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This is the best Sesame Chicken recipe with crispy chicken in sweet and savory sesame chicken sauce. It tastes just like Chinese restaurants and takes only 20 mins to make. Serve the chicken with steamed rice for an authentic homemade Chinese meal.
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!
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
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
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.
Cooking 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
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!
For the best results, you should deep-fry the chicken. However, you can use an air fryer to air fry the chicken.
This recipe is only 306 calories per serving.
What 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.
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.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 oz. (230g) 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 all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 egg white
- 1/3 cup 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 cornstarch
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in the Sauce until well combined. Set aside.
- Mix all the ingredients for the Frying Batter in a bowl until well combined. Stir a few times to ensure there are no lumps and the batter is smooth. Add the chicken to the batter and stir to coat it evenly.
- Heat 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of oil in a wok or stockpot to 350°F (175°C) for deep-frying. Gently drop the chicken into the hot oil and immediately loosen them with a spatula to prevent the pieces from clumping together.
- Deep-fry the chicken until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the oil using a strainer or slotted spoon, allowing the excess oil to drain by placing the chicken on a dish lined with paper towels. Discard the oil.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry until fragrant, then pour in the sauce.
- As soon as the sauce thickens, add the fried chicken to the wok or skillet. Stir continuously until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce. Dish out, garnish with white sesame, and serve immediately with steamed rice.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Loved this recipe!
I live in the Holland, Europe and I remember eating sesame chicken in the States. I was craving this dish and saw your recipe and decided to give it a try.
I made a batch for my family and a batch for my in-laws who tested positive for corona. Glad they weren’t sick too bad.
Anyways they also loved it and asked me for the recipe so they could make it themselves.
Thank you for this most tasty recipe!!!
Thanks, Sandra.
Instead of battering chicken can i use that same batter receipe for shrimp?
What kind of oil do you use for frying? Also, do you use sesame oil for cooking the garlic?
Thanks
Chrystal
Vegetable oil for both.
Here you say vegetable oil and in the next comment from Stephanie you say sesame oil. I’m confused. I would think that sesame oil would be best for the ingredients and vegetable or peanut oil for the frying.
HI what type of oil are you referring to in the recipe?
Sesame oil.
Best batter EVER! Thank you!!!
I while heartedly agree ! I added a few dashes of sesame oil to the sauce ! So delicious
I would love to take this dish for our Christmas party but will the chicken be soggy before I get to the party thanks Yohna Goodwin
Yes it might.
Soooo delicious. My whole family loved this. Better than any restaurant sesame chicken I have ever had. Can’t wait to make it again!
Awesome thanks for trying and please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
This really is a delicious recipe, I’m so glad I stumbled across it. It has become a family go for Chinese food, my very picky husband thinks it’s better than take out and my kids love it and request in! Win win!!
Thanks Amanda, I am so glad you love my recipe. Please try more!
Hi
Your sesame chicken recipe looks delicous. Just curious for the chinese rice vinegar. I looked it up at Walmart. They have the Nakano Original Seasoned Rice Vinegar or The Nakano Natural Rice VInegar. Would these work if so which one would you get? I’m suprised the recipe does not have sesame oil this is the only one I found that doesn’t have sesame oil. I’m glad because I have tried sesame oil in a recipe before and it was really strong tasting. I cant remember if I tried the toasted sesame oil or the regular sesame oil. Any of your other recipes do you ever use sesame oil if so what type do you prefer?
Thank you
Jennifer
Hi Jenn, both rice vinegars are fine. This is sesame chicken, not sesame oil chicken (which is a completely different recipe). I like toasted sesame oil.
Do I have to use egg for this recipe as my granddaughter is allergic to them
You can skip.
This dish was amazing! Everyone loved it so we’ll definitely be making it again soon, very soon!
Thanks for trying my recipe.