Forget about takeout, this finger-lickin' crispy sesame chicken underneath a sticky and sweet honey sauce is super easy to make. Comes together in 30 minutes, served with rice and you'll never need a takeout again!
What is Sesame Chicken?
This crispy Sesame Chicken recipe is one of our favorite take-out options to the Friday night takeaway when we are craving for General Tso Chicken or Orange Chicken (Panda Express).
Crispy, sweet, sticky, and tangy (or zesty - if you opt for the option 2 sauce) – it has all the basics where everyone in my family goes for seconds and no leftover, not even a chunk or a drip of sauce.
It's also one of those meals that so easy to whip up in a pan and easy to clean up.
Simply cut the chicken into bite sizes to cook them fast while the finger-lickin' sesame sauce comes together in just a matter of a minute.
I must admit it's not the healthiest meal considering the Sesame chicken sauce includes brown sugar and honey and of course the oil for frying the chicken - but it's better than any restaurant.
You can serve with some steamed vegetables to boost the health factor.
And since my family enjoyed this dish too much, I thought it's about time to share this recipe.
Watch the video
Storing the leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers, storing them is quite simple. Just transfer them to a container and store them in the fridge. Storing them right is essential to get a better outcome when reheating them.
- Storing in the fridge. When it comes to storing leftovers, make sure that the dish has cooled down thoroughly before storing it to prevent excess moisture from building up in your container. They can be best consumed within 4-5 days.
- Freezing the leftovers. It is highly recommended to use an airtight freezer bag or an airtight, freezer-friendly dish when freezing leftovers. Once again, make sure to cool down the dish before storage. These can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to reheat sesame chicken?
You can reheat these sesame chicken leftovers using three methods -- microwave, stovetop, or oven.
As a reminder, allow the frozen leftover to thaw for about 2 hours before reheating, doing this extra step enables the reheating process more effective with no ill side effects.
#1 Reheating using the microwave
- Transfer the dish into a heat-proof container and cover it with a cling or saran wrap. Or instead, you can dampen a paper towel and lay it over the top of the dish. This method prevents the food from getting soggy.
- Nuke it in a 1-minute interval stirring the dish after to distribute the heat, do this for a total of 3 minutes. You know it's ready when the dish reaches the desired temperature.
#2 Reheating using a stovetop
- This method is more applicable for reheating because it yields a result that is similar to the freshly-made dishes.
- Heat the pan over medium fire then, add a bit of oil just enough to warm the pan. Wait for the oil to get warmed (about 2 minutes) and dump the leftover. Stir gently until it's warmed to your preference. Try adding a tablespoon of water while reheating to prevent the leftover from drying out.
#3 Reheating using the Oven
- This is another method to reheat the leftovers though it may take a little time. Frozen foods are best reheated in an oven as it warms the food gradually, preventing them from becoming soggy or dried out.
- Just set your oven and preheat to 325°F. Place your chicken in an oven-safe dish, cover it, and seal it tightly with tin foil. Heat it for about 10 minutes. Try to open the foil for the final 3 minutes to stir the dish and put it back until it is all warmed up.
How to Make the Sesame Chicken Sauce?
You have 2 options: The Sweet One and the Zesty One.
And if you're like me who loves anything a bit spicy, you'll enjoy the zesty sauce most (note: just a bit of spicy).
This sesame chicken recipe was an absolute hit, and my family loves the tangy, flavor sauce. You can't go wrong with this warm, delicious meal in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Chicken Marinate:
-
- 1½ lb. chicken thighs (cut into bite-size)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
for chicken batter:
- 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 6 tablespoon cornstarch
- 10 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 teaspoon paprika
Sesame Chicken Sauce: OPTION 1 (Asian Style Sauce)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Chinese rice vinegar (Shaoxing cooking vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoon Thai sweet chili sauce
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
Sesame Chicken Sauce: OPTION 2 (Korean Sauce)
-
- 2 teaspoon Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1½ tablespoon strawberry jam (or any fruit jam/jelly)
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
To Serve:
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Small bunch of spring onions (scallions, chopped)
Step by step instructions
1 Mix all ingredients for marinating the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge for 20 minutes (or overnight).
2 In a deep frying pan, heat oil to 350° F over medium-high heat.
3 In separate bowls, place eggs and beat slightly. Mix the dry ingredients (flour, garlic powder, pepper, salt & paprika, etc.) in another bowl and mix all together.
4 Dredge the marinated chicken in the cornstarch, then dip in the egg wash and finally dredge it in the seasoned flour.
5 Carefully, drop the chicken bites in hot oil one at a time and cook for about 5 minutes while turning the chicken.
6 Cool the chicken using a drying rack to ensure minimal surface contact to prevents the chicken crust from becoming soggy. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before frying them the second time.
Double Fry the Chicken
1 Increase the oil temperature to 370 F over high heat. Fry the cooked chicken once again to get that golden brown color. Remove chicken from oil and place on a cooling rack to drain off excess oil.
2 Combine the sesame chicken sauce ingredients (choose option 1 or option 2) in a bowl and pour it in a large skillet and bring the mixture to simmer heat. Let it simmer until the sauce has thickened and reduced to ⅓.
3 Toss in fried chicken. Keep tossing on the heat until the chicken bites are coated evenly with sauce. Finally, toss in sesame seeds and give it a last good mix.
Serve with rice and some steamed vegetables. Sprinkle some more sesame seeds and enjoy.
Other amazing recipes:
Full Recipe
Crispy Sesame Chicken Recipe
Ingredients:
Chicken Marinate:
- 1½ lb. chicken thighs (cut into bite size)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
Chicken Batter:
- 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 6 tablespoon cornstarch
- 10 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 teaspoon paprika
Sesame Chicken Sauce: OPTION 1 (Asian Style Sauce)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Chinese rice vinegar (XiaoShing cooking vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoon Thai sweet chili sauce
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
Sesame Chicken Sauce: OPTION 2 (Korean Sauce)
- 2 teaspoon gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1½ tablespoon strawberry jam (or any fruit jam/jelly)
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1½ tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
To Serve:
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Small bunch spring onions (scallions, chopped)
Watch the Video:
Instructions:
Marinate the Chicken:
- Mix all the ingredients for marinating the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge for 20 minutes (or overnight).
Prep the Dry Ingredients:
- In separate bowls, place eggs and beat slightly. Mix the dry ingredients (flour, garlic powder, pepper, salt & paprika, etc.) in another bowl and mix all together.
- Dredge the marinated chicken in the cornstarch, then dip in the egg wash, and finally dredge it in the seasoned flour.
Fry the Chicken:
- In a deep frying pan, heat oil to 350° F over medium-high heat.
- Carefully, drop the chicken bites in hot oil one at a time and cook for about 2-3 minutes while turning the chicken. (Don't overcook).
- Take the chicken out and let them cool down using a drying rack to ensure minimal surface contact to prevent the chicken crust from becoming soggy. Let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before frying them the second time.
Double Fry the Chicken:
- Increase the oil temperature to 370° F over high heat. Fry the cooked chicken once again to get that golden brown color.
- Remove chicken from oil and place on a cooling rack to drain off excess oil.
Prep the Sauce:
- Combine the sesame chicken sauce ingredients (choose for option 1 or option 2) in a bowl and pour it in a large skillet and bring the mixture to a simmering heat. Let it simmers until the sauce has thickened and reduced to ⅓.
- Toss in the fried chicken. Keep tossing until the chicken bites are coated evenly with sauce. Turn off the heat. Finally, toss in sesame seeds and give it a last good mix.
- Serve with rice and some steamed vegetables. Sprinkle some more sesame seeds and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Jerry Guth says
Instead of oil frying can it be placed in an air fryer without any alterations?
Chiinyerem says
THIs here is the perfect chicken meal. Looks so inviting and easy to make. I am a spicy kind a girl I guess I would lean towards that. But I am sure I would definitely love both.
Agness of Run Agness Run says
This is one hell of a recipe. Now I know what I will have for lunch tomorrow. Is it possible to use maple syrup instead of honey?
Luci says
This looks delicious. I will have to make this for a dinner soon.
Tina says
The Korean sauce looks so interesting, can't wait to try this!
Catherine says
Your sesame chicken looks better than takeout! A perfect weeknight meal for the family.
Cheapskate Cook says
Wow, this looks incredible! Pinning.