Make the ultimate Asian-Style Crispy Sesame Chicken at home! Tender chicken chunks coated in a crispy crust and tossed in a sticky, sweet-and-savory sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
If you love this Crispy Sesame Chicken recipe, you’ll definitely want to try some of our other quick and satisfying recipes. For a simple appetizer that’s full of flavour, check out our Easy Turkey Wontons—they’re perfect for any gathering. If you’re in the mood for sushi-inspired bites, these Baked Salmon Sushi Cups bring that popular TikTok trend straight to your table.
Need a speedy dinner? Our 15-Minute Udon Noodles is a go-to for busy weeknights. Or, spice things up with Japanese Spicy Tuna Onigiri or my homemade Turkey Wontons an easy snack with a kick. Also, this Sticky Chinese Pork Belly and this Korean BBQ Beef Bowl (easy melt-in-your-mouth Bulgogi) will make you enjoy a very nice meal.
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💗 Why You’ll Love This
- Quick to Make: Done in under an hour, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Customizable: Adjust the sweetness or spice level to your liking.
- Crowd-Pleasing: It’s a hit with kids and adults alike.
- Budget-Friendly: Skip the takeout; this is cheaper and tastier.
🥘 Ingredients
- Chicken: Use boneless, skinless breasts or thighs for the juiciest results.
👩🍳 How To Make Crispy Sesame Chicken
Making this recipe is so easy, that you’ll feel like a weeknight dinner pro in no time! Just coat your chicken, fry it up until it’s golden and crispy, and let the sticky, sweet sauce work its magic. Before you know it, you'll have a dish that’s perfect for family dinners, takeout-style at home – no stress, no mess.
This crispy recipe looks fancy enough to impress your guests, but it’s effortless enough for a busy night. It’s the kind of “dinner magic” we all love.
Step 1: Prep the Meat: So, cut your chicken (or turkey) into bite-sized pieces and toss them in a bowl with seasonings. Let it marinate for about 10 minutes.
Step 2: In the meantime, lightly beat an egg in another bowl and pour it over the chicken. Sprinkle in the cornflour and mix it up. You want it coated, not swimming in cornflour.
Step 3: Coat the Chicken: In a separate bowl, mix flour with a touch of paprika. Now, dredge your meat pieces in this mixture, shaking off the excess flour.
Step 4: Fry the Chicken: Heat oil in a pan, test with a small chicken piece. Fry in batches for 3-4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
Step 4: Make the Sesame Sauce: Mix sesame oil, garlic, vinegar, honey, chilli sauce, ketchup, sugar, and soy sauce in a pan. Heat for 2–3 minutes until thickened.
Step 5: Toss and Serve: Toss the crispy chicken in the sauce, coating it well. Serve over rice or your favourite carbs, and top with sesame seeds and spring onions.
Pro Tip: For an extra crunch, coat the chicken pieces in a thin layer of flour before frying. Use a nonstick pan to make frying easier and ensure they don’t stick!
♻️ Substitutions
- Chicken: Swap for turkey breast or tofu for a vegetarian option.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: Use sriracha for a spicier kick.
- Soy Sauce: Opt for tamari for the gluten-free option.
📋 Variations
- Spicy: Add a pinch of chilli flakes to the sauce for extra heat.
- Nutty: Top with crushed peanuts for extra crunch.
- Vegetarian: Replace chicken with cauliflower florets.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
Pair with fluffy steamed rice, a salad with chickpeas and lentils, or even some sautéed green beans with garlic and olive oil for a balanced meal. For a well-rounded meal, you can also serve it with some sides like steamed broccoli, Şakşuka (Turkish fried vegetables), noodles or crispy wontons.
❓Asian-Style Sesame Chicken FAQs
Yes! You can air fry the meat instead of deep frying to reduce the oil used. Also, you could substitute some of the sauces for lighter alternatives, like using a sugar-free sweet chilli sauce.
Pair with fluffy steamed rice, a Mediterranean Salad - simple and delicious, or even some sautéed green beans for a balanced meal. You can also serve it with some sides like steamed broccoli, Şakşuka (Turkish fried vegetables), noodles or vegetarian crispy wontons for a well-rounded meal.
Absolutely—swap flour and soy sauce for gluten-free versions.
Yes, but it won’t be as crispy. The sauce will still shine!
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Asian-Style Crispy Sesame Chicken
Equipment
- Large skillet or wok
- 2 Small bowls
- 1 Large bowl
- Kitchen tongs (optional)
Ingredients
Chicken and Coating
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoon cornflour cornstarch
- 4 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoon garlic granules
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 3 chicken breast fillets or 4 turkey breast steaks (around 500 gr/1.1 pounds) chopped into bite-size pieces
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
- 3 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 4 tablespoon soy sauce
To fry
- vegetable oil I used sunflower oil
To Serve
- Steamed rice or rice pilaf with short vermicelli
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Small bunch of spring onions chopped
Instructions
- Step 1: Prep the Chicken: Cut 3 chicken breast fillets (or 4 turkey breast steaks) into bite-sized pieces. Place them in a large bowl and add 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic granules, and 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Toss to coat the meat evenly and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- While the chicken marinates, lightly beat an egg in a separate bowl. Pour the beaten egg over the chicken, mixing until well coated. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons cornflour, ensuring all pieces are evenly covered.
- Step 2: Coat the Chicken: In another bowl, combine 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour with 1 teaspoon paprika. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture, making sure to shake off any excess.
- Step 3: Fry the Chicken: Heat enough sunflower oil (or any vegetable oil) in a wok or deep pan over medium-high heat, ensuring the oil depth is about an inch. Once hot, fry the chicken in batches for 3–4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Step 4: Make the Sticky Sesame Sauce: In a clean wok or large pan, combine all the sauce ingredients: 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce, 3 tablespoons ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 4 tablespoons soy sauce. Place the pan over medium heat and stir until the mixture is well combined. Let the sauce cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
- Step 5: Toss and Serve: Add the crispy chicken to the sauce, gently tossing to ensure every piece is evenly coated. Serve over steamed rice or rice pilaf and garnish with 2 tablespoons sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.
- This easy-to-follow method creates a crispy, sticky, and delicious chicken dish that's great for any occasion, from cozy dinners to festive holiday meals!
Video
Notes
- Adjust Spice Level: You can easily modify the heat level of the sauce by adjusting the amount of sweet chili sauce. Add more for extra heat or reduce it if you prefer a milder taste.
- Coating the Chicken: Make sure the chicken is evenly coated with the flour mixture before frying. This helps achieve that crispy, golden-brown texture everyone loves.
- Resting the Chicken: After frying, let the chicken rest on a paper towel-lined plate for a couple of minutes to allow the excess oil to drain off, making the coating even crispier.
- Soy Sauce Choice: For the best results, use a low-sodium soy sauce to avoid making the dish too salty. You can also opt for tamari if you’re gluten-free.
- Rice Variations: This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed rice or rice pilaf, but you could also serve it with noodles or a fresh salad for a lighter option.
- Storage: If you have leftovers, store the crispy chicken separately from the sauce to keep the coating crispy. Both can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat the chicken in an oven or air fryer to maintain its crispiness.
- Frying Oil: If you want a healthier alternative, you can shallow fry the chicken using less oil, or opt for an air fryer for a crispy finish with less oil.
Swathi says
Asian style cripsy seasme chicken looks delicious I have tried and I enjoyed making it.
Sonja says
I adore crispy chicken, but never made it at home as it felt so complicated. Thanks to your recipe this sesame version came out perfect! Kitchen wizard feeling included.
Elizabeth says
The perfect weeknight dinner! So flavorful and easy to make. Adding this to our dinner rotation for sure!
Nisha says
This turned out awesome even better than the take-out we order , so nice to have this recipe handy to make the perfect crispy chicken. The sauce that goes with this chicken is also yummy.
Elizabeth says
So easy and delicious!!! It was the perfect recipe to shake up our dinner menu.
Swathi says
This sesame chicken is so crispy outside and juicy inside. My kids loved it. Goes well with rice.
Kim Beaulieu says
This recipe turned out amazing. We love sesame chicken and this version is stellar.
Juyali says
Tried this recipe last night, and it delivered! The chicken was crispy, and the sesame sauce was spot on. Loved the savory flavors.
Ashley says
This is the dish I always order when we go to a Chinese restaurant. I'm so glad to have a recipe for it to make at home! Thanks for another amazing recipe!
Liz says
SO yummy!!! Both the crispy chicken pieces and sauce were delicious. We didn't have any leftovers!!!