Korean Chicken Wings | Air Fryer Gochujang Wing Recipe

Tangy, sweet, spicy Air Fryer Korean Chicken Wings with Gochujang make a delightful easy appetizer or meal. Make these in your air fryer or oven and enjoy the finger-licking goodness.

What Makes These Korean Chicken Wings So Good?

These wings are a perfect low-carb appetizer and I love the ease of cooking them in an air fryer. These keto Korean chicken wings are loaded with vibrant Asian flavors and take just 30 minutes to cook.

This was my third try at these wings. The first time, let's face it I had no idea how to even buy wings, let alone make them. My facebook group really helped me out with that!

But the sauce lacked a little something to me. It was good, it wasn't great. Then my friend John was talking about how he makes Korean pork tacos, and he told me that he puts mayonnaise in his sauce.

Now I'd been planning to make a dip with just mayo and gochujang, but I hadn't thought of cooking with it!

So I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did. These Low Carb Air Fryer Korean Chicken Wings take very little effort, but they are super flavorful. They're one of my best air fryer chicken recipes.

Oh, and super messy so get ready for that with lots of napkins.

What is Gochujang?

You definitely want the gochujang (pronounced go-choo-jan). No, you just REALLY want it.

Spiced, sweet umami, tangy--and nothing comes close to it. Nothing. No substitutes for this one! Don't even try. Just get it, and once you do, you can use it for the following recipes:

• Spicy Basil Beef
• Dae ji Bulgogi
• Kimchi Beef Stew

And I have no doubt I will be coming up with other recipes that need it.

Ingredients You'll Need

• 2 pounds Chicken Wings- The star of the dish. They're crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside after air frying. This amount serves about four people as an appetizer or two as a main course.
• 1 teaspoon Salt- Enhances the natural flavor of the chicken and helps draw out moisture for crispier skin during air frying.
• 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper- Adds mild heat and depth of flavor. Using gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) gives the wings an authentic Korean spice and color.
• 2 tablespoons Gochujang- A fermented Korean chili paste that provides the signature sweet, spicy, and umami base of the sauce. It’s the key flavor component of Korean-style wings
• 1 tablespoon Mayonnaise- Adds a creamy texture and helps mellow out the heat from the gochujang while helping the sauce cling to the wings.
• 1 teaspoon Agave Nectar- Contributes sweetness that balances the spice and enhances caramelization on the wings. You can substitute honey or maple syrup if preferred.
• 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil- Helps the wings crisp while providing a nutty and earthy flavor.
• 1 tablespoon Minced Ginger- Provides a sharp, slightly sweet warmth that complements the chili paste and adds freshness to the sauce.
• 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic- Deepens the savory flavor and blends beautifully with the ginger for a classic Korean flavor base.
• 2 packets Splenda- Adds additional sweetness to balance the spicy and salty elements of the sauce. Splenda keeps it lower in carbs if you’re watching sugar intake.
• 2 teaspoons Sesame Seeds- Add a pleasant crunch and subtle nutty flavor, enhancing the presentation and texture of the wings.
  1/4 cup Chopped Green Scallions- Provide a fresh, crisp garnish that adds color and brightness to the rich, spicy wings.

How To Make Korean Chicken Wings

Step 1: Salt and pepper the chicken wings. You do not need to add oil, since the chicken wings are plenty greasy enough already.

Step 2: Arrange the wings in a single layer in the Ninja air fryer basket. Cook for 10 minutes, and then use silicone tongs to flip them over, and cook for another 10 minutes

Step 3: Meanwhile mix the Gochujang Mayonnaise together with all the seasonings. You will be using this as a cooking sauce as well as a dipping sauce, because #ruthlessEfficiency!

This makes an amazing sauce, that you could also eat with these keto breaded chicken tenders.

Step 4: Check and wings with a meat thermometer and make sure they're around 160F-ish. You will be cooking them a little bit longer so you want them slightly undercooked at this stage.

Step 5: Toss HALF the gochujang sauce with the chicken wings, and put them back in the air fryer for a few more minutes. Reserve the other half as a dipping or coating sauce.

Step 6: Once the Korean Wings are fully cooked, toss in the remaining sauce and mix, or just serve it as a dipping sauce.

Tips and Tricks For Korean Chicken Wings

Making Air Fryer Korean Chicken Wings at home is easier than you might think, and a few smart tips can help you get that perfect combination of crispy texture and bold, flavorful glaze every time. Here are some helpful tricks to ensure your wings turn out restaurant-quality:

• Frozen Wings. You can cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer. I do find, however, that not only does it take a little longer, but the skin tends to not crisp up as much.
  • It's not a huge difference, and I've certainly done it. But if you have time, defrost the wings first and pat them dry with a paper towel to reduce the steaming from the moisture left on the wings.
• Sauce after cooking. You really want to cook the wings without sauce first before adding the sauce in. Otherwise, you get soggy chicken skin which is NOT attractive!
• Oven Cooking. If you're using an oven, once you've added the sauce, broil the wings to get that crisping.
• But it's not keto! Please do not write to me about how gochujang is not keto. Different people follow different rules for keto.
  • There is less than 1 teaspoon of gochujang per serving in the wings. If that doesn't work for your WOE, please select a different recipe from the blog. I would suggest the Buffalo Cauliflower Wings. They're spicy, flavorful and tasty!

Tasty Variations

One of the wonderful things about having an active, enthusiastic, capable Facebook group is that I'm surrounded by home chefs that are passionate and creative.

Martin Jacoby made this recipe using drumsticks and using a smoker instead of an air fryer. So you can make smoked Korean Chicken with the same sauce, but by using a smoker instead.

What you want to do is use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken cooks to 165F as recommended.

But look at how beautifully those turned out! They remind me of a keto fast food meal, but way more delicious. If you smoke them, be sure to leave feedback either here or in the group, letting Martin know you were inspired by him.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do They Last?

Korean chicken wings, like most cooked poultry dishes, can last in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days when stored properly.

Allow the wings to cool to room temperature (for no more than 2 hours) before storing them to prevent bacterial growth. Store the wings in an airtight container. This helps to maintain their quality and prevent them from absorbing odors from other foods in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze Them?

If you need to store the wings for a longer period, you can freeze them. Korean chicken wings can be frozen for up to 3 months. Here's how to freeze them:

• Allow the wings to cool completely.
• Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. This prevents the wings from sticking together.
• Once frozen, transfer the wings to a freezer-safe airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag.
• Label the container or bag with the date so you can keep track of the storage time.

To reheat, thaw the wings in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in the oven or microwave until hot throughout. Remember that reheating may affect the texture, especially the crispiness of the skin.

Our Best Wing Recipes

• Breaded Wings
• Mango Habanero Wings
• Baked Chicken Wings
• Hot Honey Wings
• Sticky Chicken Wings
• Garlic Parmesan Wings
• Lemon Pepper Wings
• Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

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I just know you are going to love these delicious keto air fryer Korean Chicken Wings. They are bursting with flavor and so easy and quick to make. Everyone falls in love with them and you'll be using Gochujang in so many more recipes!