Sesame Chicken Recipe
In this Sesame Chicken recipe, pieces of chicken are covered in a sweet and savory sesame sauce that sticks to them. This simple recipe only takes 30 minutes to make!
My family loved this sesame chicken right away, and I think yours will too! This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner option because it’s easy to make, tastes great, and is better for you than takeout.
The sesame sauce that covers each piece of chicken is the best part of this recipe. The flavors of sweet and salty go well together. When you mix the sauce with the browned chicken in the hot pan, the sauce gets thicker and makes the chicken stick to it. We’ve been making this sesame chicken over and over again. You will see why if you try it.
This sesame chicken isn’t fried in a lot of oil. Instead, it’s cooked in a little oil in a skillet until it’s brown and soft. Cornstarch, egg, and flour make the chicken a little crispy, but not as crispy as frying. For another way to make crispy fried chicken, consider using an air fryer. It’s healthier and just as tasty.Soy sauce (I use low sodium), ketchup, honey, brown sugar, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, and cornstarch are all you need for the sauce. For a little heat, I also like to add a tablespoon of sweet chili sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Ingredients
Chicken and coating:
- Cut the chicken breast into cubes that are 1 inch wide.
- Eggs and cornstarch: To coat the chicken so it gets a little crispy in the hot pan.
- To flavor the chicken, use salt and pepper.
- Flour: To cover the pieces of chicken. The flour helps the chicken get a tasty brown crust.
- I use canola oil instead of olive oil in this recipe because canola oil has a higher smoke point. If you want, you can use olive oil.
- ○ 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) of chicken breast, cut into cubes that are 1 inch long
- ○ Two big eggs
- ○ ½ cup cornstarch
- ○ ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ○ ½ tsp salt
- ○ ¼ tsp black pepper
- ○ 2–3 tablespoons of canola oil for cooking
Sauce ingredients:
- ○ ¼ cup soy sauce with low sodium
- ○ 2 tbsp ketchup
- ○ 3 tbsp honey
- ○ 2 tbsp brown sugar
- ○ 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- ○ 1 tbsp sesame oil
- ○ 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ○ 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ○ 2 tbsp water (to dissolve cornstarch)
- ○ 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce OR ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes (optional heat)
Garnish:
- ○ 1–2 tbsp sesame seeds
- ○ 2 sliced green onions
Instructions
- Put all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl first. Mix well with a whisk.
- In a large, shallow dish, mix the eggs, cornstarch, salt, and pepper together with a whisk. Put the flour in another wide, shallow dish.
- Put the chicken pieces in the egg/cornstarch mixture, then in the flour, and gently tap off any extra.
- Put the oil in a big skillet, like a cast iron one. Put the chicken in the pan and cook it until it is brown and done, turning it over to cook all sides evenly.
- Move the cooked chicken to one side of the pan. Pour the sauce into the other side of the pan and cook it, stirring it, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it thickens.
- Gently mix the sauce with the chicken. For more ideas, explore how to make other easy weeknight meals that are quick to prepare.
Tips for best results
Cut the chicken into pieces that are no bigger than 1 inch by 1 inch so that they cook quickly. If you are looking for other chicken recipes that cook quickly, consider making delicious air-fried chicken wings.
Change the heat as you cook the chicken. If the chicken is getting too brown before it is fully cooked, turn down the heat a little.
Be careful not to let the coating come off the chicken when you flip it over.
You can keep cooking the dish for 2 to 3 more minutes on low heat after you mix the chicken and sauce together. This will make the dish less saucy, but it will turn the sauce into a tasty sticky coating on the chicken. If you enjoy quick cleanup, try an satisfying one-pan ground beef meal for dinner.
Easy Homemade Sesame Chicken
This simple and delicious Sesame Chicken recipe features tender chicken pieces coated in a sweet and savory sesame sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it’s easy to make in just 30 minutes and offers a healthier alternative to takeout.
- Chicken and Coating Array
- Sauce Ingredients Array
- Garnish Array
- 1 Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, combine all sauce ingredients (soy sauce, ketchup, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, 1 tbsp cornstarch, water, and optional sweet chili sauce or red pepper flakes). Whisk well until smooth and set aside.
- 2 Prepare the chicken coating: In a large, shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, ½ cup cornstarch, salt, and pepper. In another wide, shallow dish, place the all-purpose flour.
- 3 Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken piece into the egg/cornstarch mixture, then transfer it to the flour dish, ensuring it’s fully coated. Gently tap off any excess flour.
- 4 Cook the chicken: Heat 2-3 tablespoons of canola oil in a large skillet (a cast iron skillet works well) over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken pieces to the hot pan, being careful not to overcrowd it (cook in batches if necessary). Cook until golden brown and cooked through, turning to cook all sides evenly.
- 5 Thicken the sauce: Once the chicken is cooked, move it to one side of the pan. Pour the prepared sauce into the empty side of the pan. Cook the sauce, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- 6 Combine and serve: Gently mix the thickened sauce with the cooked chicken until all pieces are well coated. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving immediately.
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