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Home » Dinner » Sesame Chicken

September 26, 2018 By Sara 148 Comments

Sesame Chicken

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This sesame chicken is crispy chicken pieces tossed in a sweet and savory honey sesame sauce. This version is even better than what you would get at a restaurant!

We have Asian food at least once a week, some of our favorites include lemon chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and lettuce wraps. Sesame chicken is another one I make regularly, that delicious sauce just can’t be beat!

Crispy sesame chicken in a pan, coated in a sweet and savory sauce and sesame seeds.

Sesame Chicken Recipe | Crispy Chicken | Asian Chicken #sesame #chicken #asian #dinner #dinneratthezoo Sesame Chicken Recipe | Crispy Chicken | Asian Chicken #sesame #chicken #asian #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This is one of those copycat recipes for honey sesame chicken – you know, the battered crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce that’s found at places like P.F. Changs and Panda Express? I have to say, I think this homemade version is even better than what I’ve had in restaurants. My kids most definitely agree.

How do you make sesame chicken?

This recipe starts with pieces of chicken breast that are coated in eggs, flour and cornstarch. The chicken is fried to golden brown crispy perfection, then tossed in a delectable sesame sauce.

Coated chicken breast pieces on a sheet pan, ready to be fried.

What is sesame chicken made out of?

While I typically use chicken breasts for this recipe, I’ve also made it with chicken thighs which also works well. The sauce is a combination of honey, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil and takes just minutes to put together. Sometimes I even make the sauce a day or two in advance, then store it in the fridge until we’re ready to eat.

This chicken is fried in a few inches of oil which makes for a crispy outer crust. It’s best to use a thermometer to makes sure that your frying oil is around 350 degrees F. If the oil is too hot, the outside may get overly browned before the chicken is cooked through. If the temperature is to cool, the chicken will absorb more oil and be overly greasy.

If you’re looking for a healthier version of sesame chicken, you can skip the coating and frying and simply saute chicken breast pieces in a bit of oil, then proceed with the sauce as directed.

Fried chicken breast pieces on a sheet pan.

After your chicken is done, the last step is to toss it in the sauce. You’ll want to serve your sesame chicken immediately as the crispy coating will start to soften when it hits the sauce.

Crispy chicken in a pan with sesame sauce.

I typically serve my finished chicken over steamed rice. Other great options are quinoa, chow mein noodles, or zucchini noodles.

Crispy sesame chicken served over steamed rice.

Can I just tell you how good this crispy chicken is? My kids request it all the time. No need to call for take out when you can make your own at home!

More Asian food recipes

  • Cream Cheese Wontons
  • Egg Rolls
  • Chicken Chow Mein
  • Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
  • Beef and Broccoli

Sesame Chicken Video

Crispy sesame chicken in a pan, coated in a sweet and savory sauce and sesame seeds.
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4.98 from 68 votes

Sesame Chicken

This sesame chicken is crispy chicken pieces tossed in a sweet and savory honey sesame sauce. This version is even better than what you would get at a restaurant!
Course Dinner
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword sesame chicken
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 392kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the chicken

  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • oil for frying

For the sauce

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce (reduced sodium if possible)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons sliced green onions

Instructions

  • Place the eggs, salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine
  • Place the flour and 1/2 cup of cornstarch in a shallow bowl or on a plate. Stir to combine.
  • Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, then into the flour. Repeat the process with all of the chicken.
  • Heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pan to 350 degrees F
  • Add 7-8 pieces of chicken to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Repeat the process with the remaining chicken
  • Drain the chicken on paper towels
  • While the chicken is cooking, combine the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in a bowl.
  • Heat the teaspoon of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the honey sauce mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until just thickened.
  • Add the crispy chicken to the pan and toss to coat with the sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions, then serve.

Notes

The sauce can be made up to two days before you plan to serve it.

Nutrition

Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 1648mg | Potassium: 518mg | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 2.8mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1.9mg

This post was originally published on April 14, 2015 and was updated on September 26, 2018 with new content.

Filed Under: Asian Food, Dinner Tagged With: Chicken, Chinese, Sesame

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Comments

  1. Angela says

    January 21, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    The sesame oil is very overwhelming. Next time I might try a Canola or vegetable oil. I know it defeats the sesame concept.

    Reply
  2. Sylvia says

    January 16, 2021 at 8:25 pm

    5 stars
    Followed the recipe exactly and came out delicious!!! I was hoping for leftovers but everyone had seconds. The chicken came out superb. Great with jasmine rice and steamed broccoli. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.

    Reply
  3. JKP says

    December 29, 2020 at 12:28 pm

    5 stars
    Really enjoyed this recipe. The breading is much crunchier than other recipes I’ve tried. The sauce was sublime. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. AJ says

    December 27, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    Hey, sounds like an easy recipe. Can I fry the chicken a day in advance?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 28, 2020 at 9:33 am

      That should be fine but the coating will get soft so you’ll need to reheat it in the oven to make it crispy again.

      Reply
  5. Linda says

    December 4, 2020 at 9:38 am

    5 stars
    I used taiwanese popcorn chicken and used the sauce recipe. AWESOME sauce recipe! Tastes great and more sweet than sour which I love!

    Thank you!

    Reply
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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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