Sesame Chicken is such a family favorite. Tender chicken in a slightly sweet sesame sauce. Made with simple pantry ingredients and on the table in under 30 minutes.
I find that some of the most delicious meals are the ones that are made with simple pantry ingredients. My Grilled Lemon Chicken is super easy to marinate and you might already have everything on hand. You could even through this Chicken Apple Salad recipe together for a quick lunch or side at a BBQ. This Pork and Rice recipe from Berry Maple would be another great addition to your monthly rotation!
Easy Sesame Chicken
Even though I’m a food blogger and make plenty of recipes and meals for my family, I have three little boys who are pretty particular with what they eat.
I only have about 7 meals that none of them throw some sort of fit about. Please tell me I’m not the only household that goes through the dinnertime blues on a weekly basis!
This Sesame Chicken is one of those dinners that every single member of my family looks forward to. I always serve it over freshly steamed rice and a side of broccoli or sautéed snow peas.
I always have the simple ingredients on hand and chicken in the freezer so this meal comes together so quickly. Actually, in under 30 minutes!
Is Sesame Chicken Healthy?
Hmm…yes and no!
There are a lot of Asian chicken dishes that are deep fried in a classic tempera batter then drenched in some sort of tangy, sweet or spicy sauce. Of course anything deep fried is not healthy. That’s just a given.
This recipe is one of the more healthier options out there for a few reasons.
I don’t batter and deep fry the chicken ahead of time. It is, however, browned in a little cooking oil. So you are cutting out a few extra calories right from the beginning. I promise you aren’t going to miss that crispy batter!
The second reason this meal is healthier is I like to use a low sodium soy sauce. Once you’ve added the other spices and ingredients, you aren’t going to be able to tell a difference with the sodium content. It’s has the same umami savoriness that regular soy sauce has.
For those two reasons alone, this recipe is worth making and a better choice!
How To Make Sesame Chicken
The recipe for this Sesame Chicken is straight forward and super easy to make. It’s quick and better than your average take out menu!
- In a medium bowl mix together soy sauce, water, sesame oil, minced garlic, ginger, brown sugar and corn starch.
- In a large pan over medium heat, heat up oil for about 1 minute.
- Add in cubed chicken and let it brown on one side for 2 minutes.
- Flip chicken over and cook for another 2 minutes or until cooked completely through.
- Remove chicken to a plate.
- Bring pan back up to medium heat and pour in sauce.
- Whisk to combine and heat through. Sauce will thicken and cook for 1 minute.
- Place chicken back into the pan and stir to coat.
- Cook for 1 minute and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Serve over rice and sprinkle with chopped chives.
I’ve got you covered with family friendly recipes!
- Grilled Lemon Chicken
- French Dip Sandwiches
- Orange Chicken
- Artisan Bread
- Chicken and Wild Rice recipe by Picky Palate
Sesame Chicken Recipe
Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Cubed
- 2 TBSP Vegetable Oil
- 3/4 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1/3 Cup Water
- 1/2 tsp Sesame Oil
- 2 Whole Garlic Cloves Minced
- 1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
- 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 TBSP Corn Starch
- 2 tsp Sesame Seeds
- 1 TBSP Chives Chopped Optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl mix together soy sauce, water, sesame oil, minced garlic, ginger, brown sugar and corn starch. Set aside.
- In a large pan over medium heat, heat up oil for 1 minute.
- Add in cubed chicken and let it brown on one side for 3 minutes.
- Flip chicken over and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until cooked completely through and no longer pink in the center. Do not overcook.
- Remove chicken to a plate.
- Bring pan back up to medium heat and carefully pour in the sauce.
- Whisk to combine and heat through while the sauce thickens. Cook for 1 minute.
- Place chicken back into the pan and stir to coat.
- Cook for and additional 1 minute to warm the chicken back up and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Serve over rice and garnish with chopped chives.
Originally Posted August 2020 and updated April 2024.
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