I was so surprised when I learned how easy this Bibibop Chicken Recipe is. I had always imagined that a rice bowl, of Korean origin, would involve lots of cooking tricks and fancy steps. But nope, this one is simple, fast, and perfect for busy days.
I love this recipe because it’s so fresh and homemade, just like a salad, with the veggies raw, hot rice, flavorful chicken, and an enriching sauce that puts it all together. It reminds me that a delicious Korean dish doesn’t have to be complex.
Bibibop bowls are based on the popular Korean dish “bibimbap.” Yet this feels lighter and easier, with no standing over a hot stove all day. Just simple chopping, quick cooking, and great tastes in one bowl.
Why You’ll Love Bibibop Chicken
This Bibibop Chicken Recipe tastes fresh, bright, and full of flavor. Every bite has crunchy veggies, warm rice, and soft chicken. The mix feels clean and balanced.
The sauces are what make it special. The gochujang sauce has a sweet heat. The chogochujang sauce tastes sweet, spicy, and a little sour. And the soy sauce mix gives a salty, light flavor for anyone who can’t handle spice.
When you stir the whole bowl together, everything blends so well. The egg makes it creamy, the sesame oil smells nutty, and the chicken tastes savory and warm. It feels like comfort food but still very healthy.
Ingredients Required for Bibibop Chicken Recipe
Before you start, make sure you have all the following ingredients listed below for this Bibibop Chicken Recipe
For the chicken
- 300 g chicken thighs (or chicken breast)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mirin (optional)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Black pepper, a few shakes
For the veggies
- Lettuce, sliced
- Cabbage, sliced
- ¼ onion, thinly sliced (soak in cold water 5 minutes)
- 4 perilla leaves, sliced (optional but amazing)
- 1 carrot, thin matchsticks
- ½ cucumber, thin matchsticks
For sauces
- Simple Gochujang Sauce
- 2 tbsp gochujang
- Splash of water
Chogochujang Sauce (sweet–spicy–sour)
- 4 tbsp gochujang
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic
- ½ tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp Sprite (or cider)
Soy Sauce Bibibop Sauce
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp mirin (optional)
- 1 tbsp green onion, sliced
- 1 chopped mild chili
- 1 tsp garlic
- ½ tbsp sesame seeds (crushed lightly)
Kitchen Equipment Needed
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Mixing bowls
- Pan or wok
- Spoon
- Rice bowl
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
How To Make Bibibop Chicken
Just follow these easy steps to make your own Bibibop Chicken at home
1. Mix all chicken sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
2. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and mix with the sauce.
3. Heat a pan with a little oil. Cook chicken 2–3 minutes on each side until browned. Add sauce and toss 1 more minute.
4. Slice all veggies thinly. Soak the onion in cold water to soften the taste.
5. Make your sauce of choice by mixing the ingredients in a small bowl.
6. Cook two fried eggs sunny-side-up.
7. Fill a bowl with hot rice and drizzle 1 tbsp sesame oil.
8. Add veggies, chicken, egg, and your favorite sauce on top.
How to Store Bibibop Chicken Properly?
Store the cooked chicken and sauces in separate airtight containers in the fridge for 3–4 days. Keep veggies raw and dry so they stay crisp. Reheat the chicken in a pan or microwave for 30–40 seconds. Do not reheat the veggies or egg. Only mix everything when ready to eat for the best texture.
What to Pair and Serve with Bibibop Chicken
1. Wrap It Up in a Warm Tortilla
Some days we swap the rice bowl for a soft tortilla and turn everything into a handheld wrap. The crisp veggies, juicy chicken, and spicy-sweet sauce taste like a Korean-style burrito. Perfect for lunches or busy nights.
2. Serve With Crispy Roasted Seaweed
We’ve learned that roasted seaweed is the cheat code for Bibibop bowls. Just tear a sheet, scoop a little chicken and rice, and wrap it like a mini bite. It gives you that restaurant-style flavor instantly.
3. Pair With a Light Soup
A simple miso soup or clear broth balances the bold chili paste sauce perfectly. This is our go-to combo when we want something cozy but not heavy.
4. Add Kimchi for Extra Kick
If you’ve got kimchi hiding in your fridge, now’s the time to bring it out. The tanginess cuts through the richness of the chicken in the best way. We almost always add some when we make this at home.
5. Serve With Crispy Potstickers
You wouldn’t believe how well pan-fried dumplings go with this dish. It turns dinner into a full Korean-style feast, and everything can be made in under 30 minutes.
6. Top With Avocado for Creaminess
One day we added sliced avocado just because it was getting too ripe – and WOW. The creaminess works shockingly well with the spicy gochujang. Highly recommend.
7. Add a Side of Pickled Radish
Sweet pickled radish (danmuji) adds crunch, contrast, and that classic Korean yellow pop of color. Trust us, it makes every bite taste fresher.
8. Pair With a Fun Appetizer Night
Whenever we’re hosting, we pair this bowl with other fun copycat appetizers, like our bjs root beer glazed wings recipe Surprisingly, they all work in one spread, and it feels like an around-the-world tasting night.
9. Add Grilled Salmon on Top
When we want something lighter, we sometimes swap the chicken with a small piece of grilled salmon. If you’ve ever made the misty copeland salmon recipe, you’ll know salmon + gochujang sauce is a dream combo.
10. Make a “Bibibop Party Platter”
This is the one guests always talk about. Set out bowls of sliced veggies, rice, sauces, chicken, and toppings – and everyone builds their own bowls. Zero stress, big impact, and incredibly fun.
My Personal Experience With this Recipe and Some Tips
I made this Bibibop Chicken Recipe on a busy day, and it turned out amazing! The fresh veggies, warm rice, and juicy chicken made the bowl taste so good. The sauces were my favorite part. It was simple, fast, and made me feel proud of my cooking!
Easy Tips
1.Cut veggies thin so the bowl feels soft and easy to mix.
2. Use hot rice so everything warms up nicely.
3. Cook chicken in one layer to make it brown and tasty.
4. Soak onions in cold water to make them sweet, not strong.
5. Try different sauces to find the taste you like best.
6. Mix your bowl well so every bite is yummy.
FAQs on Bibibop Chicken Recipe
Here are some common questions I’ve got you covered about the Bibibop Chicken Recipe.
1. What are the ingredients in chicken adobo?
Even though chicken adobo isn’t part of this Bibibop recipe, we get this question a lot! Traditionally, chicken adobo is made with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, black peppercorns, bay leaves, and chicken-all simmered together until tender. We mention it because many home cooks compare Asian bowls, and the flavor-building techniques are surprisingly similar.
2. What are the ingredients in Bibibop sauce?
From our experience making Bibibop-style bowls at home, there are usually three go-to sauces:
Gochujang Sauce – Korean chili paste + water to thin it.
Sweet & Spicy Chojang – gochujang, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, sesame seeds, and yes, a splash of Sprite (or 7UP).
Soy-Based Sauce – soy sauce, a little sugar, mirin, green onion, chopped chili, garlic, and crushed sesame seeds.
These three cover all taste preferences-spicy, sweet, tangy, or mild.
3. Is Bibibop spicy chicken healthy?
Absolutely-especially when you make it at home. We usually use chicken thighs for flavor, but you can swap in chicken breast for a lighter option. The bowl is loaded with fresh vegetables, lean protein, and customizable sauces, so you can adjust the spice, sugar, or oil levels however you like. It’s one of those meals that feels indulgent but still supports a balanced diet.
4. What are the main ingredients in bibimbap?
Bibimbap traditionally includes:Steamed rice, Protein (beef, chicken, pork, or tofu), A mix of vegetables (spinach, carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, cucumbers, etc.), A fried egg, Gochujang sauce. For our simplified Bibibop-style version, we use fresh veggies-like lettuce, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers-and skip the complicated sautéing stage.
5. Can I use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs?
Yes! We’ve tried both. Chicken thighs are juicier and pair beautifully with gochujang sauces, but chicken breast is a fantastic lighter alternative if you’re focusing on lean protein.
6. Do I need perilla leaves?
Perilla leaves add a unique, fragrant flavor, but they’re absolutely optional. We make this bowl all the time without them. If you ever find them at a Korean grocery store, definitely give them a try-they elevate the dish, but the recipe still works perfectly without them.
7. Can I prep the vegetables ahead of time?
Definitely. We often slice all the veggies-carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce-the night before and store them in airtight containers. They stay crisp and make the bowl incredibly quick to assemble on busy days.
8. What if I can’t handle spicy food?
You’re not alone-someone in our house avoids spicy food too. That’s why the soy-based Bibibop sauce is a lifesaver. It’s flavorful, savory, and completely mild. You can even skip the chili pepper for an ultra-mild version.
9. Can I use pork instead of chicken?
Yes! We’ve swapped chicken for thinly sliced pork belly several times, and it turns out incredibly delicious. Pork caramelizes beautifully with the soy and gochujang sauces.
10. What kind of rice is best for Bibibop?
We always get the best results with short-grain or medium-grain white rice-the same type used for Korean meals. It has the perfect sticky texture to hold everything together. Brown rice works too if you prefer a healthier version.
This Bibibop Chicken Recipe is fresh, simple, and full of flavor. It’s quick to make and perfect when you want something healthy but comforting. You don’t need fancy skills or lots of cooking time to enjoy this bowl.
Give it a try today and enjoy your own homemade Korean rice bowl. If you want, I can also write a printable recipe card or add nutrition facts.
I’d love to hear your thoughts-leave a comment on the blog and let me know How it came out! Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube for more delicious updates. Your support truly means everything to me.