• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peter's Food Adventures
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Travel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • recipes
  • about
  • travel
  • Follow and Share!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • recipes
    • about
    • travel
  • Follow and Share!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Honey Sesame Chicken

    Author: Peter Kolesnichenko · Published: Aug 19, 2016 · Modified: Apr 25, 2022

    Jump to Recipe

    Honey Sesame Chicken is one of my favorite homemade takeout recipes. A copycat Sesame Chicken recipe, like you enjoy at Panda Express or PF Changs. Crispy chicken pieces tossed in a savory and sweet sesame sauce, dinner done in 40 minutes!

    sesame chicken for dinner with chopsticks
    chicken in batter
    frying sesame chicken in wok

    What's Honey Sesame Chicken?

    This Honey Sesame Chicken recipe is one of my favorite American-Chinese restaurant meals. Popular in food courts and restaurants like Panda Express and even in Chinese buffets.

    Crispy battered chicken pieces that are tossed in a sweet and savory honey sesame sauce, garnished with sesame seeds. This is one of my favorite Chinese take-out recipes, and homemade is always healthier.

    How to make Crispy Batter

    The secret to Honey Sesame Chicken is the crispy battered chicken. Some people bake or air fry the chicken pieces, but it doesn't taste the same. To make the crispy batter, you need to add corn starch. The flour and cornstarch ratio is 2:1. You can also substitute cornflour with potato flour.

    Chicken Breast or Chicken Thighs?

    I know the default for many is to use chicken breast fillets. They're lower in fat and are easily found in supermarkets. However, when making Sesame Chicken, you should try chicken thighs. Why? Because thighs are more flavorful and juicier when fried compared to chicken breast. You can use either, but I'm on team chicken thighs!

    making sesame chicken sauce
    sesame chicken in sauce

    How to make Sesame Chicken

    This is a classic Chinese-American fast food recipe. Battered and fried in a wok, tossed in an easy sauce. It usually takes me about 30 minutes to make Sesame Chicken for dinner, but allow 45 minutes if it's your first time. The longest part of making this recipe is frying the battered chicken in small batches. You'll be tempted to throw it all in, but the batter will stick together into one hot mess.

    • Cut chicken pieces into ¾" cubes
    • Prepare the crispy batter, and place the chicken pieces in batter until coated
    • Fry the chicken in small batches until cooked
    • Make the Honey Sesame sauce in a wok or saucepan
    • Toss the crispy chicken pieces in the honey sauce
    • Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately

    What to Serve with Honey Sesame Chicken

    • White Rice, Brown Rice or Wild Rice
    • Snow Peas with Pine Nuts
    • Quinoa
    • Roasted Garlic Broccoli with Soy
    • Chow Mein Noodles
    • Cauliflower Fried Rice

    Healthier Sesame Chicken

    If you're wanting a healthier version of this recipe, here are my suggestions. Skip the batter and bake the chicken in the oven or air fryer. You can also sauté the chicken in a frying pan. Follow the recipe to make the Honey Sesame Sauce, toss and serve!

    sesame chicken over rice with chinese tea

    Recipe Tips

    • Pre-cook the rice so it's ready to serve when your chicken is tossed in the honey sesame sauce
    • The longer the chicken sits in the sauce, the soggier it gets. Quickly toss to coat and serve immediately
    • Substitute Shaoxing Cooking Wine with Sake, or even a Dry Sherry
    • Instead of using a wok or frying pan, try a deep fryer

    Asian Recipes You'll Love

    • Crispy Sweet and Sour Pork
    • Asian Roast Potatoes
    • Salt and Pepper Shrimp
    • Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
    • Teriyaki Chicken
    • Chinese Roast Duck in Master Stock

    A Honey Sesame Chicken recipe that's easy to make and everyone will love. No need for Chinese takeout, this homemade copycat recipe is healthier and msg free! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

    sesame chicken beside chopsticks

    Honey Sesame Chicken

    Who needs takeout when homemade Honey Sesame Chicken tastes better! A sweet and sticky Asian dinner favorite. Crispy chicken pieces tossed in a honey sesame sauce, served over rice.
    5 from 35 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American, Asian, Chinese
    Keyword: honey sesame chicken, sesame chicken, sesame chicken recipe

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound /500g chicken thighs cut into ¾-inch cubes
    • oil for frying

    Crispy Chicken Batter

    • 1 cup flour
    • ½ cup corn starch
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ⅔ cups water

    Honey Sesame Sauce

    • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
    • ½ cup honey
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine Shaoxing Wine
    • 1 tsp Rice Wine Vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
    • 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil
    • 2 teaspoons roasted sesame seeds
    • green onion to garnish

    Corn Starch Slurry

    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • 3 tablespoons water

    Instructions

    Making Crispy Batter

    • In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, egg, and salt. Add water and whisk until smooth.
    • Add the chicken pieces to the batter, mixing together so all the pieces are coated. Leave the chicken in the batter until you are ready to fry.

    Frying Sesame Chicken

    • In a wok or saucepan, add enough oil to fry. Should be at least 2 to 3 inches deep. Heat oil until hot, around 350°F.
    • Slowly add the battered chicken, one piece at a time, and fry in small batches. Fry for about 5 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Don't allow the pieces to stick together while frying, constantly turning the chicken.
    • Remove from wok onto a paper towel lined plate. Repeat the process until the chicken is cooked.

    Honey Sesame Sauce

    • Mix together the honey, Chinese Cooking Wine, Rice Wine Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil and water. Set aside.
    • In a glass, mix together the cornstarch and water and make a slurry. Set aside.
    • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok and quickly fry the chopped garlic, no more than 30 seconds. Add the honey sauce and heat until it bubbles. Add the cornstarch slurry and cook it for about 1-2 minutes, until sauce thickens.

    Making Sesame Chicken

    • Toss the crispy chicken pieces in the hot honey sesame sauce until fully coated. Serve immediately over rice. Sprinkle with roasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @petersfoodadventures or tag #petersfoodadventures!

    ©PetersFoodAdventures.com

    sesame chicken on a plate
    sesame chicken on a plate

    More Recipes

    • cabbage pie served on a plate
      Cabbage Pie
    • coleslaw dressing in a jar
      KFC Coleslaw Dressing
    • bowl of korean fried rice with a fried egg
      Kimchi Rice
    • Slow Roast Leg of Lamb recipe, perfect for a Sunday Roast, an Easter Lamb lunch, or for dinner tonight. Roast Lamb with pierced with fresh rosemary and garlic, roasted with vegetables.
      Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb

    Primary Sidebar

    Peter's Food Adventures - where you'll find Russian recipes, Slavic and International favorites with some fun travel and cooking videos. A Russian Food Blogger.

    Hi, I'm Peter!

    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to create tasty meals for your family!

    Food is the ingredient that brings people together. I love authentic foods, and have a very multicultural food background. I am genuinely happy to share the recipes of foods that make me and my family happy. And hopefully yours too. 

    Learn more about me →

    As Featured On

    As Featured On various magazine brands

    Popular Recipes

    • A Hungarian classic summer dish - paprika peppers with with ground beef, rice and paprika spice. Cooked in a delicious tomato passata sauce. Summer comfort food - Hungarian Stuffed Peppers (töltött paprika)
      Hungarian Stuffed Peppers (töltött paprika)
    • Greek Meze Plates
    • pineapple fried rice served inside pineapples
      Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
    • black caviar on a plate served with blinis
      How to Eat Caviar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Intellectual Property

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Peter's Food Adventures

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    173 shares
    • 47