You don’t have to be familiar with Korean cooking to bring a lot of Asian flavors to your dinner table, thanks to this Korean gochujang marinade recipe!
By adding this Korean red chili paste to a number of pantry ingredients (that you likely already have on hand), you’ll create a marinade that’s full of layers of flavor.
Plus, it is versatile to use with many different meats, from steak, to chicken, to pork.
It’s one of our new favorite recipes for an easy weeknight meal and we know you’ll love this easy take on Korean food as well.

Benefits of Using a Marinade
We love experimenting with different marinades.
It’s an easy way to add more flavor to your meat and it also helps to tenderize your protein, resulting in a juicier, more tender bite!
We have had a lot of success coming up with our Coca Cola Steak Marinade, our Nobu Copycat Miso Marinated Black Cod Recipe, and even our citrus-forward Cuban pork marinade.
We especially love the Korean marinade used for our Beef Flanken Short Ribs Recipe which is similar to what you might find at a Korean BBQ restaurant.
While that Korean marinade is sweet thanks to brown sugar, soy sauce, and Asian pears, this gochujang marinate is much more complex with a bit of heat and lots of savory flavor.

What is Gochujang Sauce?
Gochujang paste is a spicy sauce that is very popular in Korean cuisine.
It is a red chili paste that is made with glutinous rice, gochu-garo, meju powder, yeotgireum, and salt.
What makes the Korean chili paste unique is that it is fermented.
The fermentation brings a tang to offset the sweetness and saltiness of the spicy gochujang sauce.
The sauce is packed with deep umami flavor and brings a lot of Asian flavor to the marinade.
You can find gochujang sauce online, at an Asian market, or in the international flavors aisle of a traditional grocery store.

What Kind of Meat goes well with this Korean Gochujang Marinade?
This spicy marinade is very versatile. A number of proteins pair well with this gochujang marinade.
- Beef – We absolutely LOVE this marinade with steak. No matter the cut of steak, it will add many layers of flavor. You could also try this recipe with short ribs and flanken ribs.
- Chicken – Looking to add some zing to boring old chicken? Use marinated chicken breasts or chicken thighs for an amazing meal. We might even try it on chicken wings!
- Pork – Another great option is to use pork. Reach for pork tenderloins to slice into sliders or use the marinade to pack flavor into pork chops or pork belly.

How to Serve Gochujang Marinated Meat?
The meat is so flavorful that it’s great as a main dish all on its own. But if you’re looking for more options there are many delicious ways to serve the meat you prepare with this gochujang marinade:
- Korean Rice Bowls – Slice your gochujang marinated steak or chicken and serve it over white or brown rice. Pair the bowl with kimchi, pickled cucumbers, spring onions, additional gochujang sauce and sesame seeds.
- Asian Fusion Tacos – Looks for Asian fusion at home? Make it in a taco! Stuff the gochujang marinated meat in a flour tortilla with coleslaw, pickled red onions, and kimchi for a delicious twist on taco Tuesday.
- Korean Sliders – Use sliced pork tenderloin or sliced steak in sweet Hawaiian buns and top with marinated pickled vegetables for a unique take on traditional sliders and sandwiches.
- Asian Nachos – Start with our wonton chips air fryer recipe to make a crispy wonton base for your nachos. Top with the chopped gochujang marinated meat, avocado, spicy mayo, and green onion for an Asian-infused nacho appetizer.

Korean Gochujang Marinade Recipe for Beef, Chicken, and Pork
Prep Time: 5 Minutes, Plus Time to Marinade
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
Yield: 1 cup of marinade
Ingredients:
- 4 Steaks (you can also use chicken or pork)
- ⅓ cup gochujang sauce
- ⅓ cup sesame oil or olive oil
- ⅓ cup or rice vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves of fresh garlic, smashed
- 1 tsp of fresh minced ginger
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Directions:
- Whisk all of the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl. Reserve 2 Tablespoons of the marinade in a separate small bowl for glazing the meat later on.
- Add the steaks (or the protein of your choice) to the rest of the marinade, fully cover the meat with the marinade, then store in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Once marinated and ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium heat. Remove the meat from the marinade and place directly on the grill.
- Grill the meat on medium-high heat until cooked to your desired internal temperature.
- Glaze your meat with the reserved marinade for the final minute.
- Let the steak rest for 5 minutes, slice, and serve on brown or white rice with your favorite Asian bowl toppings like pickled vegetables, green onions, kimchi, or additional gochujang sauce for extra spice.

Korean Gochujang Marinade Recipe for Beef, Chicken, and Pork
This Korean Gochujang Marinade adds incredible sweet, spicy, and savory flavors. Try it with steaks, chicken or even pork!
Ingredients
- 4 Steaks (you can also use chicken or pork)
- ⅓ cup gochujang sauce
- ⅓ cup sesame oil or olive oil
- ⅓ cup or rice vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves of fresh garlic, smashed
- 1 tsp of fresh minced ginger
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk all of the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl. Reserve 2 Tablespoons of the marinade in a separate small bowl for glazing the meat later on.
- Add the steaks (or the protein of your choice) to the rest of the marinade, fully cover the meat with the marinade, then store in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Once marinated and ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium heat. Remove the meat from the marinade and place directly on the grill.
- Grill the meat on medium-high heat until cooked to your desired internal temperature.
- Glaze your meat with the reserved marinade for the final minute.
- Let the steak rest for 5 minutes, slice, and serve on brown or white rice with your favorite Asian bowl toppings like pickled vegetables, green onions, kimchi, or additional gochujang sauce for extra spice.
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