Craving Sesame Chicken? It’s bite-sized pieces of chicken coated in a flavorful batter, double-fried until extra crispy, then tossed in a glossy, sticky sesame sauce. Better than takeout! Seriously, I could not stop eating it! I have also provided air fryer and oven instructions, so you have no excuse not to make this! I also have General Tso’s Chicken you will want to try!
Sesame Chicken Ingredients & Smart Substitutions
- Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. When cutting the chicken into pieces, try to keep them as uniform as possible for even frying. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs would also work. If you love chicken thighs, you will want to try my Jalapeno Chicken!
- Batter: The batter for the sesame chicken is a light and crispy coating made from a blend of cornstarch, water, all-purpose flour, soy sauce, egg white, and a touch of white pepper.
- White Pepper: White pepper is a little milder in taste when compared to black pepper and will not show dark specks when used in recipes like this one. You could use black pepper and still get a peppery kick, but it will show black specks.
- Shaoxing Wine: Shaoxing wine is a type of Chinese cooking wine made from rice. It’s like a special ingredient that adds extra flavor to dishes, kind of like how you might add soy sauce or spices. If you cannot find Shaoxing wine, you could use dry sherry. Or use rice wine vinegar with a pinch of sugar. But, I encourage you to try to find Shaoxing wine (you can order it online if needed) for the most flavor.
- Garnish: Add sesame seeds and chopped green onions to add both flavor and a pop of color to the chicken.
Do I Have To Fry The Chicken Twice?
If you only ask me, yes! Frying the chicken pieces twice (double-frying) gives the chicken the crispiest exterior. However, you could skip this step if short on time. The chicken will still be delicious, just not quite as crispy. When frying, ensure the oil is at the correct temperature for each batch since it may cool down a bit.
What To Serve With Sesame Chicken
I love to pair sesame chicken with a variety of dishes for a complete meal. Here are some of my favorite options:
- Steamed white rice
- Fried rice (I also have air fryer fried rice you may want to check out!)
- Egg rolls
- Cream cheese wontons
- Easy raman
How To Store Sesame Chicken
To store sesame chicken, first, let it cool to room temperature. Next, store the chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 3-4 days. Reheat the chicken in a skillet on the stovetop, in the oven, or an air fryer. Reheating the chicken in the microwave will work, but can make the chicken soggy.
Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
Batter
- ½ cup (64 g) cornstarch
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 large egg white
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- vegetable oil, for frying
Sesame Sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon sesame seeds, for topping
- green onion, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- To a large bowl, add cornstarch, water, flour, soy sauce, egg white, and white pepper. Stir until well combined. Add chicken and toss to coat thoroughly.
- To a large pot over medium heat, add 3-4 inches vegetable oil. Heat the oil to 340°F.*
- When the oil has reached 340°F, carefully lower the chicken pieces into the hot oil. Depending on the size of your pot, you may have to work in batches. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the oil and place onto a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Before frying the next batch, check that the oil temperature is at 340°F.
- Once all the chicken has been fried, heat the oil to 375°F. Fry the chicken pieces a second time for 30-60 seconds, or until extra crispy. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
- In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, ketchup, sesame oil, brown sugar, rice vinegar, Shaoxing wine, and minced garlic.
- To a large skillet over medium heat, add the sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the fried chicken to the sauce, tossing to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds over the chicken and garnish with chopped green onions. Serve.
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes, spraying the basket of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray.
- Follow the batter instructions for the chicken.
- Place the coated chicken in a single layer, spaced apart, in the basket of your air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to work in batches.
- Air fry the chicken for 10 minutes at 400°F, flipping the pieces halfway through.
- Add the air-fried chicken to the sauce, tossing to combine. Then add the sesame seeds and garnish with green onions.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Follow the batter instructions for the chicken.
- Place the coated chicken onto the lined baking sheet. Spray the tops of the pieces of chicken with cooking spray.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Add the baked chicken to the sauce, tossing to combine. Then add the sesame seeds and garnish with green onions.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
This recipe was inspired by @iankewks sesame chicken on TikTok.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
The chicken had the perfect crispy texture, and the sesame sauce was just the right balance of sweet and savory. Topped with sesame seeds and green onions, it was a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
Elizabeth
The chicken had a nice crunch to it, and the sesame sauce was surprisingly flavorful. I really loved this recipe and plan to try the air fryer method next time!
Annabelle
The chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and the sesame sauce had a delicious sweet and savory flavor. Topped with sesame seeds and green onions, it was a real treat for the taste buds.
Bella
I loved how crispy the chicken turned out after frying, and the sesame sauce was incredibly flavorful. The combination of honey, soy sauce, and sesame oil gave it a deliciously rich taste.
Selena
The sesame chicken was a hit! The crispy batter coated the tender chicken perfectly, and the sesame sauce had a wonderful balance of sweetness and tanginess. Topped with sesame seeds and green onions, it was both delicious and visually appealing.
