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Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe

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3.9 from 14 reviews

A quick and easy Sesame Chicken recipe featuring tender boneless skinless chicken thighs coated in a flavorful egg and cornstarch batter, pan-fried until golden, and tossed in a savory-sweet sesame sauce. Perfect served over jasmine rice and garnished with fresh green onions for a delicious family-friendly meal ready in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Sauce Ingredients

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp water
  • 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 Tbsp sesame seeds

Chicken Coating

  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch pepper
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs

For Cooking and Serving

  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil
  • 4 cups cooked jasmine rice
  • 2 whole green onions, sliced

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, water, toasted sesame oil, brown sugar, rice vinegar, freshly grated ginger, minced garlic, cornstarch, and sesame seeds. Stir well until the cornstarch is fully dissolved. Set aside for later use.
  2. Coat the Chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Toss the chicken pieces in the egg and cornstarch mixture to coat them evenly.
  3. Heat the Oil: Add the cooking oil to a large skillet and heat over medium flame until very hot. Swirl the oil to coat the entire surface of the skillet thoroughly.
  4. Cook the Chicken: Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the skillet. Let them cook undisturbed until the bottoms are golden brown. Carefully flip the chicken pieces, breaking them up gently into smaller clumps as you do so. Continue cooking until the chicken is golden brown on all sides, minimizing stirring to maintain the egg coating.
  5. Add the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the cooked chicken in the skillet. Toss the chicken gently to coat it evenly. As the sauce heats to a simmer, it will thicken. Continue stirring gently until the sauce has thickened fully, then remove from heat.
  6. Serve: Spoon the sesame chicken over a bed of cooked jasmine rice. Garnish with sliced green onions for a fresh, flavorful finish, and enjoy your meal!

Notes

  • For best results, use boneless skinless chicken thighs as they stay tender and juicy when cooked.
  • Grate fresh ginger finely for maximum flavor; avoid pre-ground ginger for this recipe.
  • Do not stir the chicken too much while cooking to keep the coating intact and crispy.
  • Adjust brown sugar amount to your preferred sweetness level.
  • This recipe can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free soy sauce.