Description
Sesame chicken brings together crispy-coated chicken with a savory-sweet glaze that comes together faster than you’d expect, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when you’re craving restaurant-quality results at home. Toasted sesame seeds and a balance of soy and ginger give you that authentic Asian flavor you love, without requiring any complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1 pound)
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Cut your 1 lb of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
- Whisk together 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, and 3 minced garlic cloves in a bowl.
- Add your chicken pieces to the marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors soak in.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a splash of oil, letting it get hot before adding your marinated chicken.
- Cook your chicken for about 5-7 minutes at medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the pieces turn golden brown and cook through completely.
- Pour any remaining marinade from the bowl into your skillet and reduce the heat to low.
- Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until it thickens slightly and coats your chicken nicely.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp of toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions over your finished dish right before serving.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes makes a real difference in flavor, though if time is tight, even 15 minutes will help the seasonings sink in.
- Cutting your chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces ensures everything cooks evenly without some pieces drying out while others are still cooking.
- For a lighter version, skip the oil in the skillet and use a non-stick pan or cooking spray to keep the fat content down without sacrificing texture.
- Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for just a minute or two before sprinkling them on top, since this brings out their nutty flavor and makes the dish taste more finished.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: More Healthy Recipes
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg