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Ready in under 30 minutes, this crispy honey sesame chicken is coated in a delicious sweet and savory sauce that makes it so irresistible! It is made with honey, ketchup, and sesame oil, garnished with sesame seeds for extra crunch and a burst of nutty flavor.
My family and I love ordering from Chinese restaurants for their delicious, deep-fried chicken drenched in a rich and savory sauce. And here’s my homemade version that’s just as good, if not better than takeout!
This easy honey sesame chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have a lot of time and energy to cook. But it’s still something satisfying and delicious you and your family can enjoy together at home!
If you’re into sweet and spicy flavors, try my Thai Sweet Chili Chicken recipe next time!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicious sauce. Any dish with honey and sesame oil is a winner, and this recipe is a perfect example. The sweet and savory flavors of the sauce coating the fried chicken pieces are simply divine!
- Interesting textures. Each bite of this honey sesame chicken is a combination of crispy, sticky, and tender goodness that makes it so satisfying to eat.
- A healthy alternative to takeout. Don’t you just love it when you can make your favorite takeout at home with healthier ingredients? This recipe has less oil and added sugars compared to the one you get from Panda Express.
What Is Honey Sesame Chicken
Honey chicken is one of the most popular Chinese recipes here on Rasa Malaysia. I created that recipe two years ago and many readers have requested variations of that recipe.
So I made the best honey chicken sauce recipe that’s perfect for crispy, deep-fried chicken pieces.
Honey sesame chicken is essentially the same as honey chicken but with the addition of sesame oil for a nutty, aromatic flavor. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and savory, with the honey providing natural sweetness and the sesame oil adding an authentic Chinese touch.
Ingredients
- Chicken – I use chicken breasts in this recipe, but you can use chicken thighs too. If using frozen, make sure to thaw in the fridge overnight to avoid losing too much moisture.
- Egg white – binds all the ingredients of the frying batter. I only use egg white as it helps to fully coat the chicken when drenched in the batter. Plus it helps create that light, crispy texture we all want.
- All-purpose flour – the base of the frying batter.
- Cornstarch – gives the chicken that perfect crisp without being too heavy.
- Baking powder – makes the batter light and fluffy while also making the chicken extra crispy when fried.
- Apple cider vinegar – adds a hint of acidity to the chicken. You can use rice vinegar as a substitute.
- Honey – provides natural sweetness and glazes the chicken with a sticky and glossy texture. Use pure honey for the best flavor!
- Sesame oil – gives the chicken a rich and nutty flavor that’s very common in Asian chicken sauce.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
Variations
- Spicy. Put some heat to the honey chicken sauce by adding crushed chili flakes or diced jalapenos.
- Orange flavored. Make orange chicken by adding orange zest and juice to the sauce. It brings a refreshing twist to classic chicken recipes!
- Teriyaki style. Give your chicken a rich and umami taste by using teriyaki sauce for a different sweet and savory flavor.
- Veggies. Add some yellow bell peppers and green beans to the mix for a healthier meal.
How To Shallow Fry Chicken
The sweetest thing about this recipe is that you don’t even really need to deep fry the chicken to have that crispy texture.
Deep-frying uses a lot of oil, three to six inches deep, which is only good for a few batches before it turns rancid. In this recipe, shallow frying works extremely well. It requires less oil, it’s way quicker to heat up, and it’s a lot less messy!
A small saute pan (preferably non-stick for easy frying and cleaning), two inches deep of cooking oil, and a pair of long chopsticks are all you need. Heat the oil and fry the chicken, as simple as that! Less oil means less sputtering, and it’s a lot easier to turn the chicken pieces than when they’re submerged in an entire pot of oil.
How To Make This Recipe
Making this awesome honey sesame sauce for chicken is one of the easiest things you can do for a quick and tasty meal. You only need a handful of everyday ingredients that you can easily grab from your pantry or grocery store.
This honey sesame chicken breast recipe combines the sweet and savory flavors of Sesame Chicken and Honey Chicken into one dish! The sweet, tangy, and savory honey sesame sauce delivers the best color, aroma, flavor, and texture.
I almost always eat it with rice, but sometimes, when I’m feeling fancy, I serve it on a platter with dishes like Chow Mein and Kung Pao Shrimp.
Here’s how to make honey sesame chicken in under 30 minutes:
Step 1: Combine the frying batter ingredients in a bowl. Whisk thoroughly until smooth. Cut the chicken into cubes then drop into the mixture. Coat evenly and set aside.
Step 2: Mix honey sesame sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
Step 3: Heat up a saute pan and add about 2 inches of oil on medium to high heat. When the oil is ready, gently drop the battered chicken cubes one by one. Spread evenly into the pan to prevent the chicken from sticking to each other. Fry until golden brown. Drain excess oil on paper towels.
Step 4: Transfer 2 tablespoons of frying oil to a wok or skillet. Stir-fry the garlic until it becomes aromatic. Add the honey sesame sauce from earlier and bring to a simmer or until the sauce thickens.
Step 5: Toss the fried chicken breast cubes in the sauce. Stir a few times to ensure the sauce coats the chicken cubes evenly. Add the toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately with steamed white rice or Chinese fried rice.
Cooking Tips
- Slice your chicken pieces into uniform, bite-sized chunks for even cooking and a good batter-to-chicken ratio.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch, baking powder, egg white, and ice cold water in preparing the batter for a nice, crispy and light chicken coating.
- Heat the oil to the right temperature before frying. Keep it at around 350-375°F (175-190°C) to avoid soggy chicken pieces. Anything lower than that and it will be greasy and heavy. Too high and it will easily burn while still raw inside.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying. Doing this tends to lower the oil temperature which results in unevenly cooked chicken pieces.
- Double-fry the chicken for extra crispiness. After the first fry, let it rest for 5 minutes before frying again at a higher temperature.
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for a few minutes until golden brown to bring out their nutty flavor. It’s a simple way to intensify the sesame flavors without adding extra sesame oil.
- Make the sauce for this sweet sesame chicken up to two days in advance for last-minute meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coated in a sticky honey sesame sauce, this chicken recipe has the perfect balance of flavors that pairs with the mild taste of chicken. It’s sweet, slightly tangy, nutty, and savory all at the same time.
No, honey sesame chicken is different from orange chicken. Both are crispy and glazed with a sticky and sweet sauce, but have completely different flavor profiles. Honey sesame chicken has a distinct nutty flavor from sesame oil, while orange chicken has a tangy and citrusy taste from orange.
I like to add cornstarch and baking powder to the batter to achieve the perfect crispy texture. I also use egg whites only instead of whole eggs to create a nice, light coating on the chicken. Frying the chicken in hot enough oil (around 350-375°F) also contributes to the crispiness.
If your honey sauce is too thin, you can easily thicken it by adding a cornstarch slurry. Mix equal parts cornstarch and water until smooth, then add it to the sauce while stirring constantly until it’s thick enough to coat the chicken pieces properly.
This honey sesame chicken recipe has only 416 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
Preparing for a family meal? For an easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Honey Sesame Chicken (Better Than Takeout!)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. (500g) boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch (2.5cm) cubes or long strips
- oil, for deep-frying
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- toasted sesame seeds, to garnish
Frying Batter:
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup water, ice cold
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pinch salt
Honey Sesame Sauce:
- 1/3 cup pure honey
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine the frying batter ingredients in a bowl. Whisk thoroughly until smooth. Cut the chicken into cubes then drop into the mixture. Coat evenly and set aside.
- Mix the honey sesame sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
- Heat up a saute pan and add about 2 inches of oil on medium to high heat. When the oil is ready, gently drop the battered chicken cubes one by one. Spread evenly into the pan to prevent the chicken from sticking to each other. Fry until golden brown. Drain excess oil on paper towels.
- Transfer 2 tablespoons of frying oil to a wok or skillet. Stir-fry the garlic until it becomes aromatic. Add the honey sesame sauce from earlier and bring to a simmer or until the sauce thickens.
- Toss the fried chicken breast cubes in the sauce. Stir a few times to ensure the sauce coats the chicken cubes evenly. Add the toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately with steamed white rice or Chinese fried rice.
Video
Notes
- Slice your chicken pieces into uniform, bite-sized chunks for even cooking and a good batter-to-chicken ratio.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch, baking powder, egg white, and ice cold water in preparing the batter for a nice, crispy and light chicken coating.
- Heat the oil to the right temperature before frying. Keep it at around 350-375°F (175-190°C) to avoid soggy chicken pieces. Anything lower than that and it will be greasy and heavy. Too high and it will easily burn while still raw inside.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying. Doing this tends to lower the oil temperature which results in unevenly cooked chicken pieces.
- Double-fry the chicken for extra crispiness. After the first fry, let it rest for 5 minutes before frying again at a higher temperature.
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for a few minutes until golden brown to bring out their nutty flavor. It’s a simple way to intensify the sesame flavors without adding extra sesame oil.
- Make the sauce for this sweet sesame chicken up to two days in advance for last-minute meals.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Just like Chinese takeaway but better, brilliant and easy.
Hi Frank thanks for trying my honey sesame chicken. :)
It takes just like Chinese chicken even before the sauce I have made it twice now and love it
Hi Lydia, thanks for trying my honey sesame chicken recipe. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
This recipe was amazing, thank you. I have a big family and made the recipe x5 and there was leftovers. I paired it with rice and baked potatoes for a comfort meal :) and will definitely add this as a family dish. So easy to make.
Hi Holly, thanks for your sweet comment. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Doubled the recipe and my family loved it a lot – and so do I. Thanks for the recipe!
Dear Bee,
I recently discovered this great site with superb Asian recipes. I already made the delicious General Tso’s chicken and I will surely prepare many more of your mouth-watering recipes.
I have a simple question. I noticed that you sometimes use 1/2 cup ice cold water in your famous frying batter (like in this recipe) and sometimes 1/3 cup ice cold water (e.g. in the orange chicken and sesame chicken recipes). Is there a recipe specific reason for this or did you adjust the amount of ice cold water over the years based on your experience? And if you adjusted the amount of water, is it nowadays the 1/3 cup you prefer in your batter?
Hope you can help me out.
Best regards from The Netherlands,
Fred
Hi Fred, I change my recipes all the time, for the batter, you can use 1/3 if you want a slightly thicker coating or 1/2 if you want a thinner coating. It’s all up to you.
Thanks, Bee.
This is the best sesame chicken recipe that I have found! I have tried several others and this one will my go-to from now on. Thank you for posting this recipe. This was amazing and I will definitely be adding this recipe to the rotation. This is better than take out. The chicken is so crispy and the sauce is perfect! This is excellent!
Hi Mat, yes, please try more recipes from my site, they are all good: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
One of my favorite dish, Amazing look & taste .thanks for sharing with us.
Loved this recipe. Made it two days in a row. Halved the ingredients on the first time. Second time I halved batter ingredients but kept sauce ingredients complete for extra sauce. Either way was great.
With the garlic I just roughly chopped it so people can pick it out if needed. Flavour was still there.
Try and get the chicken as crispy as possible in the oil so that it stays crispy under the coating. So good thank you.
I found making the sauce and batter first was easier.
Serviced with white boiled rice and Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. Super easy.
Hi there, so happy you tried my recipe. Please do try more recipes on my site, they are all super delicious: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Great recipe my family loved it
will do it again my kids and my mum all said they can’t wait for me to do it I cooked a double batch this time and all my kids had extra and had no left overs
Hi David, awesome, thanks for trying. Do try out more of my recipes, they are all good: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Can I air fry this instead?
You can try!
I made this last night and it didn’t disappoint. Easy to prepare and make. I deep fried the chicken to ensure it was golden brown. Tasted amazing. Brilliant recipe and will be going into my favourites. Thanks.
Hi Brian, awesome, please try more recipes on my site, they are all delicious and very easy: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/