This easy Sesame Chicken Recipe combines pieces of battered, crispy fried chicken with an eight-ingredient sesame sauce, which has sweet and salty flavors and just a hint of spice. It is so simple to prepare and tastes so much better than takeout.
Enjoy it garnished with thinly sliced green onion and toasted sesame seeds. Serve this tasty protein-filled dish over quinoa or brown rice.
Sesame chicken is tender pieces of chicken dipped in eggs and cornstarch and fried crispy, then tossed in a sweet and salty sauce. Indulge in this mouthwatering homemade sesame chicken, which is easy to make and flavorful. Your taste buds will thank you.
Do you like Chinese? We love it. Most Asian dishes are easy to prepare once you learn just a few tricks to the trade. This Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe is one of my favorites and has incredible flavor. If you like this recipe, try my shrimp fried rice, chicken chow mein, and sweet and sour pork.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Chicken: boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Vegetable oil: or any oil that is good for frying with a neutral taste and a high smoking point, like canola oil or peanut oil
- Rice vinegar: apple cider vinegar and white wine vinegar are fairly good substitutes
- Sesame seeds: store them in the fridge for up to a year
- Sesame oil: also a key ingredient, will last in a cool, dark place for 8 months or in the fridge for up to 2 years
- Chili sauce: I use sambal oelek, which is ground fresh chili paste. You can find it in the Asian food section of most grocery stores. Store in a fridge for up to 2 months and use it in bang bang shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps.
Preparation Tips
- This Sesame Chicken Recipe has a hint of spice, but the honey makes it very mellow. If in doubt, add the chili sauce very slowly and taste. Your taste buds will tell you when to stop.
- Take a few minutes and toast the sesame seeds. It is well worth the effort.
- You can substitute chicken thighs for the chicken breasts. They are just as delicious.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can be reheated on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sambal oelek is a fresh ground chili paste found in the Asian food section of your local grocery store. It is pretty spicy, but when paired with other ingredients like soy sauce, honey, and brown sugar, it tames it, and the overall taste is very flavorful and satisfying. Store in the refrigerator for up to two months or freeze in small containers for up to six months.
To freeze, cool it completely, store it in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power. Again, the chicken will not stay crispy, but it will still have fantastic flavor.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this sesame chicken with brown or white rice or Chinese noodles like ramen. Sometimes, I include an appetizer like crab rangoon or Japanese dumplings or something lighter like Asian cucumber salad or Asian chopped salad.
Sesame Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into bite size pieces
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- vegetable oil or canola oil for frying
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon chili sauce sambal oelek
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup cold water
- 2 green onions sliced thin
Instructions
- Beat the eggs, cornstarch, salt, and pepper together. Add the chicken and stir to combine. Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a heavy pot or Dutch Oven. Once the oil reaches 350 degrees, fry the chicken pieces until golden brown and crispy. Move to paper to towels to drain.
- Meanwhile, in a large dry skillet over medium-high heat, add the sesame seeds and cook until lightly toasted, shaking the skillet several times. Remove the sesame seeds into a small bowl.
- In the same skillet, heat a little olive oil over low heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili sauce, honey, ketchup, and brown sugar. Mix the cornstarch with the water and whisk into the sauce mixture and cook until thickened.
- Add the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir to combine with the sauce and garnish with the scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve promptly over rice or Chinese noodles.
Video
Notes
- Sambal oelek is a fresh ground chili paste found in the Asian food section of your local grocery store. It is pretty spicy, but when paired with other ingredients like soy sauce, honey, and brown sugar, it tames it, and the overall taste is very flavorful and satisfying. Store in the refrigerator for up to two months or freeze in small containers for up to six months.
- To freeze, cool it completely, store it in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power. Again, the chicken will not stay crispy, but it will still have fantastic flavor.
- I like to serve this sesame chicken with brown or white rice or Chinese noodles like ramen. Sometimes, I include an appetizer like crab rangoon or Japanese dumplings or something lighter like Asian cucumber salad or Asian chopped salad.
Nutrition
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Lauren T
This sesame chicken recipe was fantastic! It’s simple yet flavorful, making it a great choice for a quick, satisfying meal.
Julie
Wow this chicken recipe was really delicious and easy to make. Thank you for sharing, we were looking for new chicken recipes.
Harlow
I absolutely love this sesame chicken recipe. Very delicious!
Lisa
I’m drooling over this recipe. sesame chicken looks yummy and a quick dish to make during the week! I will be trying this out.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lisa! Enjoy!
Clark
I prepared the sesame chicken, expecting a modest dish, but when it arrived, the plate was piled so high it looked like a family feast. As I tried to take my first bite, a rogue sesame seed popped off and flew across the table, hitting my friend right on the forehead. We both burst out laughing, and suddenly, what started as a simple meal turned into a moment we couldn’t stop joking about.
Beth Pierce
Oh my goodness. Thanks for the great laugh.
Karen L
I love this sesame chicken recipe. It is better than any restaurant around here. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Karen!
Samantha Donnelly
I have just placed an order to top up my freezer wth meat and have a lot of chicken coming, this sounds amazing so will be trying this recipe
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Samantha! Enjoy!
Norma
This is delicious. I had 9 oz of chicken to put on the grill (threaded with vegetables) but it’s just too hot outside. I made this with white rice. As good as any Chinese restaurant, only better!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Norma! I am so glad that you liked it!
Kinsley W
Wow, thanks for the recipe! I thought it might be good since it looked so yummy but it was outstanding. It was so much better than my go-to Chinese restaurant. You always have the best recipes!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Kinsley!
Angelica S
My kids love when we make Chinese at home. This is a great and easy recipe to follow. So flavorful and I like it better when I can control all the ingredients.
Beth Pierce
Me too, Angelica!
Jackie
So much better than takeout. This is on regular rotation at our house! Be sure to toast the sesame seeds. It really does make a difference. Thanks for so many great recipes over the years, Beth.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Jackie!
Kali
Your Sesame Chicken recipe was so easy and such a delight! The combination of crispy chicken and the flavorful sesame sauce was very satisfying. This will now be a repeat recipe at our house.
Rich L
Oh! I love this sesame chicken! It is delicious! I’ve added it to my recipe book.
Spring F
We are loving this recipe in my house! As always, you directions yield a perfect dish – I did take your advice and made a double batch of the sauce for the sesame chicken.
Beth Pierce
Awesome! I am happy that you love the sesame chicken!
Kendall
Your Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe made my taste buds dance! 💃 I appreciated the step-by-step guide, especially the tip on toasting sesame seeds for that extra flavor kick. I can’t wait to make this again and impress my friends with a homemade Chinese feast. Thanks for sharing your culinary expertise!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Kendall!
Wayne
This is now a favorite recipe of mine. Sesame chicken has always been my go-to. Now I can make it at home and it is so much better. This is going to be on repeat at my house.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Wayne! I am so glad that you like the sesame chicken. We love it too!