Korean Grilled Chicken Breasts
Korean Grilled Chicken BreastsI love Korean food, and these grilled Korean chicken breasts are no exception! The marinade takes boring breast meat and transforms it into a delicious dish great served over rice, as a lettuce wrap or as part of a bowl. More Korean dishes I love are these easy Korean Beef Bowls, Gochujang Glazed Salmon and these Korean inspired Gochujang Glazed Meatballs.
This is the BEST grilled chicken recipe! Not just because I’m obsessed with Korean food, it’s just so juicy and flavorful, and this is coming from a girl her prefers dark meat. It’s also quick and easy to make, perfect for weeknight grilling.
The marinade is so good you’ll never want to buy the bottle stuff, I promise! You can serve the chicken over rice, or with a simple veggie slaw. If you make this, please come back and leave a comment telling me what you think – enjoy!
Tips and Variations
- So the chicken cooks evenly place the chicken breasts, 1 at a time, in a Ziploc bag. Pound the chicken breast to an even thickness, about ½ inch thick, being careful not to puncture the bag.
- If you prefer dark meat you can also use this on boneless chicken thighs.
- To make them into kabobs, cut the chicken in cubes and marinate, then thread onto skewers.
More Korean Recipes You Will Love
Korean Grilled Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 1 pound 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise
- 1/4 cup low sodium or gluten-free soy sauce
- 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, plus more for topping
- 2 thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts, 1 at a time, in a Ziploc bag. Pound the chicken breast to an even thickness, about ½ inch thick, being careful not to puncture the bag.
- In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, apple sauce, onion, sesame oil, ginger, brown sugar, garlic, red pepper flakes, if using and sesame seeds. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade and transfer the remainder to the Ziploc bag with the chicken. Refrigerate and marinate for at least 1 hour.
- Over medium-high heat, grill the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes or until it no longer sticks to the grill. Turn the chicken, spoon the reserved ¼ cup of marinade over each breast and grill an addition 2 to 3 minutes.
This is one of the best recipes I’ve ever made it was so flavorful and I made a cucumber salad with it, it was the perfect side dish. I cut back the heat just a bit but I think I cut it too much I’d have liked a little more. Hubby raved about it so that made me happy! Thank you.
Super happy I stumbled upon this recipe. It’s very flavourful and will be a regular rotation now in our weekly meal prep.
So delicious! This makes a perfect topper to a salad or chopped slaw. I made this for meal prep and everyone was jealous of the fantastic smell. Flavorful!
Everyone loved it! My kids are fairly picky as is my mother, but everyone enjoyed it! Made it in the airfryer because I didn’t have a good way to grill and it was perfect!
Hi, how long and at what temp did you do in the air fryer? I’m making this tonight and think I will do it this way. Thanks!
Absolutely delicious!! Perfect for us as written, I served it over quinoa. Thank you for all you do for all of us!!
Delicious and in my rotation! I never have applesauce, so I simmer a cut-up peeled apple with water to make my own. Red pepper flakes are not optional! I use whatever chicken I have on hand, most recently chicken tenders that I smashed with a rolling pin, and I pan fry. This flavor profile would also be great with shrimp or tofu. Great over brown rice with steamed broccoli.
going to make this over the weekend.
Love this site.
This was absolutely delicious!! Will be making it again soon!
Very tasty and juicy indeed this is now my favorite way to grill chicken, I used a magic bullet to combine the ingredients this allowed me to use a whole apple (no applesauce) but I read someone used a pear will have to try that depending on the season.
Love this recipe, the marinade makes it great. I did let it go 24 hours, and then grilled. Had it with some steamed broccoil, angel hair pasta and sliced peaches, with thai basil, chives more sesame seeds as a side. (A favorite chicken recipe and I am not even wild about Asian usually but this I love. )
Hi, I’m excited to try this recipe. Do I need to use regular sesame oil or is toasted sesame oil also a good option?
Thanks!
Toasted would give it a better flavor. I use it on a lot of Asian dishes
What type of side dish would anyone recommend, I’m kinda into quinoa right now.
Thanks!
I don’t have any applesauce. Could I substitute honey?
I used a grated pear! Perfect
Super tasty!
I made this tonight despite my husband being less than excited when I told him we were having “grilled chicken breasts” for dinner….we both LOVED it & he is as big of a fan of your recipes as I am. Thank you!
A very interesting marinade but well worth it . Great tasting 👏
This was quick, easy and oh so tasty. I didn’t have brown sugar and we like a little heat so I added Thai sweet chili sauce in place of the sugar and a squirt of sriracha in lieu of red pepper. Really tasty with the Asian jar salad also on this site. Thanks Gina!
If you are avoiding soy will this recipe work with coconut aminos or will it not be as tasty?
I swapped the apple juice with Mirin and the chicken was absolutely delicious ….. I highly recommend this recipe
DELICIOUS! I reduced the red pepper flakes to 1/4 tsp (1 tsp would have been too much for us), and I didn’t include onions because my husband doesn’t like them. The chicken was still very tasty. I will definitely be making again.
Where/ when do I add the scallions? The direction do not tell us.
at the end for garnish
I am really enjoying the meals. Korean chicken fab. Very Moorish.
Hi Gina & blog readers – what indoor grill would any of you recommend? I would love to get one & try out this recipe
I have made these on my Staub grill pan and can out great!
This was excellent, I only used 1/4 t red pepper flakes. I up it to 1/2 t next time. My husband does not like too much heat.
Delicious. I made this using 3.89 pounds of chicken so I adjusted the quantity of ingredients. I don’t have a girll so I did half in the air fryer for 30 minutes and I baked the other half in the oven at 425 for about 45 minutes. Delicious!
Delicious! Even my picky hubby said it was good.
Wanted to say thank you for posting recipes with WW points and nutrition. I appreciate it.
I don’t have apple juice… what substitute can I use?
Can I throw in apple sauce or is that gross? Lol
I think it does say applesauce, so your good!