Seed Oil

2 tsp Rice Vinegar

1 Tbsp Coconut Aminos

1 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup

2-4 Tbsp cool Filtered Water

How to Make Gochujang Wings

For the Wings:

1. Preheat your grill to 400 degrees.

2.  If your wings are not separated, you can cut them into drumsticks and flats.  You can keep the whole wing together as well, just remove the wing tips beforehand.

3.  In a large bowl add the avocado oil, salt and pepper, stir to combine.

4.  Add your chicken wings and toss to evenly coat with the oil mixture.

5.  Place wings on the grill and grill for 8-10 minutes per side.

• Watch for flares from the burners, this will catch the wings on fire.  This usually happens once the wings are flipped and the fat starts to render out.
  
• Tip: When I flip the wings, I move them to the center of the grill and turn the burners directly below the wings to low heat.  I then turn the burners on the side up to high to keep the temperature up without a large flame under the wings.  This will reduce your changes of a flare up or fire.
  
• Stay close to the grill once the wings are flipped to ensure they do not catch on fire.  Keep a spray bottle of water nearby in case.
  

6.  Remove from grill and add to a large bowl and toss with the gochujang sauce!

For the Gochujang Wing Sauce:

1. Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. 

2. Add all the ingredients and 2 Tablespoons of water, stir well to combine.

3.  Bring to a low simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes stirring frequently.   

• Add more water 1 Tablespoon at a time if the sauce is too thick, adding enough to get your desired consistency.
  

4.  If making ahead of time, transfer to a glass jar or container and refrigerate.  If using immediately, pour over the grilled wings, toss, top with some diced green onions and enjoy!

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FAQs

Q: Can I use regular gochujang in this recipe?

A: Yes! Of course you can, just keep in mind it won’t be gluten free.

Q: How do I make these spicier?

A: You can add a teaspoon or more of the gochugaru, of if you really want to spice it up, try some cayenne!

Q: How do I make this more mild?

A: Omit the gochujaru and if the sauce is still a bit too spicy, add a little rice vinegar or pure maple syrup to cut the spice down.

What to Serve with Gochujang Wings

Ultimate Bacon Fried Rice:  My favorite fried rice ever!  This is a staple in my house: easy weeknight meal, delicious side dish, and super quick and easy!

Quick Korean Cucumber Kimchi:  Keep that gochujang sauce out and whip up some easy and tasty cucumber kimchi to go with these smoky, sweet, and spicy wings!

Korean Spinach Salad: If you know me, pretty much every meal has something green and this delicious sesame seasoned spinach dish is a family favorite!

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does. – Amy

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