Name: Easy Sesame Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 2 Eggs; 1/4 cup Cornstarch; 1.5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, cut into 1 inch pieces; Salt and Pepper; 2 tablespoons Canola Oil, or other cooking oil; Thinly sliced Green Onions, optional for garnish; 1/3 cup Soy Sauce, I used Low Sodium; 3 tablespoons Water; 1.5 tablespoons Toasted Sesame Oil; 1/4 cup Brown Sugar, light or dark; 1.5 tablespoons Rice Vinegar; 2 teaspoons grated Fresh Ginger; 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds; 1 tablespoon Cornstarch; Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes, optional to offset sweetness

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This Easy Sesame Chicken inspired-recipe lets you make one of your takeout favorites right at home and in under 30 minutes! No frying in this recipe so it’s healthier than the traditional version and it’s all made in one pan. The sweet and sticky sesame sauce uses pantry staple ingredients and pairs perfectly with the battered chicken.

sticky sesame chicken with white rice in a bowl

Looking for other takeout-inspired recipes? I also love this Healthy Orange Chicken and 15 Minute Korean Ground Beef!

Sesame Chicken Ingredients

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs – you can substitute chicken breasts
Batter – Eggs and Cornstarch
Canola Oil – for sautéing the chicken. You can substitute another cooking oil.
Sesame Sauce: Soy Sauce, Water, Sesame Oil, Brown Sugar, Rice Vinegar, Fresh Ginger, Sesame Seeds, Cornstarch
Sliced Green Onions – for garnish

Raw chicken thighs in a bowl and eggs and cornstarch in a bowl

How to make the recipe?

Traditional sesame chicken involves battering and frying the chicken. For this recipe, we’re keeping things simpler (and healthier) by sautéing in oil instead.

After battering and sautéing the chicken, the sweet sesame sauce is added and brought to a simmer. The combination of the cornstarch in the sauce and the simmer lets the sauce thicken and get nice and sticky.

Sticky, sesame chicken in a pan with green onions and sesame seeds

What is Sesame Chicken sauce made of?

Sesame sauce typically has both sesame oil and sesame seeds (hence the name). It is a sweeter sauce thanks to brown sugar. There is also soy sauce, fresh ginger, and rice vinegar.

To offset the sweetness, you can add some red pepper flakes to add a little bit of heat.

Close up shot of sticky sesame chicken with chopsticks

How do you make Sesame Chicken from scratch?

Making it from scratch isn’t as difficult as it sounds. After chopping up the chicken it is tossed in a batter (we use eggs and cornstarch) then it is sautéed in oil before the sauce is added to thicken and coat the chicken pieces.

What’s the difference between Sesame Chicken and General Tso’s Chicken?

Sesame Chicken is sweeter while General Tso’s usually has a little more heat.

Sesame chicken with white rice in a bowl with chopsticks

Serving Ideas:

I love serving it with Fried Rice, these Sesame Noodles (they can be made with regular linguini or spaghetti noodles), or this Garlic Sesame Ramen.

Storage and Reheating:

Storage: Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days.

Reheating: Leftover chicken can be reheated in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove. Note that the chicken will not be as crisp as the sauce soaks into the batter.

Recipe Tips:

If you’d like, you can substitute chopped chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs. The recipe will remain the same.
The sesame sauce can be mixed up a day in advance to cut down on prep at dinner time.

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