47 Gochujang Recipes With Big, Bold Flavor
A staple of Korean cooking, gochujang forms the backbone of classics like tteokbokki, dakgalbi, and bibimbap, but its uses extend far beyond traditional dishes. Stir it into marinades and glazes, whisk it into sauces and soups, or combine it with butter, mayonnaise, or cream for an instant flavor boost.
The recipes below include quick weeknight dinners, slurpable noodle dishes, bubbling stews, sandwiches, grilled meats, and vegetable sides. Because gochujang’s heat level varies by brand, taste as you cook and adjust the amount accordingly. And don’t confuse it with gochugaru: The latter is a Korean red pepper powder, while gochujang is a thick, fermented paste with a more complex sweet-savory flavor.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht1/47Gochujang Chicken Stir-Fry
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Gerri Williams2/47Gochujang-Butter-Braised Tofu
Firm tofu simmers in a savory mixture of gochujang, soy sauce, garlic, and onion, then gets finished with butter for a silky, richly flavored sauce.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Kat Boytsova3/47Tteokbokki
Simmer chewy Korean rice cakes in a savory gochujang-based sauce. Crisp-tender bok choy provides freshness and balance in every satisfying bite.
Photograph by Bre Furlong, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht4/47Creamy Gochujang Gnocchi
Shelf-stable gnocchi stand in for the rice cakes in this playful tteokbokki-inspired dinner, complete with broccoli, hot dogs, and a creamy gochujang sauce.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht5/47Cheesy Buldak (Fire Chicken) With Rice Cakes
Gochujang and gochugaru (Korean chile flakes) give this one-pan chicken dinner serious heat, balanced by chewy rice cakes and a bubbling blanket of melted mozzarella.
Alex Lau6/47Kimchi Udon With Scallions
Butter, caramelized kimchi, and gochujang form a glossy, savory sauce for chewy udon, finished with rich egg yolks, scallions, and sesame seeds.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie7/47Gochujang Sloppy Joes
Smoky-sweet gochujang lends savory depth and gentle heat to these unapologetically messy sandwiches inspired by deputy food editor Hana Asbrink’s childhood.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio8/47Sticky and Spicy Baked Cauliflower
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi11/47Gochujang Turkey Sweet Potatoes
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Dayna Seman.12/47Gochujang-Sesame Noodles
Photograph by Cody Guilfoyle, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie, Food Styling by Thu Buser15/47Spicy Kimchi Sujebi
Simmer chewy hand-torn noodles directly in a warming kimchi soup enriched with ground meat, garlic, fish sauce, and a heaping spoonful of gochujang.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Emma Ringness16/47Sulguk (Alcohol Stew)
This restorative Korean stew combines instant ramyun, mushrooms, fish cakes, and pork belly or blood sausage in a fiery gochujang-and-gochugaru broth.
Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Cyd McDowell. Prop Styling by Paige Hicks18/47Crispy Rice Cakes With Halloumi Cheese and Gochujang Brown Butter
Toasty rice cakes, seared halloumi, jammy eggs, and greens become especially decadent under a nutty brown butter sauce sharpened with gochujang.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, and Prop Styling by Christina Allen19/47Buldak Chicken Parm
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley20/47Bulgogi Tofu Burgers
Grilled tofu absorbs a bulgogi-inspired marinade of pear, ginger, soy, and sesame, then gets glazed with gochujang and stacked on buns with tangy pickled cucumbers.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Emma Ringness21/47Kong-Bul (Soybean Sprouts and Bulgogi)
Photograph by Cody Guilfoyle, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie, Food Styling Thu Buser22/47Spicy Sausage Ragù With Scissor-Cut Noodles
Gochujang and plenty of butter transform sausage into a glossy, sweet-spicy ragù that works equally well with store-bought or handmade noodles.
Matt Haas23/47Parachute's Steak-and-Egg Bibimbap
Steak, vegetables, egg, and rice form a restaurant-worthy bibimbap that you can recreate without a specialty dolsot bowl by crisping the rice in a skillet.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styled by Sean Dooley24/47Gochujang-Glazed Fried Chicken Sandwich
Brush sesame-crusted fried chicken thighs with a sticky gochujang glaze, then pile them onto soft potato buns with dill mayo, lettuce, and pickles.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman25/47Crispy Pork Cutlets With Kimchi Slaw
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman26/47Inside-Out Kimchi Grilled Cheese
Tangy kimchi and molten cheese fill these crisp sandwiches, while gochujang mayonnaise adds savory heat to the familiar grilled cheese format.
Alex Lau27/47Gochujang-Ranch Crispy Chicken Bowl
Crispy panko-coated chicken, rice, avocado, and crunchy cabbage make a substantial rice bowl, tied together by a creamy, tangy gochujang-ranch sauce.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams29/47Spicy Shrimp Endive Spears
Toss chopped shrimp with mayo, gochujang, sesame oil, and scallions, then spoon the mixture into crisp endive leaves for an easy party appetizer.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones30/47Crispy Pan-Fried Shrimp With Cabbage Slaw and Gochujang Mayo
Photograph by Jenny Huang, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Martha Bernabe31/47Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Gochujang Brown Butter
Crisp-edged roasted brussels sprouts meet nutty brown butter and sweet-spicy gochujang in a boldly flavored side finished with scallions and walnuts.
Photograph by Peden + Munk, Food Styling by Diana Yen, Prop Styling by Hannah Ferrara32/47Spicy Korean-Style Grilled Corn
Slather charred corn with a creamy gochujang-lime sauce, then shower with Cotija, cilantro, and chile powder for a Korean-inspired take on elotes.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime33/47Spicy Braised Eggplant Noodles
Golden eggplant and wide rice noodles are coated in a glossy sauce built from gochujang, miso, tomato paste, butter, garlic, and ginger.
Danny Kim34/47Gochujang-and-Sesame-Roasted Winter Squash
Coat butternut squash in a savory gochujang-sesame glaze before roasting for an umami-rich side. Or swap in kabocha, acorn, or delicata squash, depending on what’s available.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Ayesha Patel35/47Crunchy Gochujang Fennel
Crisp fennel coated in a spicy gochujang dressing makes a refreshing banchan or sharply flavored accompaniment to grilled meats like Korean barbecue.
Alex Lau38/47Tofu and Kimchi Stew
Soft tofu and tender vegetables simmer in a warming kimchi broth seasoned with gochujang, creating an easy meatless stew for cold-weather dinners.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman39/47Spicy Kimchi–Sweet Potato Fritters
Alex Lau40/47Gochujang-Marinated Skirt Steak
Quick-cooking skirt steak takes especially well to a bold gochujang marinade, making this a flavorful centerpiece for an easy summer grilling menu.
Marcus Nilsson41/47Steakhouse Salad With Red Chile Dressing and Peanuts
Gochujang gives both the marinade and dressing for this grilled steak salad savory depth, balanced by crisp vegetables and chile-dusted peanuts.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food styling by D'mytrek Brown43/47Hoisin-and-Balsamic-Glazed Lamb Chops
Hoisin, balsamic vinegar, and gochujang form both the marinade and glossy finishing glaze for these boldly seasoned, dinner-party-worthy lamb chops.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson44/47Grilled Pork Ribs with Gochujang Barbecue Sauce
47/47Korean Fried Chicken Wings
This gochujang recipe sees twice-fried chicken wings lacquered with a sticky glaze flavored with soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, and vinegar. Serve extra sauce alongside.
