Honey sesame chicken is made with juicy fried chicken breast pieces and tossed in a thick, sweet, and savory honey sesame sauce for an easy Chinese takeout recipe at home.
Let’s make another easy and popular Chinese takeout recipe at home. This easy chicken recipe tastes so much better than Panda Express’ honey sesame chicken—you won’t want to go back! It is perfect to enjoy for lunch or dinner with a bowl of rice or noodles.
Honey sesame chicken is a Chinese-American dish that features bite-sized battered and fried chicken that is then tossed in a sweet, savory, and sticky sauce made primarily with soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. The chicken is then topped with sesame seeds and generally served with rice and vegetables.
This Asian chicken dish is most commonly found in Western restaurants and was made popular by takeout restaurants such as Panda Express and P.F. Changs.
Ingredients
You can find all the ingredients for this honey sesame chicken recipe at your local Asian grocery store. I’ve linked all the ingredients in the recipe card below.
Chicken
Chicken: either boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs can be used.
Chicken bouillon powder: to add extra savory flavor to the chicken.
Salt and White Pepper: to season the chicken
Eggs: act as the binding agent for the batter
All-purpose flour and cornstarch: the combination yields crispy, and airy fried chicken pieces
Baking Powder: creates air pockets to make the chicken even crispier.
Vegetable Oil: or any neutral oil with a high smoke point to fry the chicken.
Honey Sesame Sauce
Light Soy Sauce: has lower sodium than regular soy sauce and is the base of the sauce.
Oyster Sauce: adds a layer of savory umami goodness.
Rice Vinegar: adds light brightness and acidity.
Ketchup: adds a secret kick of umami.
Honey: adds a gentle sweet, floral flavor and glossy texture.
Brown Sugar: adds extra sweetness to the sauce.
Garlic: the main aromatic.
Sesame Oil: adds the finishing nutty sesame flavor.
Cornstarch: will thicken the sauce for a glossy glaze.
Substitutions and Additions
Substitutions
Soy sauce alternative: instead of soy sauce, you can use tamari or coconut aminos.
Vinegar: instead of rice vinegar, regular white vinegar can be substituted.
Granulated sugar: instead of brown sugar, you can use granulated sugar.
Additions
Ginger: for a more vibrant aromatic flavor, add grated ginger.
Spice: for added heat, you can add dried chili peppers, chili oil, sriracha, etc.
How to Make Honey Sesame Chicken
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to make this honey sesame chicken recipe. See the recipe card for full detailed measurements and instructions.
Place the chicken into a bowl with the chicken marinade. Mix until combined and marinate for at least 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix the sauce ingredients until combined.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix the batter ingredients until combined. Pour the batter over the chicken and mix until every piece is coated evenly.
Heat vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 365°F. Gently place the battered chicken in the oil individually and fry for 3 minutes. Work in batches to prevent overcrowding the pan. Remove and place the chicken on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
Increase the oil temperature to 375°F and work in batches to fry the chicken for 2 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove and place the chicken on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the work over medium heat and saute the garlic. Pour in the sauce and bring the sauce to a simmer. Next, mix the cornstarch slurry and add slurry and mix until the sauce thickens about 1 minute. Turn off the heat add the sesame oil and mix until combined.
Toss together the chicken and the sauce until evenly coated. Sprinkle the honey sesame chicken with sesame seeds.
Expert Tips
Dice the chicken evenly. Dice the chicken into evenly sized pieces to ensure they cook as evenly as possible.
Add dark soy sauce for color. If you want a darker brown sauce color, add 1 teaspoon of dark soy sauce. It adds a sweet soy sauce flavor to the sauce.
Single fry v. double fry. Double frying allows the chicken to get extra crispy so it won’t get soggy when tossed with the sauce. You can always single-fry the chicken for 5-7 minutes instead.
Use a thermometer in your oil. Oil temperature will fluctuate as you cook the chicken in batches. To ensure, crispy and crunchy chicken use a cooking thermometer in your oil to adjust the temperature as needed.
Fry the chicken in batches. Since this is a wet batter, the chicken pieces may stick together if you fry too many pieces at once and overcrowd the pan.
Simmer the honey sesame sauce until thickened. Simmer the honey sesame sauce until it is thickened to ensure that it has a thick, glossy glaze to evenly coat the chicken.
Use an oil solidifier to dispose of oil. Use an oil solidifier like fry away to solidify the oil to make it easy to throw away in the trash.
Storage Instructions
You can store the sesame chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat: since the sesame chicken is fried, the best way to reheat would be in the oven or air fryer at 350°F until warmed through.
Freeze: you can freeze the fried chicken separately from the honey sesame sauce once they are both cooled in airtight containers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the chicken and sauce in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and serving.
Pairing Suggestions
This honey chicken recipe can be served with a bowl of steamed white rice or with the following pairing suggestions.
What is the difference between General Tso’s and sesame chicken?
General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken are both very popular Chinese takeout dishes that are made with chicken that is battered and fried. However, General Tso’s chicken sauce is bolder and spicier in flavor whereas the sesame chicken sauce is made with a mild, sweet, and savory flavor.
Can you freeze honey sesame chicken?
Yes, you can freeze this honey sesame chicken however it is best that you freeze the chicken separately from the sauce if possible.
Is sesame chicken healthy?
No, since the chicken is battered and deep fried there are not very many health benefits. However if you’d like a healthier version, you can simply cook the chicken on a skillet or grill and toss it with the delicious honey sesame sauce instead.
Does honey sesame chicken have nuts?
No, honey sesame chicken does not have nuts. The nutty flavor comes from sesame seeds which are not nuts. However, if you have a seed allergy this may cause an allergic reaction.
Does sesame chicken have dairy?
No, like most Asian recipes, this sesame chicken recipe does not include any dairy.
Honey sesame chicken made with juicy fried chicken breast pieces and tossed in a thick, sweet and savory honey sesame sauce for an easy Chinese takeout recipe at home.
Marinate the chicken. Place the 1 inch cut pieces of chicken into a bowl with chicken bouillon powder, white pepper and water. Mix until combined and marinate for at least 10 minutes.
Mix the sauce. In a small bowl, add the light soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, honey, brown sugar, and water. Mix until combined and set aside.
Make the batter. In a medium mixing bowl, add the large eggs, all purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, water, and oil and mix until combined. Pour the batter over the chicken and mix until each piece is evenly coated.
Fry the chicken. Heat about 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a wok or heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat until it reaches 365°F. Gently place the battered chicken in the oil individually. Work in batches to prevent overcrowding the pan. Fry for about 3 minutes. Remove with a spider strainer and place the chicken on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
Double fry the chicken. For the second fry, increase the heat to 375°F and work in batches to fry the chicken for 2 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove and place the chicken on a wire rack to drain excess oil. Make sure to increase the oil to 375°F before frying the second batch.
Cook the honey sesame sauce. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the wok over medium heat. Then add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Pour in the sauce and mix until combined. Bring the sauce to a simmer while stirring for 2 minutes. Once the sauce begins to simmer, mix the cornstarch slurry, add to the sauce, and mix until it thickens, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat, add the sesame oil, and mix until combined.
Combine and serve. Toss together the chicken with the sauce until evenly coated. Finish with sesame seeds and green onion and enjoy!
love it.