Skip the take-out and make your very own Homemade Crispy Sesame Chicken! It's easier than you think and you can make it with simple and easy ingredients you already have in your pantry!
Guys. It's allllll the Asian flavors up in this house these days. Even though people often try to speak to me in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean (and any other Asian language that the speaker knows) because I am in Korean, I grew up in New England and was raised 100% Polish, so this much Asian deliciousness in our house isn't common, but it's now going to be because these homemade versions are so easy. With a two year old and a (now) 3 month old at home, dinner has to be easy these days. And although it might take a little bit of time, this Homemade Crispy Sesame Chicken is easy!
Ingredients Needed
Even though "from scratch" and "homemade" can often sound time consuming, it doesn't have to be. Plus, you probably already have everything for this recipe in your pantry. Maybe you don't have rice wine vinegar. In that case, you need to add it to your pantry immediately, especially if you want to make more Asian dishes.
- Boneless Chicken - Breasts are our favorite for this.
- Flour and Cornstach - To coat the chicken. We use all-purpose but you can also use gluten-free flour. Just keep in mind if you use almond or coconut flour, that will adjust the taste of your chicken. The cornstarch helps add to the crispiness while it's frying.
- Eggs - To bind the coating
- The Sauce - Soy, rice vinegar, ketchup, honey, garlic, hoisin, and brown sugar.
- Sesame Oil - This adds that sesame flavor, although you could also use another oil, but keep in mind whatever you use will impart flavor, so best to use a vegetable oil, unless you want some added peanut flavor, add some peanut oil.
Tip: You can make your own 5 Minute Homemade Ketchup, Hoisin Sauce, and Homemade Brown Sugar!
Substitutes: You can also make this with boneless chicken thighs, but I prefer it with chicken breasts.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Coat the chicken pieces in eggs, flour, and cornstarch and then fry. It's the most most time consuming part of this recipe but 100% worth it.
Tip: For the best fry without the risk of undercooking and overcooking, is to make sure that your oil is 350 degrees. To do this, we have an instant read thermometer and love this one.
Step 2: Mix your sauce and then just mixing the sauce, adding it to a pan and then tossing your deliciously breaded and fried bits of chicken in it.
Tip: For added sesame flavor, we sometimes do a final drizzle of sesame oil over the top before giving it all a final mix.
Step 3: Top with sesame seeds and green onions, serve over rice annnndddd done.
I mean, c'mon. How good does this look? Trust me, it tastes that good, too!
My husband and my two year old could not get enough and have already requested it again! So skip the take out and make your own Homemade Crispy Sesame Chicken!
Other Favorite Asian Inspired Recipes
Crock Pot Beef Pho From Scratch
Sweet and Spicy Sriracha Chicken Thighs
20 Minute Sweet and Spicy Noodles
Chicken and Broccoli Sesame Noodles
Sweet and Sesame Ginger Meatballs
Don't forget to tell me if you've made the recipe on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Or leave a comment below - I love hearing from you!
Homemade Crispy Sesame Chicken
Equipment
- optional instant read thermometer
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- oil for frying vegetable
For the sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided into 1 tablespoon and another 3 teaspoons or vegetable oil
- 2-3 gloves garlic, minced or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup soy sauce see note
- 1 tablespoon hoisin
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
Instructions
- In a medium to large sized shallow bowl, combine flour and cornstarch.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs and add salt and pepper and mix well.
- Coat the chicken by dipping each piece of chicken into the egg mixture with tongs and then into the flour. Add to a large plate. Repeat with all of the chicken.
- In a deep pot (one that will be good for frying), add about 3- 3 1/2 inches of oil and heat on medium until oil is 350 degrees. It's best to use a thermometer for this, but you can also do the wooden spoon test.*
- Once oil is to temp, add chicken to oil (only about 8 pieces of chicken at a time as to not crowd the pot) and cook for 5 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Remove from oil and add to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat with all of the chicken.
- Let chicken drain on a paper towel lined plate.
- Meanwhile, combine the honey, hoisin, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in a bowl. You can also prepare this sauce a day in advance.
- Heat 1 teaspoon of sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds just enough for it to become fragrant, but be sure to not burn it. Then add the sauce, bring it to a simmer, and then let it all cook together for about 3 minutes.
- Once sauce has thickened, add the crispy chicken to the pan and coat all the pieces fully with the sauce. Once well coated, drizzle remaining 2 teaspoons of sesame oil over the top.
- Add sesame seeds and green onions to the top of the chicken and then serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Dinner at the Zoo.
