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Sesame Chicken

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Sesame Chicken - Crispy chicken with a sweet, savory sauce with lots of sesame seeds. The best and easiest recipe that is better than Chinese takeout.

Sesame Chicken - Crispy chicken with a sweet, savory sauce with lots of sesame seeds. The best and easiest recipe that is better than Chinese takeout. | rasamalaysia.com

Crispy chicken deep-fried and covered in a sweet and savory sauce as well as sesame seeds.

Crispy Sesame Chicken

Everyone loves this recipe – it is deep-fried and crispy chicken coated with a sweet, savory sauce, and speckled with lots of sesame seeds.

Chinese Sesame Chicken is the golden child of takeout restaurants as patrons and diners just can’t get enough of it paired with a bowl of steamed rice.

Super easy crispy chicken recipe using sesame sauce.

Is it the same as Honey Chicken?

The only difference between this chicken and General Tso’s Chicken is in the sauce. This sauce calls for soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, and water.

Close up homemade Sesame Chicken ready to serve.

The Best Recipe

Lucky for us, I have decoded the secrets to making restaurant-style Sesame Chicken, with taste that rivals, if not better than, your favorite joint.

My recipe tester gave this recipe two thumbs way up! The best thing about this recipe is that it’s fail-proof, so easy and anyone can make it at home. You can also check out the cooking video above on how to make it.

What Dishes to Serve with this Recipe?

For a wholesome dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

Menu and Meal Ideas

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4.39 from 26 votes
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Sesame Chicken Recipe

Sesame Chicken - crispy chicken with sweet, savory sauce with sesame seeds. Best and easiest recipe that is better than Chinese takeout. 

Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword Sesame Chicken
Prep Time
Cook Time
Total Time
Servings 2
Calories 406 kcal
Author

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into strips (250 g)
  • Oil for deep-frying
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • White sesame seeds for garnishing

Fying Batter:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted (65 g)
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/3 cup cold water (80 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • Pinch of salt

Sauce:

Instructions

  1. Mix all the ingredients in the Sauce until well combined. Set aside.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Recipe Notes

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 Facts
Sesame Chicken Recipe
Amount Per Serving (3 g)
Calories 406 Calories from Fat 138
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15.3g 24%
Saturated Fat 1.8g 9%
Cholesterol 65mg 22%
Sodium 690mg 29%
Total Carbohydrates 38g 13%
Dietary Fiber 0.6g 2%
Sugars 16.3g
Protein 29.4g 59%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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102 COMMENTS... read them below or add one

  5. For the sauce – how much water is there supposed to be? 1/3 Cup? Or 1/3 Tablespoon? It seems like you copied and pasted and something got mixed up…

    Reply

  6. What ingredient do Chinese restaurants use to add a spicy kick to this? My home town place added something to spice it up but it wasn’t overwhelming and I can’t figure it out. They wouldn’t tell me when I asked, telling me if they told me people could make it for themselves and they would be out of business. I disagreed and said, no, it just allows me to know how they do it. Do you have any ideas what it could be. By the way, it was NOT sriracha. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply

  8. Just tried this recipe yesterday – so much better than most of the takeout places around here!

    I wanted a little more flavor to my sauce, so I added some rice wine and sesame oil. Very savory.

    I’d like to experiment some more with the flavor – can you suggest any other ingredients to try? Maybe something to make it a little more tangy?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  9. Rasa! Best ever sesame chicken is right! Your recipes never fail me girl! A hit with entire family. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

  10. My husband said this is the best chicken I’ve made in a while <3 and I make some good chicken dishes! He doesn't like any spicy so this was perfect. Even the tots loved it! I've been looking for the perfect Sesame chicken recipe, this is it, thanks!

    Reply

  11. Thankyou for such a delicious recipe. The whole family absolutely loved it and I wish I made more as we woofed it all down and there was not a leftover in sight.
    I made this with Gok Wan’s special fried on the side. Tastes exactly like a takeout but even nicer.

    Reply

  12. Made this tonight and we LOVE it! Definitely better than take out! Can’t wait to make it again! I wonder if it would also work with shrimp instead of chicken??

    Reply

  14. My batter had a dough-like consistency as well. Should the water volume be 2/3 cup? I measured my flour and cornstarch by volume – not weight (though I used scant 1/2 cup of sifted flour and scant 1/4 c. sifted cornstarch). That may have been the problem. The sauce wasn’t very good. It tastes like watered down soy sauce, and if you look at the ingredients, that’s all it is. The flavor of this dish comes from the browning technique used on the chicken. I have LOVED every recipe I have made from this website, but this one was a miss.

    Reply

    • Hi Shannon, I think somewhere along your cooking, there must be a misstep or wrong measurement. This recipe was tested twice and the batter recipe always works for me and should NEVER be doughy. The egg white and water and when you add chicken into the batter, they dilute the batter. If anything the batter would become runny and not doughy. The sauce is soy sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar. It’s not watered down soy sauce. The recipe came out exactly like the photos, and the recipe had been tested twice. Many people have tried with great success and I personally love this Sesame Chicken recipe. It’s very tasty.

      Reply

  15. Love this recipe! The first time I made it, my chicken was nice and crispy. The last couple of times it came out, the batter was soggy. What do you think may be causing this? I thought I may be adding the chicken into the sauce too soon and it’s not thick enough? Thoughts?

    Reply

  16. Wasn’t sure what to cook tonight for dinner..And as always I turn the Pinterest for new ideas, not just cooking, everything is the Pinterest. Anyway found this recipe, and even though I didn’t have sesame seeds I decided this looked good. And boy was it..Used apple cider vinegar, as I wasn’t prepared for Asian cooking. A1 recipe..Even the 21 yr old twins that never like anything that doesn’t come through a drive through window loved it. Definitely another go-to from Pinterest for me..Thank you….

    Reply

  17. Hi, looking forward to making this. I noticed you must have left out a word for the sesame. You wrote “1 Sesame, white”. For us non-asian people, it may be helpful to write “white sesame seeds”. But anyway, how much sesame seed? 1 tsp? 1 Tbsp?

    Reply

      • Thank you! It turned out great! I added some cayenne pepper for a little kick and some sesame oil to the sauce and batter ;) This is the first Asian dish I have made with success at home ? My husband said it’s better than our favorite takeout!

        Reply

  20. Just discovered your recipes. I am going to pick up a few of the ingredients I need tomorrow.. I am MSG allergic so if I can make my own delicious Orange Chicken or Broccoli with Beef I will be in heaven.

    Reply

  21. I made this tonight and it was fabulous! We could really taste the soy sauce, but maybe ours is a little too strong. This time around I used Kikomans. What do you suggest to fix that? More sugar? Another brand of soy sauce?

    Either way, my husband loved it and said he would eat it again. I could see trying the chicken with different sauces too…lemon, orange…the posibilities are endless Win!

    Reply

  24. This was so good! Not a drop of anything was left. We practically licked the pan clean. Next time I’m going to use orange juice instead of water in the sauce mix for an orange chicken variation. Thank you for this wonderful recipe! The coating on the chicken is just perfect!

    Reply

  27. Made this for dinner tonight. OMG it was sooooo good!! I didn’t make any changes to the recipe and it was just perfect. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes :) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  28. Just made this recipe for dinner. OMG. It was so tasty. I really thought it was better than any Chinese restaurant that I have ever been to. My Boyfriend would like me to make this again tomorrow! The sauce was on point and the directions were easy to follow. Thank you for the video as well.
    Paired this dish with blanched broccoli florets and cabbage pancakes.

    Reply

  29. Only make this recipe if you want to be disappointed when you go out to eat at you favorite restaurant. The flavor is amazing.I have used the batter alone for the vegetarian in the house and that alone is awesome. We now refuse Togo out eat and make this once or twice a week!

    Reply

  31. This was really good but I did forget the garlic and realized at the end that I didn’t have sesame seeds after all. The way it came out was really just perfect for all the members of the household and they wished I had made more.

    Reply

  32. The best recipe, sooo delicious, thank you! Made 2lbs of it this evening, we loved it, and always make enough for leftovers. I use peanut oil for frying, and added red chili oil and a little sesame oil to the perfect sauce you designed.
    I only had organic whole wheat flour on hand, and it worked fine, adding a bit extra water to thin. The battered chicken puffed up beautifully, and so crispy. I want to try it for shrimp and vegetables next. As well as many other
    of your recipes- keeping the wok ready. It truly was better than 3 of the restaurants we frequent for Asian food
    (sesame chicken in particular). Very happy to have found your website, it’s wonderful.

    Reply

  33. Made this for lunch today and it was a hit! Simple to follow and delicious! The kids loved it and my husband said its his new fav dish! Thank you all the way from New Zealand!

    Reply

  34. I had been on a search for a simple and delicious Sesame Chicken recipe. None of them came close until THIS recipe. My mouth and belly went straight to happy land! I think it is better than any sesame chicken I have ate at Chinese restaurants. How good is this recipe? I’ve made it four times over the last two weeks. There is usually no leftovers, but the one time there were leftovers it heated up wonderfully the next day. Simple, easy to follow instructions. And that sauce–YUMMY! Thanks for a great recipe

    Reply

  35. After mixing chicken in sauce, and turning the heat off, the sauce turned sort of gelatinous…. what did i do wrong?

    Reply

  37. My son challenged me to make sesame chicken as well as his favorite Chinese spot. I think mine (yours) was better!! I had the same issue with organic flour, but added more water and it was perfect! wondering if honey might be better than sugar. what are your thoughts? I used peanut oil, is that what you use? thanks for a great recipe!!

    Reply

  38. Hello, um I was reading this and it looks good. Can’t wait to make it. But when you said heat up the stir-fry with the garlic in a wok or skillet. I am like where in the world did that come from? Because its not in the ingredients. Do you mean like stir-fry sauce or vegetables? Because I don’t see any vegetables in the photos. I just want to make sure! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Samantha, you must not have read the recipe properly. It stated clearly that you will need 1 clove of garlic, minced. And the instructions said it clearly that “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.”

      Reply

  39. Bee, please help me! I made one of your Asian chicken dishes a month ago, and it was AMAZING. Now I can’t find the recipe anywhere! I thought it was the honey sesame, sesame, or thai sweet chili chicken, but none of these recipes call for separation of the batter ingredients like the one I used did. The recipe’s methods called for separating cornstarch, egg, and flour in 3 separate bowls, and then dipping the chicken into them separately. Do you have any idea which one this could be?! I’m grateful in advance!

    Reply

  40. Wow This is the very first time I have ever left a comment on a recipe . I made this tonight followed recipe exactly including the tip to add more water if needed . It’s was so better then going to the Chinese restraunt.
    Hats of to the chef …Thank you for sharing !

    Reply

  41. Wow!!!!!
    We are surprised and stuffed. This was a HUGE hit in my house tonight. Even my Philippine neighbor loved it. It was perfect. I highly reccomend a meat thermometer to verify chicken is done ( @170°) but we cooked until golden brown and it was pretty close to the correct temp.
    HINT: We really were worried the sause was not going to thicken. However just when it started to boil it almost immediately started to thicken.
    Also we used boneless skinless chicken breast and it was so moist….lol. I hate that word but its a true descriptive word for this.

    It took us almost 2 hours start to Finnish because we had to 5x the ingredients. Math= extra time but in the end totally worth it. We paired with the copycat for panda express chow mien. Yummy too just read all the comments and make sure you get the correct noodles( not the dry hard usually noodles you think)

    Reply

  42. I made this a few weeks ago and to my surprise my family loved it, even my picky little ones!! I’m making it again tonight & hope it comes out as great as the first time.Thanks so much for sharing :)

    Reply

  43. Can someone tell me how many tablespoon of ketchup?
    I can’t see it as I’ve punch a hole at that part of the printed recipe. When I tried to go to the Get Recipe link, it doesn’t work.

    Reply

  44. Oh my goodness. This is the best sesame chicken recipe!!! Thank you. Made it for my 5uear old grandson and he loves it.

    Reply

  46. I’m short on time or I would make this from scratch, but I made popcorn chicken last night and I have so much left over, would it taste horrible to use that as my base and coat it in your sauce?

    Reply

  47. Y’all. This is amazing. I did tweak it some. I used boneless chicken thighs, left out the oil in the sauce and added about half a teaspoon of sesame oil and about a half a teaspoon of crushed red pepper. It was delicious but next time I may use half the sugar. This is the best sesame chicken I’ve ever put in my mouth

    Reply

  50. I love this recipe but I needed to add at least sesame oil to really make it into sesame chicken not just sesame seeds as garnish. Without the sesame oil you its just soy sauce chicken with a sesame seed garnish

    Reply

  53. This recipe is amazing. However, the sauce itself is too sweet for my preference. I tried to cut down half of the sugar from 4tbsp to 2tbsp. I also added more soy sauce, and it was perfect. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  55. I tried this last night and all we can say is wooow it was absolutely lovely and delicious. Thank you so much.

    Reply

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