Korean Bbq Sauce

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 31, 2023

korean bbq sauce in a bowl with a spoon. - 4

This spicy Korean BBQ Sauce will give a delicious kick to any recipe! A mixture of soy sauce, ginger, chili-garlic sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and more come together to create a flavor profile that will really wow. Use this as a marinade or dipping sauce with chicken thighs and wings, veggies, or any of your KBBQ favorites!

three-quarters view of a spoon stirring korean bbq sauce in a glass bowl. - 5

What’s in this Korean BBQ Sauce Recipe?

A mixture of sweet, sour, savory, spicy, and umami flavors make this Asian-inspired BBQ sauce instantly crave-able. Perfect for serving with Korean BBQ Chicken !

Soy Sauce: Adds a savory and umami element.
Brown Sugar: Sweetens the sauce.
Water: Helps the ingredients in the sauce to emulsify.
Mirin : A type of sweetened rice wine (sake) that adds a distinctive sweetness.
Sesame Oil: Adds nuttiness.
Rice Vinegar: Adds a bit of tanginess.
Chili-Garlic Sauce: Adds signature spice to this Korean BBQ sauce.
Ginger + Garlic: Add a spicy and earthy flavor.
Black Pepper: Enhances the spice.
Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce.

Pro Tip: Substitute gochujang for the chili garlic sauce for an extra kick of flavor!

Variations on KBBQ Dipping Sauce

For a spicier Korean BBQ sauce, increase the amount of chili-garlic sauce, or add some gochujang paste. Add some pineapple juice for a tropical twist, or some juiced fresh citrus for a tangier sauce.

For a smokier sauce, add some smoked paprika or liquid smoke. Or for a traditional touch of sweetness, blend or grate a ripe Korean or Asian pear, then add it to the sauce.

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Korean BBQ sauce is made of soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic. We use chili-garlic sauce in ours for extra spice, but you can also use the more traditional choice, gochujang.

American BBQ sauce tends to be sweet, smoky, and tomato based. Korean BBQ sauce has a greater balance of flavors and is red chili pepper based.

Yes, this sauce should be spicy. If you’re not a fan of spice, you can leave out the chili-garlic sauce (or use less).

three-quarters view of korean barbecue sauce in a glass bowl with a spoon. - 7

How to Store

Store Korean BBQ sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

How to Freeze

Freeze KBBQ sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.

Serving Suggestions

Use this luscious sauce on baked Korean hot wings , beef bulgogi , pan-seared chicken , oven baked ribs , or grilled ribeyes . For dipping, this BBQ sauce goes great with cauliflower wings , grilled chicken wings , or even french fries .

three-quarters view of kbbq sauce being scooped from a glass bowl with a spoon to show the viscosity. - 8

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce
▢ ¾ cup brown sugar
▢ ¼ cup water
▢ ¼ cup mirin
▢ 2 tablespoons sesame oil
▢ 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
▢ 1-4 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce such as Sriracha
▢ 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
▢ 2 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water

Video

Instructions

Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, mirin, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili-garlic sauce, ginger, garlic and pepper to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer. ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ¾ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup water, ¼ cup mirin, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1-4 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce, 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, 4 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
In a small bowl, stir the cornstarch and water together. 2 tablespoon cornstarch
Remove the pot from the heat, add the cornstarch slurry and whisk to combine. Return the sauce to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Use in your favorite recipes.

Becky’s Tips

Substitute gochujang for the chili garlic sauce for an extra kick of flavor!
Light or dark brown sugar work in this recipe.
For a gluten-free alternative, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Sauce Recipes We Love

Homemade BBQ Sauce
Chick Fil A Sauce
Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
Honey Mustard Sauce
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Buffalo Sauce
Bang Bang Sauce
Tartar Sauce

Korean BBQ Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup water
¼ cup mirin
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1-4 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce such as Sriracha
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
4 cloves garlic minced
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, mirin, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili-garlic sauce, ginger, garlic and pepper to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer. ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ¾ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup water, ¼ cup mirin, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1-4 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce, 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, 4 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
In a small bowl, stir the cornstarch and water together. 2 tablespoon cornstarch
Remove the pot from the heat, add the cornstarch slurry and whisk to combine. Return the sauce to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Use in your favorite recipes.

Video

Notes

Substitute gochujang for the chili garlic sauce for an extra kick of flavor!
Light or dark brown sugar work in this recipe.
For a gluten-free alternative, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

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What to Buy at the Grocery Store

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