Description
Korean Chicken Bao Buns combine tender chicken in a sweet and spicy sauce with fluffy, pillowy bao buns, creating the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Easy to make and customizable, these buns are a fun, flavorful twist on a classic favorite. Perfect for dinner parties or casual meals, they’ll quickly become a go-to dish in your recipe collection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients for Chicken:
- 500g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
For Bao Buns:
- 10–12 pre-made bao buns (or homemade using 300g all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 150ml warm water)
For Toppings:
- Sliced cucumber (optional)
- Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
- Sliced green onions (optional)
- Pickled vegetables (optional)
Ingredient Notes:
- Gochujang is key for flavor, but if you can’t find it, try using chili flakes with soy sauce.
- For a vegetarian version, swap chicken for crispy tofu or tempeh.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce and bao buns for a gluten-free version.
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken Marinade: In a bowl, mix soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, gochujang, garlic, rice vinegar, and ginger. Add chicken pieces and marinate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Steam the Bao Buns: Steam pre-made bao buns according to package instructions, or steam homemade bao buns for 10-12 minutes until fluffy.
- Assemble the Bao Buns: Open each bao bun and fill with cooked chicken. Garnish with sesame seeds, cucumber slices, cilantro, green onions, and pickled vegetables.
- Serve: Serve the assembled bao buns warm, ready to enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: Fry chicken in batches for even crispiness.
- Toast sesame seeds: Toast them lightly for extra flavor before garnishing.
- For more spice: Add more gochujang or drizzle chili oil over the buns.
- For fluffier buns: Steam bao buns until soft but not soggy. Avoid over-steaming.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Fried
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bao bun
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Korean Chicken Bao Buns, Asian Buns, Gochujang Chicken, Bao Bun Recipe, Korean Street Food, Spicy Chicken Buns