Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine Delight Recipe

Quick & Flavorful Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine Recipe

Gochujang chicken fettuccine blends Korean and Italian culinary traditions in a wildly unexpected fusion dish.

Fiery red pepper paste crafts ordinary pasta into an extraordinary taste adventure.

Creamy sauce carries deep umami undertones that dance across your palate with surprising complexity.

Bold spices intertwine seamlessly, creating layers of intense flavor that challenge conventional comfort food expectations.

Silky noodles provide the perfect canvas for this vibrant, heat-packed culinary creation.

Home cooks eager to break free from mundane meal routines will find this recipe both exciting and approachable.

Sophisticated yet simple, this dish promises to elevate your dinner game with minimal effort.

Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine: A Spicy Italian Twist

  • Fusion Flavor Explosion: Combine Korean gochujang's spicy kick with classic Italian pasta for a mind-blowing taste experience that breaks culinary boundaries and surprises your taste buds.
  • Quick Weeknight Warrior: Prepare a restaurant-quality meal in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy professionals who crave delicious, complex flavors without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Creamy Texture Magic: Enjoy a luxurious sauce that seamlessly blends spicy gochujang, silky heavy cream, and rich Parmesan cheese, creating a velvety coating that clings perfectly to every pasta strand.

Ingredients for Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine

Pasta and Noodles:
  • Fettuccine: Dried pasta that provides the base for the dish, perfect for holding creamy sauces.
Protein:
  • Chicken Thighs: Tender and flavorful meat that adds richness and protein to the recipe, preferably boneless and skinless.
Sauce Ingredients:
  • Gochujang: Korean chili paste that brings spicy and sweet complexity to the sauce.
  • Soy Sauce: Adds depth and umami flavor to enhance the overall taste.
  • Honey: Provides sweetness and helps balance the spicy gochujang.
  • Heavy Cream: Creates a luxurious and smooth sauce texture.
  • Egg Yolks: Helps to thicken and enrich the sauce with a silky consistency.
  • Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, nutty flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
Aromatics and Seasonings:
  • Scallions: Adds fresh, mild onion flavor and provides a bright garnish.
  • Garlic: Brings intense, aromatic flavor to the chicken and sauce.
  • Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance the overall taste of the dish.
Cooking Ingredients:
  • Olive Oil: Used for searing chicken and preventing sticking in the skillet.
  • Pasta Water: Helps to adjust sauce consistency and adds starchy richness.

How to Cook Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine

Step 1: Whip Up Flavor Boosters

  • Gochujang
  • Soy sauce
  • Honey
  • Heavy cream
  • Egg yolks
  • Parmesan cheese

In a small bowl, blend gochujang, soy sauce, and honey. In another bowl, whisk heavy cream with egg yolks. Grate Parmesan cheese until you have 1 firmly packed cup.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta Perfectly

Drop dried fettuccine into boiling water. Cook according to package instructions for al dente texture, typically 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 3: Sear the Chicken with Flair

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with kosher salt and pepper. Sear undisturbed until golden-brown on one side, about 5-6 minutes. Toss in most of the scallions and garlic, cooking until aromatic.

Step 4: Create the Magic Sauce

Drain pasta, reserving pasta water. Momentarily turn off skillet heat. Reheat to medium-high, add gochujang mixture, and cook 1 minute until thickened. Pour in cream mixture and Parmesan, stirring until sauce becomes glossy and pink.

Step 5: Bring It All Together

Fold pasta into the sauce, gradually adding reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency. Sprinkle reserved scallions and extra Parmesan on top for a finishing touch.

Tips for Perfect Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine

  • Master Pasta Doneness: Test fettuccine's al dente perfection by tasting a strand – it should have a slight resistance when biting, ensuring a satisfying texture without being too soft or hard.
  • Prevent Sauce Separation: Temper the egg yolks by slowly whisking in a bit of hot sauce before adding to the skillet, preventing scrambling and creating a smooth, creamy consistency.
  • Maximize Chicken Flavor: Pat chicken thighs dry before seasoning to ensure a golden-brown sear, which locks in juices and develops deep, rich flavor profiles.
  • Control Sauce Consistency: Reserve pasta water is your secret weapon – add gradually to adjust sauce thickness, creating a silky, clingy coating that perfectly embraces the fettuccine.
  • Enhance Spice Balance: Adjust gochujang quantity based on personal heat preference, starting with less and tasting as you go to achieve the perfect level of Korean-inspired zesty kick.

Storing and Reheating Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine

  • Refrigeration: Transfer leftover Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent moisture loss.
  • Reheating Method: Gently warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of pasta water or cream to restore moisture and prevent drying. Stir continuously to distribute heat evenly and prevent sticking. Alternatively, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure uniform heating.
  • Storage Tip: Avoid freezing this dish, as the cream-based sauce and pasta may separate and lose texture when thawed. For best quality, consume refrigerated leftovers within two days and reheat just before serving.

Pairing Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine with Sides

  • Pair with Crisp White Wine: Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the rich, spicy gochujang sauce, balancing the creamy and tangy flavors with its bright acidity and refreshing notes.
  • Complement with Korean Beer: Crisp, light Korean lagers like Cass or Hite perfectly match the dish's Korean-Italian fusion, cleansing the palate between bites of creamy, spicy chicken fettuccine.
  • Enhance with Fresh Side Salad: Create a light cucumber and mixed green salad with a zesty rice vinegar dressing to provide a cool, crisp contrast to the rich, creamy pasta, adding freshness and balance to the meal.
  • Cool Down with Kimchi Slaw: Prepare a quick kimchi-based slaw with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a tangy dressing to add crunch and acidity, which beautifully complements the creamy, spicy chicken fettuccine.

Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine: Variations to Try

  • Spicy Korean Fusion Pasta: Swap chicken thighs with shrimp or tofu for a seafood or vegetarian alternative, adding extra gochujang for more intense heat.
  • Veggie-Loaded Korean Noodle Bowl: Incorporate roasted bell peppers, mushrooms, and spinach into the pasta, creating a nutrient-rich version with added texture and color.
  • Creamy Sesame Gochujang Fettuccine: Blend in toasted sesame oil and seeds for a nutty undertone, enhancing the sauce's depth and providing a subtle Korean-inspired complexity.
  • Light Mediterranean Gochujang Pasta: Replace heavy cream with Greek yogurt, reduce honey, and sprinkle fresh herbs like basil and parsley for a lighter, tangier profile that maintains the original recipe's zesty character.
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Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine Delight Recipe

Gochujang Chicken Fettuccine Delight Recipe


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4.6 from 29 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Korean-inspired gochujang chicken fettuccine brings fiery spice and creamy comfort to pasta lovers. Rich chili pepper sauce mingles with tender chicken and silky noodles, creating a bold fusion dish that satisfies cravings for global flavors.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Protein:

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (454 grams)

Pasta and Fresh Ingredients:

  • 1 pound dried fettuccine pasta (454 grams)
  • 3 medium scallions
  • 5 cloves garlic

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving (57 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  1. Fill a large pot with water, add generous salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Carefully slice scallions, reserving for final garnish. Mince garlic finely. Cut chicken thighs into uniform 1-inch (2.54 centimeters) cubes.
  2. Create sauce bases by whisking gochujang, soy sauce, and honey in one bowl. In a separate container, blend heavy cream with egg yolks until smooth. Grate Parmesan cheese, ensuring one firmly packed cup (approximately 100 grams).
  3. Submerge fettuccine into boiling water, cooking for 8 to 10 minutes until perfectly al dente. Periodically stir to prevent pasta from sticking together.
  4. Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sear meat without disturbing, allowing golden-brown crust to develop, approximately 5-6 minutes. Introduce chopped scallions and garlic, sautéing until aromatic.
  5. Carefully drain pasta, reserving starchy cooking liquid. Temporarily remove skillet from heat. Reignite burner to medium-high, pour gochujang mixture, and simmer until slightly thickened. Incorporate cream and Parmesan, stirring continuously until sauce transforms into a glossy, pink consistency.
  6. Delicately fold pasta into prepared sauce, incrementally adding reserved liquid to achieve desired creamy texture. Elegantly garnish with reserved scallion snippets and additional Parmesan cheese shavings.

Notes

  • Spice Level Customization: Adjust the gochujang quantity to control the heat intensity, making this dish adaptable for different spice tolerances.
  • Protein Flexibility: Chicken thighs provide rich flavor, but you can easily substitute with chicken breasts or even shrimp for variety.
  • Sauce Consistency Tip: Reserved pasta water is crucial for creating a smooth, silky sauce that perfectly coats the fettuccine.
  • Cheese Selection: Freshly grated Parmesan delivers superior flavor compared to pre-packaged alternatives, enhancing the overall taste profile.
  • Cooking Technique: Searing chicken undisturbed allows for a beautiful golden-brown exterior, ensuring maximum flavor development.
  • Quick Meal Potential: From start to finish, this recipe can be prepared in approximately 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch
  • Method: Boiling, Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Korean-Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 820 kcal
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 680 mg
  • Fat: 54 g
  • Saturated Fat: 30 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 52 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 42 g
  • Cholesterol: 285 mg
Lucas Bennett

Lucas Bennett

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

Simple Everyday Recipes, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Creative Meal Planning, Recipe Testing and Improvement

Education

Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wisconsin

  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Practical culinary training, fundamental cooking techniques, meal planning, and using fresh, local ingredients.

Lake Superior College, Duluth, Minnesota

  • Program: Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems
  • Focus: Cooking methods that promote sustainability, farm-to-table practices, and eco-friendly meal creation.

Lucas Bennett’s cooking journey started in his parents’ kitchen, where he learned to prepare tasty, no-fuss meals from scratch. His culinary passion led him to Fox Valley Technical College, where he gained practical cooking skills.
He then expanded his focus on sustainability at Lake Superior College. Today, Lucas shares easy, approachable recipes designed to make cooking enjoyable and stress-free for everyone.

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