Recreating your favorite restaurant meals at home is one of the most satisfying culinary adventures you can embark on. Skip the delivery apps and treat your family to a spectacular version of classic takeout right from your own kitchen. This sesame chicken features tender, juicy chicken pieces fried to golden perfection and enveloped in a wonderfully glossy, sweet-and-savory glaze. It offers the ideal balance of rich honey, savory soy sauce, and aromatic garlic, making every single bite absolutely irresistible. Best of all, making this classic recipe at home lets you control the quality of the ingredients for a fresher, cleaner dinner. Get ready for this dish to secure a permanent spot in your weekly dinner rotation!
Helpful Tips
- To achieve that ultimate restaurant-quality crunch, we highly recommend the double-fry method: fry the chicken for 3 minutes first, let it rest on a rack, then flash-fry it for another 1-2 minutes until beautifully deep golden brown.
- You can easily adapt this dish to be gluten-free by swapping the traditional soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos, and utilizing a high-quality 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend instead of the standard all-purpose flour.
- Customize the heat level of your sticky glaze by tossing in a generous pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha to balance out the sweet honey and brown sugar.
- Always use an instant-read kitchen thermometer to verify your cooking oil stays right around 350 degrees Fahrenheit; oil that is too cool will absorb into the batter and make it greasy, while oil that is too hot will burn the exterior before the chicken cooks through.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken chunks and toss until fully coated.
- In a separate shallow dish, combine the cornstarch and all-purpose flour. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess, and set aside on a plate.
- Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or Dutch oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Carefully fry the chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Bring to a simmer.
- Whisk the cornstarch and water slurry, then pour it into the simmering sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy glaze.
- Transfer the crispy fried chicken to a large clean bowl, pour the warm sesame sauce over it, and toss gently until every piece is beautifully coated.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions, and serve immediately.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Tasty Recipes Videos For Dinner Chinese Takeout Sesame Chicken
Enjoy a mouthwatering homemade version of your favorite restaurant-style sesame chicken, boasting ultra-crispy pieces tossed in a sweet and sticky glaze.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken chunks and toss until fully coated.
- In a separate shallow dish, combine the cornstarch and all-purpose flour. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess, and set aside on a plate.
- Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or Dutch oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Carefully fry the chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Bring to a simmer.
- Whisk the cornstarch and water slurry, then pour it into the simmering sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy glaze.
- Transfer the crispy fried chicken to a large clean bowl, pour the warm sesame sauce over it, and toss gently until every piece is beautifully coated.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions, and serve immediately.
Shopping List
- Meat: 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Produce: 1 fresh ginger root, 1 bulb garlic, 1 bunch green onions
- Pantry: Cornstarch, All-purpose flour, Chicken broth, Soy sauce, Honey, Brown sugar, Rice vinegar, Toasted sesame oil, Vegetable oil for frying
- Dairy & Eggs: 1 large egg
- Spices & Baking: Salt, Black pepper, Toasted sesame seeds
Equipment Needed
- Large bowl
- Whisk
- Deep frying pan or Dutch oven
- Slotted spoon
- Paper towel-lined plate
- Small saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
Variations & Serving Ideas
Present this beautiful sesame chicken immediately while it’s hot and crispy, piled high over a bed of steamed jasmine rice or fluffy quinoa. To create a balanced, vibrant plate, serve it alongside fresh steamed broccoli, snap peas, or a quick vegetable stir-fry. For any leftovers, store them in a secure, airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to reheat, skip the microwave to avoid sogginess; instead, pop the chicken into an air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 5 minutes to restore that signature crispy texture.
We hope this mouthwatering dish brings some joy to your dinner table and satisfies your takeout cravings! Please leave a comment below to let us know how your batch turned out, and don’t forget to share your food photos with us. #CookingVideosIdeas #EasySesameChicken #HowToMakeSesameChicken #SesameChickenRecipe #SesameChickenRecipeEasy #SesameChickenRecipeHealthy #CrispyFoodRecipes #TastyRecipesVideosForDinner #EasyCook
