Sesame Chicken
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Craving takeout? You can make yummy sesame chicken at home in just 45 minutes! This easy recipe creates crispy chicken bites coated in a sweet and sticky sauce that’s even better than restaurant versions. With simple ingredients like soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil, you’ll whip up an amazing sauce to coat golden-fried chicken pieces.
Get ready to impress your family and friends with this tasty homemade meal. The recipe serves 4 people and has 405 calories per serving. You’ll love how the crunchy sesame seeds and green onions add extra flavor and texture. Serve it over rice for a filling dinner that beats takeout any day!
Exact Ingredients List
This sesame chicken recipe requires a mix of pantry staples and fresh ingredients. You’ll need items for the chicken coating, the flavorful sauce, and the garnish. Let’s break down the exact ingredients you’ll need for each component.
For the Chicken
You’ll need:
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Vegetable oil for frying
Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the eggs in another. This creates the perfect crispy coating for your chicken.
For the Sauce
Gather these ingredients:
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
This combo makes a sweet and savory sauce. The cornstarch slurry thickens it up nicely. Feel free to adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey.
For Garnish
Top your dish with:
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
These add a nice crunch and fresh flavor. Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for extra nuttiness. Slice the green onions thin for the best texture.
Instructions
Mix eggs, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a big bowl. In another bowl, combine cornstarch and flour. Dip chicken pieces in egg mix, then coat with flour mix.
Heat oil in a pan to 350°F. Fry chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes until golden. Drain on paper towels.
Make the sauce by whisking soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, hoisin, garlic, and ginger in a saucepan. Heat until it bubbles. Add cornstarch slurry and cook 1-2 minutes until thick.
Put fried chicken in a large bowl. Pour sauce over and toss to coat evenly.
Top with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve hot with rice or veggies. Enjoy your tasty homemade sesame chicken!
Tip: For extra crunch, double-coat the chicken. Dip in egg mix, then flour mix, then repeat before frying.
Possible Substitutes List
You can swap out some ingredients in this sesame chicken recipe. Here are some easy switches:
• Chicken: Use tofu or cauliflower for a veggie version.
• Soy sauce: Try coconut aminos or tamari.
• Honey: Maple syrup works great too.
• Rice vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is a good stand-in.
For the coating, you have options:
• Cornstarch: Arrowroot powder or potato starch work well.
• All-purpose flour: Try gluten-free flour or almond flour.
Want to change up the flavor? Try these:
• Hoisin sauce: Use oyster sauce or extra soy sauce.
• Sesame oil: Peanut oil adds a nice nutty taste.
• Fresh ginger: Ground ginger works in a pinch.
For frying, any neutral oil like canola or peanut oil is fine. If you’re not into frying, you can bake the chicken at 400°F for about 20 minutes.
How To Make It Diabetes-Friendly
To make this sesame chicken recipe more diabetes-friendly, try these easy swaps:
- Use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour and cornstarch.
- Replace vegetable oil with olive oil for frying.
- Swap honey and brown sugar with a sugar-free sweetener like stevia or erythritol.
For the sauce, cut the amount of sweetener in half. Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce to lower the sodium content. Skip the hoisin sauce or use a small amount of sugar-free ketchup mixed with five-spice powder.
Serve your diabetes-friendly sesame chicken with cauliflower rice or steamed veggies instead of regular rice. This will help keep your carb intake in check.
Try baking the chicken instead of frying. Coat the pieces in the almond flour mixture, then bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Remember to watch your portion sizes. Stick to a 3-4 ounce serving of chicken and load up on non-starchy vegetables to round out your meal.
These changes will help lower the carb and sugar content, making the dish more suitable for those managing diabetes. You’ll still get to enjoy the tasty flavors of sesame chicken without the blood sugar spike.
Tips, Tricks & Storing
Cut your chicken into even pieces about 1 inch in size. This helps them cook at the same rate and stay tender.
Make sure your oil is hot enough before frying. Drop a small piece of batter in – if it sizzles and rises to the top, you’re good to go.
Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying. Cook the chicken in batches to keep the oil temperature steady.
For extra crunch, double-dip your chicken. Coat it in the egg mixture and flour mixture twice before frying.
Let the sauce simmer until it thickens. It should coat the back of a spoon when ready.
To store leftovers, keep the chicken and sauce separate. This prevents the chicken from getting soggy. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To reheat, warm the chicken in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Heat the sauce in a pan, then combine.
For meal prep, make extra sauce and freeze it in portions. Thaw and use it for quick weeknight dinners.
Try adding veggies like broccoli or bell peppers to make it a complete meal.