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This Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe is a super fast dinner and better than takeout!
This easy homemade sesame chicken is so good – I’ve made it for my family about five times in the last few weeks and we haven’t gotten tired of it yet!
What is sesame chicken?
Sesame Chicken is a crispy, sweet and tangy chicken recipe often found in Chinese restaurants in the United States. Although the chicken is often deep fried to make it crispy, this recipe skips the breading to make it faster, easier and a little healthier.
What are the ingredients for Sesame Chicken?
I like to use chicken thighs in this recipe, but if you prefer, you can also make sesame chicken with chicken breasts.
For the sauce, the ingredients are low sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, toasted sesame oil, chili garlic sauce and cornstarch.
How to make sesame chicken at home
This sesame chicken recipe is full of flavor but incredibly easy to make. It isn’t deep fried so it is healthier than what you might find at a typical American Chinese restaurant.
To make sesame chicken, cut the chicken into small, bite sized pieces.
Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce – low Sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, corn starch and chili garlic sauce.
Add a tablespoon of oil to a sauté pan and heat pan over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and brown about 5 minutes per side, until cooked through.
When chicken is cooked, add sauce to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes, until sauce had started to thicken and the chicken is coated in sauce.
If you like this recipe, you will love my Easy Lemon Chicken Stir Fry, Beef and Broccoli, or Peanut Sauce Chicken and Broccoli Bowls.
Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 2 tsp Sesame seeds
for sauce
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger root
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Whisk together ingredients for sauce, set aside.
- Heat a oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat.
- When oil is hot, add the chicken. Sear until browned on one side, then flip and repeat on the second side, until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.
- Add sauce, cook for 1-2 minutes, or until sauce has started to thicken and the chicken is coated in sauce.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion, serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Dinner was amazing this recipe is so easy to follow and I’m super grateful no frying involved. Very delicious 😋
As a native NY-er who has consumed 50 yrs of Chinese food and even lived for several years in Chinatown, I have to say that this is hands-down the BEST sesame chicken I have ever eaten! We had run out of rice vinegar, so I used red wine vinegar, and it was great. I will make sure to have rice wine vinegar on hand next time. Instead of canola oil for the chicken cooking, I used organic coconut oil and a bit of organic EVOO, and it gave a little coconut flavor to it, too. Instead of just low sodium soy sauce, I also used organic coconut aminos – half and half. So delicious! I served it with broccoli. The chicken was so yummy and crispy, and the sauce was bananas good! My hubby and I are crazy about this recipe and are planning to use the sauce on other items, like pork chops, any vegetable, salads, etc. Thank you! I will try some of your other recipes now, too!
I’m so happy you loved it!
This was the best sauce that I’ve ever made for chicken. Can I make this sauce ahead of time and put it in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks?
Hi Val – I haven’t tried that, but it would probably be fine to do a few days ahead of time! I’m glad you loved the sauce!
Can u sub the rice oil with coconut oil?
Hi Cathy – I haven’t tried it but I think it would be fine.
It’s actually rice vinegar. You can use white or red wine vinegar, but rice vinegar is traditional for this dish. I used coconut oil for cooking the chicken plus a little EVOO, and it was delicious! 🙂
This is the best Sesame Chicken that I have ever tasted. YAHOO!!
Now is also my son’s favorite meal.
I have tried a lot of versions of this dish, and I must say, this is the best ever, and
I will never try another one, this one tops it all.
Thank You!
Karoline
When I ask my teen son for suggestions each week for dinners, he tells me he wants this!
So glad to hear that!
Very tasty and easy recipe. Thank you!
Delicious. The whole family loved it!
So glad to hear that!
Can you make this without the chili garlic sauce?
Hi – Yes, you can leave it out, or sub sriracha or red chili flakes.
Easy AND delicious! I substituted apple cider vinegar because I didn’t have rice vinegar, but it still turned out great.
So happy to hear that!
Oh my goodness! So tasty and easy. Served it over rice. Definitely adding to the weeknight rotation.
Yay, so glad to hear that!
Made this for my family last night with some coconut rice and sautéed green beans. Everyone LOVED it! Super easy and family pleaser!
Yay, so glad to hear that!
Aha! This is a must-try takeout. I usually have it with egg fried rice whenever I order it. I will try your recipe soon, I’m sure it will taste much better than the ones in Chinese restaurants 🙂
Thank you!