

Sesame Chicken Recipe
What is Sesame Chicken?
It’s one of the most popular Chinese recipes found in Chinese restaurants and takeouts in the United States.
Everyone loves this deep-fried and crispy chicken coated with a sweet and savory sesame sauce.
Garnished with white sesame seeds, the crispy chicken and sauce pairs perfectly with a bowl of steamed rice.
This is the BEST recipe you will find online! It’s easy, authentic and tastes the same, if not better than Chinese restaurants!

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Sesame Chicken Sauce
The sweet and savory sesame sauce is the star of the dish. It calls for the following ingredients:
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Water
How to Make Sesame Chicken?
It’s very easy to make the dish at home. First, prep the chicken, frying batter and the sauce.
Next, coat the chicken with the batter and deep fry. The final step is to make the sauce and coat the chicken with it.
This homemade recipe is very easy and fail-proof and takes less than 20 minutes to make.
Cook’s Tips
For the best results that is the same as the best Chinese restaurants, please follow my cooking tips below:
- For the crispiest chicken, follow my batter recipe and coat the chicken evenly. The frying batter produces crispy, light and airy chicken. Shake off the excess batter before deep frying the chicken.
- Use chicken breast meat for the best flavor.
- Do not drown the chicken with too much sesame sauce. Too much sauce will make the chicken soggy and not crispy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sesame Chicken the Same As General Tso’s Chicken?
General Tso’s Chicken is a completely different dish with a spicy and dark sauce.
Sesame sauce is sweet and savory in taste but not spicy. Both dishes are equally delicious!

Can I Use Air Fryer for This Recipe?
For the best results, you should deep-fry the chicken. However, you can use an air fryer to air fry the chicken.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 304 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
This meal is best served with steamed rice or noodles. For a wholesome Chinese meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
5 Secrets to 20 Min Dinners
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How to Cook Sesame Chicken?
Please refer to the recipe card and video for detailed step-by-step method on how to make this recipe.
Sesame Chicken

Sesame Chicken - easy, healthy and homemade Chinese Sesame Chicken recipe with sesame sauce. This is the BEST recipe you'll find online and tastes just like takeout restaurants.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. (250 g) boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
- oil, for deep-frying
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- white sesame seeds, for garnishing
Frying Batter:
- 1/2 cup (65 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 egg white
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) cold water
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pinch salt
Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chinese rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons corn starch
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) water
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in the Sauce until well combined. Set aside.
- Mix all the ingredients in Frying Batter in a bowl until well combined, stir a few times to make sure there are no lumps and the batter is smooth. Add the chicken into the batter, stir to evenly coat with the batter.
- Heat 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of the oil in a wok or a stockpot to 350°F (175°C) for deep-frying. Gently drop the chicken into the oil and loosen them up immediately with a spatula to prevent the chicken from clumping together. Deep-fry the chicken to golden brown. Remove the chicken from the oil with a strainer or slotted spoon, draining the excess oil by laying the chicken on a dish lined with paper towels. Discard the oil.
- Heat up 2 tablespoons of the oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry until aromatic before adding the Sauce.
- As soon as the Sauce thickens, add the fried chicken into the wok or skillet. Stir continuously until all the ingredients are well coated with the sauce. Dish out, garnish with the white sesame, and serve immediately with steamed rice.
Notes
Watch the cooking video on this page for step-by-step guide.
My batter is very thick because it will make the chicken extra crispy, even after adding the sauce. If it's too thick to work with, add 1-2 tablespoons water to loosen it up.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size
4 peopleAmount Per Serving Calories 304Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 36mgSodium 595mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 1gSugar 12gProtein 15g
Stephanie
I made this last night and it was fantastic! Tastes exactly like the takeout version, if not better. I can’t wait to try your General Tso’s recipe too!
Rasa Malaysia
Yes please try more recipes on my site! :)
Leslie
Can I use regular vinegar instead??
Rasa Malaysia
Yes.
Bon
Yep! This was absolutely amazing. The best sesame chicken we have ever had! I tripled the recipe, and cooked the chicken in 3 batches. Served with hibachi noodles and steamed broccoli. Thank you for your amazing recipes. 💜
Admin
Thanks.
Pat Cole
One of my favorite go to recipes. So easy and perfect every time. My grandchildren join in,one making the sauce and one making the batter, they love it and never fail to clear their plate x thank you
Rasa Malaysia
Thanks Pat.
Eva Carter
What a great meal. Served with rice and fresh broccoli. Everyone liked it very much and easy to make! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. Blessings to you!
Admin
Thanks.
Jessica
One of the best make at home Chinese recipes I’ve made!! I follow the recipe as is, except I substitute tofu for chicken. I also make extra sauce and use it to make fried rice!
Admin
Thanks.
cndmum
This batter is by far the best we have tried! Love the recipes!
Admin
Thanks for your support!
Narma
Made it with ping only superior quality and also extra ping sauce. Can be mild to wild. Sometime Ron likes it ok and others do as much as needed. Lots of crunch and seeds are beleaguered.
Sarah
I just made it. Very good! Thank you for the recipe.
Abby
Love this recipe! The batter recipe is just perfect to use for other recipes as well :) thank you!
Admin
Thanks.