Description
A delicious and easy-to-make Honey Sesame Chicken recipe featuring tender bite-sized chicken pieces coated in a crispy cornstarch crust, then tossed in a flavorful honey-soy glaze balanced with garlic, ginger, and sesame. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner served over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Garnish
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon water (optional, for thinning sauce)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
- Mix Coating: In a bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, and black pepper to create a light coating mix that will crisp up the chicken.
- Coat Chicken: Toss the chicken pieces in the cornstarch mixture until each piece is fully coated, which helps create a crispy exterior when cooked.
- Heat Oil: Warm the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat to get ready for frying the chicken.
- Cook Chicken: Add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer to the hot oil; cook for 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove Chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken onto a plate and set aside to prepare the sauce in the same skillet.
- Make Sauce Base: Lower heat to medium, then add honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil to the skillet; stir and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger; continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and sauce thickens further.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the chicken to the skillet and toss well to coat every piece evenly with the flavorful sauce.
- Add Sesame Seeds: Sprinkle sesame seeds over the chicken, stirring them in so they distribute evenly across the dish.
- Finish with Green Onions: Stir in the sliced green onions just before serving to add freshness and color.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of water to thin it to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Serve the honey sesame chicken hot, optionally garnished with additional green onions for extra flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For crispier chicken, cook the pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
- Adjust honey and soy sauce quantities to taste for preferred sweetness or saltiness.
- Serve with steamed rice or noodles to complete the meal.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce sodium content if desired.
- For extra heat, add a pinch of red chili flakes into the sauce.
