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Sesame Chicken

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Ordering Chinese take-out is fun and delicious. It's even more fun making the classics at home.

We love all types of Chinese cuisine classic dishes, such as General Tso's Chicken, Pork Dumplings with Peanut Sauce, and Kung Pao Shrimp. And this dish does not disappoint. You'll be amazed at the results and it all comes together in about 30 minutes!

VIDEO ALERT: Be sure to check out the video for this recipe in the recipe card.  If you like the video, subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

A dinner plate filled with a bed of white rice with sesame chicken on top of it and a pair of chop sticks nearby.

How To Make Sesame Chicken

We have been enjoying this dish ever since our early days in NYC.

Like millions and millions of people around the world, we have been ordering Chinese take-out for years and there has probably never been a time that Wesley didn't order sesame chicken.

When we decided to make it at home, it took quite a bit of practice to get it just right. But, folks, we think this version is pretty spot on.

Watch Us Make It!

If you enjoyed this video, please SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL (click on the link to easily subscribe)! Be sure to click on the little 'bell' icon so you'll never miss a new video! Thank you SO MUCH!

How To Make the Chicken Extra Crispy

For the chicken, we love going with boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces.

To get that crunchy exterior that we all love so much, we use a combination of corn starch and flour.

This mixed with egg yolks, and a little soy sauce, and Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing wine), salt, and pepper will yield the perfect crunchy chicken when cooked in peanut oil at 365F.

A glass bowl filled with uncooked pieces of chicken meat that has been coated with corn starch, flour, egg yolks, and seasonings.

We use our wok to quickly fry up the coated chicken.

Peanut oil works well because it can handle high heat, and imparts a nice flavor to the chicken.

EXPERT TIP: If you would rather not deep fry the chicken, you can easily stir-fry the coated chicken. After sautéing the garlic and ginger, toss in the chicken and stir-fry until golden and cooked through, usually about 8 to 10 minutes.

A kitchen spider holding piece of fried chicken over a wok filled with hot oil.

Building the Classic Flavor

After you've fried up the chicken, you'll need to let the oil cool somewhat and then safely discard it. We pour it into an empty coffee can and then take it, along with other used oil containers to our local 'used oil' drop-off facility. Check with your local municipality, many will even come and pick up the used oil/grease from your home.

Now, back to the wok.

Wipe it clean with a paper towel, and then heat 4 tablespoons of peanut oil. Toss in the minced garlic and fresh ginger and stir-fry for about 30 seconds.

EXPERT TIP: Once you start to stir-fry, everything cooks very quickly. Because of this, mise en place (or everything in place) is really important. This simply means, have all of your ingredients prepped and measured out before you get started. You won't have time to measure anything out once you get going.

A wok on a gas-burning stove with hot oil and simmering minced garlic and ginger in it.

The Classic Sesame Chicken Sauce

Folks, this dish is about crunchy chicken, without a doubt.

But equally important:  The sauce has got to be just perfect.

Here's what you'll need to make the perfect sesame chicken sauce:

  • Sesame oil
  • Honey
  • Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing)
  • Tomato paste
  • Brown sugar
  • Soy sauce
  • Chicken stock
  • Corn starch

Once added to the wok, stir constantly. After just a couple of minutes, the sauce will thicken and become the perfect coating for the chicken.

A person holding the handle of a whisk that is inserted into a white bowl filled with a brownish red sauce.

Once the sauce has thickened somewhat, it's time to add the chicken.

Carefully transfer the fried chicken pieces into the sauce.

Stir continuously until the chicken is fully coated and heated through, about another 2 minutes.

A wok on a gas-burning stove filled with sesame chicken and wooden spoon.

We love to stir in another tablespoon of sesame oil once the dish is ready.

The classic garnishes are sesame seeds and thinly chopped scallions (green onions).

EXPERT TIP: The use of a wok ring helps keep your wok steady as you are frying and stir-frying. It's really essential for deep-frying. It keeps the wok in place and still allows the burner to heat the wok.

A wok filled with sesame chicken with slivers of scallions scattered on top and a wooden spoon off to the side.

How To Serve Sesame Chicken

We love serving the dish right out of the wok, but it's also beautiful brought to the table on a platter.

Make sure to have a nice batch of our Perfectly Steamed Rice on hand.

You can garnish with the sesame seeds and scallions before serving, or allow guests to add to their own liking.

Extra soy sauce on the side is a nice touch, too.

A close-up view of plate filled with sesame chicken on top of a bed of rice.

Hopefully, you are inspired to make this classic dish.

As you can see, many of the ingredients you may already have on hand. If you can't find Chinese cooking wine, then go with a nice sherry, or just leave it out.

We love this dish so much, we make it at least once a month every month of the year! It's always a huge hit with guests, too!

Two dinner plates both filled with a bed of white rice with sesame chicken on top of it and a pair of chop sticks nearby.

Ready to make the best take-out dish in town...at home? Go for it!

And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag @HowToFeedaLoon!

A dinner plate filled with a bed of white rice with sesame chicken on top of it and a pair of chop sticks nearby.

Sesame Chicken

Sesame Chicken is not hard to make at home, at all. If you don't want to deep-fry the chicken, simply stir-fry it in the oil after you have stir-fried the garlic and ginger. Serve over a bed of rice and you'll seriously consider never ordering take out again (well, that's unlikely...but you are going to love this dish).
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Chinese / American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 736kcal
Author: Kris Longwell

Equipment

  • Wok, or large sturdy skillet

Ingredients

For the Sauce

  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp Chinese cooking wine Shaoxing
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • ¼ cup brown sugar light
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • ¼ cup chicken stock or broth
  • 2 tsp corn starch

For the Chicken

  • 1½ lbs chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp Chinese cooking wine Shaoxing
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ⅓ cup corn starch
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • peanut oil for frying, about 4 cups

For Stir-Frying

  • 3 tbsp peanut oil
  • 1 tsp garlic minced
  • 1 tsp ginger fresh, chopped

For Serving

  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 4 scallions chopped
  • Steamed rice

Instructions

Make the Sauce

  • Place all of the sauce ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and whisk until the corn starch has dissolved. Set aside.

Fry the Chicken

  • Heat the peanut oil in the wok to 365°F. A candy thermometer works well.
  • Meanwhile, place the chicken pieces into a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, add the 2 egg yolks, soy sauce, wine, salt, and pepper. Whisk until fully combined.
  • Add the corn starch, flour, and egg yolk mixture to the chicken. Use a large wooden spoon to stir and fully coat the chicken. There may still be some flour and corn starch at the bottom of the bowl, this is okay.
  • Working in a couple of batches, carefully add the chicken to the hot oil, shaking off excess flour before dropping it in. Use a spider, or metal tongs to move the chicken around in the oil, to prevent the pieces from sticking to each other. Fry until golden and cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oil and place on a platter lined with paper towels.

Finish Off the Dish

  • After the oil has cooled somewhat, safely discard. Wipe the wok out with a paper towel.
  • Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for about 30 seconds, careful to not burn the garlic.
  • Pour in the sauce and stir frequently until slightly thickened, about 2 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the fried chicken and stir to coat and heat through, about 2 more minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp more of sesame oil.
  • Serve at once with steamed rice and garnished with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.

Notes

NOTE: See the video towards the top of the post to see us making this amazing dish. 
If you don't have a wok, no worries, you can easily make this in a nice large sturdy skillet.
Boneless skinless chicken breasts can be used in place of the chicken thighs, if desired. 
Sherry is a good substitute for the Chinese cooking wine.  Shaoxing can be found in the Asian section of many well-stocked supermarkets, or at Asian food markets, or online (see body of post for link). 
Because this dish comes together very quickly, it's really important to have all of the ingredients prepped and measure out before you get started.
If you don't want to fry the chicken, just prepared as written, but instead of deep-frying, simply stir-fry it after you've quickly sautéed the garlic and ginger.  Cook, stirring frequently, until golden and cooked through.  No need to remove the cooked chicken, just add the sauce in and cook until slightly thickened. 
The finished dish will keep in the fridge in an air-tight container with a lid for up to 5 days.  It can be frozen for up to a month.  Completely defrost before heating on the stove. 

Nutrition

Calories: 736kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 264mg | Sodium: 1335mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 506IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg
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Comments

  1. Susan says

    Looking forward to making this. The printed recipe for the sauce does not list the chicken stock. I like the new format for the video.

    Reply

    • Kris Longwell says

      Thank you so much, Susan! We updated the recipe to include the stock. Thanks so much for the heads up and please let us know if you make the dish! We think you'll love it! Best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply

    • Cathy Boenig says

      5 stars
      I made the sesame chicken! OMG! I love your recipes. Thanks again for another great recipe!

      Reply

  2. Vivian says

    This looks delicious!

    Reply

    • Kris Longwell says

      Thank you, Vivian!! We really love this sesame so much! We hope you give it a try and if you do, be sure to let us know what you think! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply

  3. Tarre says

    5 stars
    THANK YOU! There are no peppers in this! With the onslaught of cayenne or other hot peppers in literally everything we eat nowadays, and it seems to be getting worse ... I've develped an extreme sensitivity to them. It started with cayenne, now even mild bells make my hair fall out. 🙁 Thank you for this beautiful recipe, I'll make it often. Yum.

    Reply

    • Kris Longwell says

      Hi Tarre! Sorry for the delayed response! We are SO THRILLED you love the looks of this recipe!! It's not spicy at all but still loaded with so much flavor! Please let us know when you make the dish and what you think!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
5 from 2 votes

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