Description
Sesame Chicken is a crispy, flavorful Chinese-American dish made with bite-sized chicken pieces fried until golden and coated in a sweet, savory sesame sauce. Finished with toasted sesame seeds and green onions, it’s a takeout favorite you can easily recreate at home.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Place the beaten eggs in one bowl and mix the cornstarch and flour in another.
- Dip each piece of chicken in the egg, then coat in the flour mixture.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Fry the chicken in batches until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar (or honey), garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and water. Bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until the sauce thickens.
- Add the fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and garnish with green onions if desired.
- Serve immediately with steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
Add red pepper flakes or sriracha to the sauce for a spicy version.Use tamari and gluten-free flour/cornstarch for a gluten-free dish.Swap chicken for tofu or cauliflower for a vegetarian variation.Bake or air-fry the chicken for a lighter version.Use honey instead of brown sugar for a slightly floral sweetness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
