How to Make Spicy Korean Chicken Soup (Dakgaejang) with Leftover Costco Chicken (Home Recipe)

Aloha! 🌺 It’s Jihye in Seoul.

Do you love shopping at Costco? If you do, you probably pick up their famous, reasonably priced Rotisserie Chicken on every visit. It’s a classic treat!

However, for just the two of us, it’s always a bit too much. Plus, we aren't huge fans of the dry chicken breast on the second day. So... I always use the leftovers to make this incredibly comforting, spicy Korean soup.

If you are crazy about Korean food, you probably know Yukgaejang (Spicy Beef and Vegetable Soup). Well, this is Dakgaejang—the delicious chicken version! It is so easy to make, completely zero-waste, and transforms your leftover Costco chicken into a gourmet meal.

Whenever I cook this soup, I can't control myself. Give me a big bowl of rice, some Kimchi, and this soup... and there will be absolutely zero conversation at the table! Lol! Let's start.

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🛒 Ingredients

For the Broth:

• Leftover Costco Rotisserie Chicken (Bones and leftover meat)

• Broth Aromatics: 5 Garlic cloves, 1 Bay leaf, the white root parts of 3 Green onions, a pinch of whole Black peppercorns

For the Soup:

• Bean Sprouts: 1 small bag

• Enoki Mushrooms: 1 pack

• Green Onions: 1 large bunch (Cut into long strips)

• Seasoning: Gochugaru (Korean red chili pepper flakes), Rayu (Chili oil), Salt, and Black pepper to taste

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👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Debone and Prep the Chicken First, please separate the leftover meat from the bones. Tear the meat into bite-sized shreds. Pro Tip: I discard the skin, the fat, and the small tail part because they make the soup too oily and heavy. We want a clean, spicy broth!

2. Make the Bone Broth Put all the chicken bones into a large pot of boiling water. Add your aromatics: 5 garlic cloves, the white parts of the green onions, 1 bay leaf, and the whole peppercorns. Turn the heat to medium and let it boil for over an hour to extract all that deep flavor.

3. Strain the Broth Prepare your vegetables (wash the bean sprouts, trim the enoki mushrooms, and slice the green onions). When the bone broth is fully cooked, strain it through a cheesecloth or a wet, heavy-duty kitchen paper towel. This trick helps catch any tiny bones and removes the extra oil, giving you a perfectly clean soup base. (Note: I always rinse the kitchen paper with hot water before doing this!)

4. Assemble and Boil (Do NOT Cover!) Bring your clean broth back to a boil. Add the shredded chicken meat, all the prepared vegetables, Rayu (chili oil), and Gochugaru (chili powder) to your desired spice level.

🚨 Important Secret: When you cook bean sprouts, leave the pot uncovered! If you cover and uncover the lid while they are cooking, it will trap a fishy, raw bean smell in your soup.

5. Season to Taste Since the Costco rotisserie chicken is already pre-seasoned and quite salty, you probably won't need to add much salt. Taste it first, then add salt and pepper as you desire.

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🍲 Time to Eat!

It takes a little bit of time to boil the bones, but the actual recipe is incredibly easy. This spicy, hearty soup was my absolute childhood favorite, and it warms my soul every single time.

What is your ultimate comforting food? Let me know in the comments below!

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Mahalo! 🌺