If you are looking for an epic Korean BBQ Sauce Recipe, look no further because this Gochujang BBQ Sauce is the sticky, sweet Korean BBQ Sauce you are looking for.
Disclaimer, when people search for Korean BBQ Sauce, they are often looking for Bulgogi which pairs with beef. In my version, we are using Gochujang to make a Korean BBQ Sauce to pair with my Smoked Baby Back Ribs Recipe. Your grilled meats never had it so good!
Trust me when I tell you that this Gochujang Korean BBQ Sauce recipe is a game changer on all your grilled meats! You will never want regular BBQ sauce again because it cannot compare with this umami packed Korean BBQ sauce recipe. It’s not overly spicy, just full of flavor from Gochujang Korean Pepper paste that is combined with garlic, ginger, brown sugar, mirin, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and few other ingredients that make something magical when they are combined!
Korean BBQ Sauce Recipe
What makes Korean food so delicious? Their sauces!! Korean Cuisine starts by fermenting their condiments which adds Umami (ie, mouth feel). So, when you see the word JANG at the end of any word, such as Gochujang, that means they have been fermented. In the world of cooking, fermentation is a great way of adding flavor to food and often adds nutritional value as well.
Fermentation is why ingredients like Gochujang, Fish Sauce and Soy Sauce transform dishes from average to extraordinary with the simple addition of Umami.
What is Gochujang?
Gochujang is fermented chili pepper paste made with the Gochugaru (Korean Red Chili Peppers) glutinous rice, salt, grounded fermented beans, and sugar/honey, which is what gives the sweetness in gochujang paste.
Gochujang Vs. Gochugaru
Gochujang is made with Gochugaru peppers, but with the addition of other ingredients and then fermented.
Where to Find Gochujang Paste?
Many grocery stores will carry Gochujang paste in their Asian food section. You can also venture out to your local Asian grocer to find MANY versions of Gochu. I often find Gochu at Trader Joes or Whole Foods. But if you can’t find it locally, you can always buy it at Amazon. Here is one of my favorites.
Gochujang Baby Back Ribs
This recipe was originally created to go with my Gochujang Baby Back Ribs Recipe (video above). If you are looking for a full proof Baby Back Ribs recipe then this recipe will set up up for success.
When smoking pork ribs, you have two choices: pork baby back ribs and St Louis Style Pork Spare Ribs. For Pork Spare ribs I recommend the 3-2-1 method, which means 3 hours in smoke, 2 hours in foil and 1 hour back on the grill. For smaller Baby Back Ribs, you will do the same process which is the 2-2-1 method: 2 hours in smoke, 2 hours in foil so the meat can braise in liquid, and back on the grill for the last hour.
This sauce is the perfect BBQ sauce for that craving for sticky sweet Asian ribs, paired with smokey American style ribs made on the smoker. Honestly, I can’t think of a more perfect way to do ribs. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never make ribs a different way again.
Ingredients for Gochujang Korean BBQ Sauce
- 2–3 cloves garlic – crushed
- 1 inch ginger – grated (a microplane works great for this)
- 1/3 cup gochujang
- 1/4 cup mirin
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce – optional but it really brings it together
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
How to Make this Gochujang Korean BBQ Sauce
Over a low simmer, add the avocado oil, garlic and ginger and cook long enough to soften, no more than 2 minutes. Next, add the remaining ingredients and let simmer over low heat for 10 minutes to combine. Remove from heat until ready to use.
Add sauce to grilled meats such as Smoked Baby Back Ribs. Add the sauce at the end since any sauce with sugar will burn on the grill or in the oven.
Store remaining sauce in the fridge to slather on all the things. Will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Korean BBQ Sauce for Dipping
Trust me when I tell you that you should make extras of this sauce as you will want to keep a jar on hand as your go-to Korean BBQ sauce for dipping. I often double the recipe and keep it on hand to jazz up your average frozen pizza night or for leftovers. Also, this sauce is perfect to have on hand for chicken wings and as the base for an Asian style pizza. Trust me when I tell you that this sauce is so addictive you will find ways to use it!
Gochujang Korean BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2-3 cloves garlic - crushed
- 1 inch ginger - grated a microplane works great for this
- ⅓ cup gochujang
- ¼ cup mirin
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce - optional but it really brings it together
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
Instructions
- Over a low simmer, add the avocado oil, garlic and ginger and cook long enough to soften, no more than 2 minutes. Next, add the remaining ingredients and let simmer over low heat for 10 minutes to combine. Remove from heat until ready to use.
- Add sauce to grilled meats such as Smoked Baby Back Ribs. Add the sauce at the end since any sauce with sugar will burn on the grill or in the oven.
Excellent recipe for the best tasting barbeque sauce I have every had. Thank you so much.
Excellent recipe I will use this all the time now. Thank you
glad you love it Nanette! If you go on pinterest def leave a review there too! Many thanks!
I can only comment on how this smells as it’s cooking. It tastes fantastic and I can’t wait to brush this onto my meat. I cooked my 4lbs of ribs in a 250 degree oven for 4 hours. I’ll finish this up under the broiler to caramelize the BBQ sauce. My mouth is watering…
I made this for our rib’s last night! I put this on half of the ribs and then Sweet Baby Rays on the other half, just in case my kids or “picky” in-laws didn’t like it. Well, it was a hit and I was asked to make it again! I’m making a double batch to keep on hand when grilling. Make this. You can find everything you need in your grocery store or Amazon.
can I use for chicken on the grill
I haven’t tried that but I believe it would be amazing! When you try let me know your thoughts!!!
So glad it was a hit! I find that these fermented Korean spice pasts like Gochu and misos add so much flavor to sauces. I will be doing more of these kind of BBQ recipes in teh future!!
This is the best Korean barbecue sauce I have ever tasted. I used it on ribs, frozen meatballs, and in some baked beans. I made a pizza with the leftover sauce and meatballs. All were incredible.
so glad you love this recipe!!
I made this sauce exactly as the recipe states. It’s exceptional! My favorite go to sauce for anything.
so glad you are enjoying Ronald! we should rename it “comeback sauce” lol!
Truly as good and easy as everyone commented! Delicious!
so glad you love! spread the word!
Very nice.
I mix with Mayo for salsa dressing and dipping sauce.
This recipe slays.
We smoked pork belly for about 6 hours, cut it into chunks, tossed it in the sauce and put it back in the smoker for another 2 hours, uncovered. That pork belly with this sauce was out of this world, and I would have happily paid to eat it in a restaurant. Amazing flavor.
I went heavy on the garlic and used balsamic vinegar in place of the mirin since we didn’t have any on hand. Absolute keeper recipe.
So glad you loved this recipe! Thanks for leaving a review!!
So delicious!! This is a great recipe. Loaded with flavor and the right amount of spice. Rich and savory. I love it.
I had a wonderful overnight marinade for BBQ Korean chicken thighs, which of course takes some planning! I get the same intense flavor by whipping up this glaze and coating the chicken several times in the last few minutes of grilling. Great on shrimp and beef, as well!
This will definitely become your grilling “go to” bbq sauce.
Hi Scott, I’m so glad to hear you love this recipe and it is saving you time! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! 🙂
So glad you love it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! 🙂