Perfect Korean BBQ Chicken Recipe - Legends of the Grill (2024)

Korean BBQ Chicken is the perfect thing to grill on the barbecue. Grilled chicken thighs are cooked to perfection on the grill, then slathered with the unique, robust flavors of Korean BBQ sauce. A fusion feast in your own backyard.

» You might also like Grilled Bourbon Pineapple.

If you haven’t tried our Korean BBQ Sauce yet, this is the perfect opportunity. This savory, sweet sauce is one of the favorites on our site, and it’s clear why.

What is Korean Chicken

Korean BBQ Chicken, also known as Dak Gogi or Dak Bulgogi, is a typical Korean dish made with a flavorful marinade or sauce featuring key ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and sugar.

While Korean BBQ can include various types of meat, the chicken variant is a crowd-pleaser with its tender texture and flavor-absorbing properties. It’s also easy to grill and is inexpensive, so it’s a pretty good option for your barbecue.

For our Korean BBQ Chicken, we use the marinade as a BBQ sauce and slather it on at the end of cooking, rather than marinating it in the sauce. This helps keep the chicken from burning on the grill, due to the sugar in the sauce.

What Temperature to Grill Chicken

When it comes to grilling chicken, temperature control is crucial. To achieve that golden-brown sear while ensuring the chicken is cooked to perfection inside, you’ll want to preheat your grill to 400° F on one side, while keeping the other side set to medium heat. This method, often referred to as two-zone grilling, allows you to sear and then slow cook your chicken for the best results.

Grilling chicken takes time and patience. After searing the chicken on the hotter side of the grill for about 5 minutes, it should be moved to the cooler side to cook indirectly for about 20 minutes.

The key to ensuring your chicken is cooked perfectly is to use a meat thermometer. There’s nothing worse than cutting into a chicken thigh and seeing pink. Aim for an internal temperature of 170° F for thighs and drumsticks, or 160° F for breasts.

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill

For this recipe, I used my Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill, which is a new offering from the kitchen appliance brand that makes our beloved favorites, the Ninja MaxXL Air Fryer and the Ninja Creami. The Woodfire Grill is a portable outdoor grill with 7 functions: grill, smoke, air fry, bake, roast, broil, and dehydrate.

Why I Like It

• It imparts an amazing amount of woodfire flavor into the food with just 1/2 cup of pellets.
• It’s incredibly fast and efficient.
• It cooks faster and with more smoker flavor than my full-size smoker – by far.
• There’s no guessing, especially with the built-in temperature probe available on the Pro version.
• The food comes out with a perfect crispy or seared exterior that’s both gorgeous and super tasty.
• It’s very portable and can be set up anywhere on a sturdy surface with a power outlet nearby.

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Ingredients You Need

You can cook as many or as few chicken pieces as you like. For about 8 pieces, you’ll need 1/2 a cup of sauce for basting. If you want to make less or more, just adjust the ratios and off you go.

• Chicken thighs and/or drumsticks – I always use skin on, bone in chicken for grilling. You can use chicken breast, if you want, but it will take much less time to grill so be mindful of that.
• Salt and pepper – Be sure to season all sides of the chicken for the best flavor.
• Korean BBQ Sauce – Check out our recipe for this delicious homemade BBQ sauce. If you don’t want to make your own, you can purchase whatever brand you like. But come on, make your own!

Equipment Needed

• Grill – I use a Weber Genesis E325 for most of my grilling, though I also have a Z Grills Smoker/Grill combo that I sometimes use. You can use whatever grill you have, whether it’s gas or charcoal.
• Propane or Charcoal – Depending on your setup.
• Grill Tools – I swear by this set of sturdy grill tools from Cuisinart that includes everything you need for grilling, like tongs, a flipper, a digital temperature fork, silicone basting brush, and more.
• Meat thermometer – Many smokers have a thermometer built in, but if you don’t have one you’ll want to get an instant-read thermometer like this awesome Thermapen.

How to Make Korean BBQ Chicken on the Grill

Preheat your grill to the recommended temperatures. Season your chicken with salt and pepper.

When the grill is ready, place your chicken on the hotter side, skin side down, to get a good sear. After about 5 minutes, flip the chicken over and move it to the cooler side of the grill.

Lower the temperature to 300° F, close the grill, and let the chicken cook for approximately 20 minutes on indirect heat.

After this initial cooking period, baste the chicken with your Korean BBQ Sauce on both sides. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes per side.

Check the internal temperature of the chicken. Once it reaches 170° F (or 160° F for breasts), remove it from the grill. If some pieces cook faster, place them on a holding rack until all pieces are ready.

Give the chicken a final baste of BBQ sauce before serving for that extra flavor kick.

The result? Perfectly grilled, flavorful Korean BBQ Chicken that’s sure to be the star of your summer cookout.

How to Store Leftovers

What if you have leftovers? Simply store the leftover Korean BBQ Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep for about 3-4 days.

Reheating is a breeze, too. For best results, reheat the chicken in the oven at 375° F for about 10-15 minutes, or until it’s heated through. This method will help maintain the chicken’s flavor and texture. I really like reheating chicken in my air fryer. If you have one, pop it in there on 400° F for 5 minutes.

Tips for the Best Chicken

• You don’t need to brine or marinate the chicken before cooking it. While this will impart a bit more flavor, it’s just extra time and you probably won’t even notice the difference. I’ve tried it. It’s such a slight difference.
• Be sure to move the chicken off the direct heat before you close the lid. Closing the lid while the chicken is over direct heat will surely result in flare ups that will burn your chicken. Burned chicken skin is a tragedy.
• Once you’ve added the BBQ sauce to the chicken, don’t close the lid. Again, you want to avoid flare ups or burning. The sauce contains sugar so it is prone to burning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you grill BBQ chicken?

The chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 170 degrees F to be done. A lot of factors can affect how long it takes to reach that temp, so there’s no “one-size-fits-all” amount of time to cook it for. In general, it will take about 30 minutes for the inside of the chicken to cook properly. Always use a meat thermometer to know for sure.

Can I use a different type of BBQ sauce?

You can use whatever BBQ sauce you like with this recipe. I personally wouldn’t skip the Korean BBQ Sauce because it’s the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and spicy. It’s a delicious addition to grilled chicken.

What other types of meat could I try?

If you’re looking for something different to try other than chicken, you could try grilling pork tenderloin, ribs, or pork chops and slathering them with this Korean BBQ Sauce.

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