This easy Honey Sesame Chicken is one of our go-to weeknight skillet dinners. It's sweet, sticky, and full of takeout-style flavor without deep frying. It's ready in 30 minutes and made with simple ingredients that busy families always have on hand.
If you love quick Asian-inspired meals, try our teriyaki chicken bowl next!
Quick Summary
- Time: Ready in about 30 minutes
- Ingredients: Made with simple pantry staples
- Family-Friendly: Kid-friendly sweet + savory flavor
- Serve With: Delicious over rice, noodles, or veggies
- Why This Version: A lighter, homemade alternative to deep-fried takeout
- Protein Options: Made with chicken breast, but thighs work great too!
This is one of those dinners I make on nights when everyone is starving, and I need something fast. My kids love the sticky, sweet honey garlic sesame sauce, and I love that it reheats well for lunches the next day.
If easy weeknight chicken recipes are your thing, you'll also enjoy our marry me chicken pasta or sweet and sour chicken.
Why We Love This Sweet Sesame Chicken
This homemade sesame chicken is budget-friendly, quick to cook, and always gets a clean plate from the kids. The skillet method keeps it light, and the sauce has the perfect sweet-and-savory balance, making it a true weeknight winner.
Ingredients
- Chicken: We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts because they cook quickly and stay tender when lightly coated in cornstarch. Chicken thighs also work if you prefer dark meat.
- Cornstarch: This is what gives the chicken a light, pan-fried crispness and helps the sauce thicken.
- Soy Sauce: Key base flavor for a classic Chinese-American sesame chicken taste. Low sodium keeps the sauce balanced.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness and creates that glossy, sticky finish. You can swap with maple syrup in a pinch.
- Garlic & Ginger: The heart of any good stir-fry chicken dinner. Fresh is best, but jarred works on busy nights. You'll also love this beef and broccoli recipe for a quick, flavorful weeknight stir-fry.
- Sesame Seeds: Stir some sesame seeds into the sauce and save extra for garnish to give it that "restaurant-style" look.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Vegetarian: Swap chicken for tofu. Press it dry, toss in cornstarch, and pan-fry until crisp.
- Gluten-Free: Use tamari instead of soy sauce and certified gluten-free cornstarch.
- Make it Spicy: Add chili flakes, sriracha, or sambal oelek to turn it into spicy, crispy honey sesame chicken.
- Veggie-Packed: Add a colorful mix of broccoli, snap peas, bell peppers, or carrots when you pour in the sauce for extra crunch, flavor, and a boost of nutrients. For another easy, veggie-packed dinner, try our chicken and veggie sheetpan meal.
- Make it Lighter: Serve it over cauliflower rice that's lightened up but still tasty. You can also reduce the honey for a slightly less sweet version if you prefer, or even skip it altogether.
How To Make Honey Sesame Chicken
- Step 1: Make the honey sesame sauce: Combine the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, honey, and sesame seeds in a bowl. Sift in the cornstarch and whisk until no lumps remain. Set aside.
- Step 2: Prepare the chicken: Trim any excess fat from the chicken breast and pat dry with a paper towel on all sides. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, then add them to a 1-gallon freezer bag. Add cornstarch and black pepper, and close the bag. Shake until completely coated.
- Step 3: Shallow fry the chicken in oil: Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until the outside is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
- Step 4: Mix chicken and sauce: Pour the sauce over the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens. You want to the sauce to thicken so it coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 5: Garnish and serve: Garnish with additional sesame seeds and green onions. Serve over cooked grains or vegetables. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Cut Evenly: Make sure all chicken pieces are roughly the same size so they cook at the same time and stay tender.
- Don't Overcrowd the Skillet: Giving the chicken space prevents steaming and helps it get a nice, slightly crisp texture.
- Whisk the Sauce: Fully blend the cornstarch into the sauce to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth, glossy finish.
- Adjust the Sauce Consistency: If the sauce gets too thick, stir in a splash of water or chicken broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Storing: Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Store extra sauce separately for later in the week, over rice, noodles, or vegetables.
Serving Suggestions
This easy sesame chicken recipe is versatile and works for a variety of mealtime occasions.
- For weeknight dinners, serve honey sesame chicken breast over rice, quinoa, or lo mein-style noodles, and add our honey glazed carrots for a quick, complete, and kid-approved meal.
- Perfect for family gatherings or potlucks paired with oven roasted potatoes and green beans with bacon for a colorful, crowd-pleasing dinner.
- Leftovers are perfect for lunchboxes or turned into Asian chicken wraps the next day.
Recipe FAQs
You can, but the sauce may separate slightly when thawed. For best results, freeze the cooked chicken and sauce separately.
The best way to reheat this dish is in a skillet over medium-low heat with a small splash of water or broth, warming it for a few minutes until the sauce loosens and the chicken is heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave by covering it and heating in short 30-second intervals, stirring in between so the sauce doesn't over-thicken.
Yes, you can absolutely make this stir fry chicken dish ahead of time, and it actually reheats really well. Just cook it as directed, let it cool completely, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The sauce will thicken as it chills, but it loosens right back up when reheated with a splash of water or broth. If you want the chicken to stay a little crispier, you can cook the chicken pieces ahead, store the sauce separately, and toss everything together just before serving.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
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Honey Sesame Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Sesame Sauce
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (peeled and minced)
- 3 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Garnish
- 3 stalks green onion (diced)
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, honey, cornstarch, and sesame seeds to a medium bowl. Whisk until there are no lumps. Set aside.
- Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and add to a 1-gallon freezer bag. Add cornstarch and black pepper and close the bag. Shake until completely coated.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until fully cooked.
- Pour sauce into the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes, occasionally stirring until the sauce thickens.
- Garnish with more sesame seeds and green onions. Enjoy!
Notes
- Coat chicken evenly in cornstarch for light crispiness.
- Heat the skillet fully before adding chicken.
- Let the sauce simmer for a minute or two to thicken properly.
- Add a splash of water if the sauce reduces too much.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
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