Air Fryer Sweet Spicy Gochujang Chicken Skewers

A quick, flavor-packed weeknight meal with minimal clean-up, this recipe balances savory, sweet, and smoky spicy Korean-inspired flavors perfectly.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar

  • ¼ cup gochujang (Korean chili paste)

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use tamari for a gluten-free swap)

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

  • 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic

  • 1 teaspoon prepared ginger paste

  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

  • 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces

  • Chopped green onions (for garnish)

  • Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)

  • Wooden or metal skewers (soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before use to prevent burning)

Directions

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the dark brown sugar, gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger paste, and smoked paprika until you get a smooth, evenly combined marinade.

  2. Add all cut chicken pieces to the bowl, and toss thoroughly to coat every chunk in the marinade. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate to marinate for at least 1 hour (for deeper flavor, marinate overnight for up to 8 hours).

  3. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Thread the marinated chicken pieces evenly onto your prepared skewers.

  4. Arrange the skewers in a single, non-overlapping layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 6 minutes, then flip the skewers and cook for another 6 minutes. Confirm the chicken is fully cooked by checking the thickest piece with an instant-read thermometer: it should read 165°F (74°C) when done. Add 2-3 extra minutes of cook time if needed.

  5. Transfer the finished skewers to serving plates, top with a sprinkle of chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds, and serve warm.