Easy Sesame Chicken
Sesame chicken is a classic take out dish that is really easy to make at home! These tender bites of chicken coated with a flavorful sauce are a family favorite! Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal!
Chinese food is always a hit in our house, and we love getting takeout! However I also love being able to replicate some of our favorites at home so that we can enjoy them any time without breaking the bank. This easy sesame chicken recipe is one of our favorites! Served up with some white rice you’ll feel like you ordered from your favorite Chinese takeout restaurant!
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Why we love this recipe-
This is a great recipe to whip up for dinner any night of the week! I stir fry green beans to go with the chicken to make this a complete meal made all in one pan! While some sesame chicken recipes are a little complicated this one has been simplified so that you get all of the flavorful chicken and delicious sauce with out spending a ton of time in the kitchen.
It is versatile too! I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe but you can also use boneless skinless thighs! And if you like the idea of veggies on the side but don’t want to make green beans you can easily swap them for snow peas, chopped bok choy, or broccoli. If you want to add a little heat to this dish you can add some red pepper flakes!
You can serve this chicken with white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, or even fried rice! Or just serve the chicken and veggies!
Tips & FAQ
This recipe is a bit different from sesame chicken recipes because the chicken is simply dusted in corn starch to create a coating instead of being dredged in a batter. This homemade version is much quicker and easier! However if you want a more traditional coating to create a crispy sesame chicken you can add a large egg to your corn starch before coating the chicken. Add a couple of tablespoons of your favorite cooking oil to the pan and cook until crisp according to the recipe directions.
To make the sauce sweeter- This sesame sauce recipe doesn’t have any sweetener but I know some people like a more sweet flavor with their sesame chicken to balance out the salty flavors. You can add a tablespoon of light brown sugar, white sugar, or even honey to add a bit of sweetness to this simple meal. Just add it in with the rest of the sauce ingredients.
Here’s what you’ll need for this easy sesame chicken
2 chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces (1 lb)
2 tbsp sesame oil
5 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup green beans
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
Salt
Black Pepper
1/4 cup water
For serving
4 chopped green onions
2 tsp sesame seeds
Here’s how to make this sesame chicken
Place the pieces of chicken breast in a large mixing bowl, add 2 tablespoon of corn starch, and a large pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper, stir until chicken is evenly coated. You can also place the chicken in a large zip top baggie and add in the corn starch seal the bag and toss and knead to coat the chicken.
Heat a tablespoon of sesame oil in a large skillet and place the coated chicken pieces in an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Cook over medium heat until a toasted golden crust forms. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan.
Add the remaining tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan and cook the green beans for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove the beans from the pan.
Pour soy sauce into the pan, add chopped garlic, ground ginger, salt, pepper. Stir the sauce continually over medium high heat and bring to a boil (1-2 minutes).
Stir the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and pour into the pan, stir and bring back to a boil. Turn the heat down to allow the sauce to simmer over low heat for a few minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
Transfer the cooked chicken and green beans to the pan in a single layer, mix and simmer another 2-3 minutes. Then turn off the heat and leave the dish covered for another 5 minutes.
Top the cooked chicken with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Easy Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces (1 lb)
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 5 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 cup green beans
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- 1/4 cup water
- For serving
- 4 chopped green onions
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Place the pieces of chicken breast in a large mixing bowl, add 2 tablespoon of corn starch, and a large pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper, stir until chicken is evenly coated. You can also place the chicken in a large zip top baggie and add in the corn starch seal the bag and toss and knead to coat the chicken.
- Heat a tablespoon of sesame oil in a large skillet and place the coated chicken pieces in an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Cook over medium heat until a toasted golden crust forms. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan and cook the green beans for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove the beans from the pan.
- Pour soy sauce into the pan, add chopped garlic, ground ginger, salt, pepper. Stir the sauce continually over medium high heat and bring to a boil (1-2 minutes).
- Stir the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and pour into the pan, stir and bring back to a boil. Turn the heat down to allow the sauce to simmer over low heat for a few minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Transfer the cooked chicken and green beans to the pan in a single layer, mix and simmer another 2-3 minutes. Then turn off the heat and leave the dish covered for another 5 minutes.
- Top the cooked chicken with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
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