Sesame Chicken
A quick, comforting sesame chicken recipe featuring a glossy sauce, toasted sesame seeds, and tender chicken. Ready in about 30 minutes, it pairs beautifully with steamed rice and green veggies for a cozy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 2 scallions green parts, sliced
- 1 cup steamed rice, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, water, garlic, and ginger. This will be your sauce base.
- Toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch until lightly coated. This helps them sear and stay juicy.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer and cook until golden brown on all sides, about 5–7 minutes. You may need to work in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring to coat the pieces evenly and thicken slightly.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. If you like a bit more gloss, drizzle in a little more honey or a splash of soy sauce to taste.
- Serve the sesame chicken over warm rice and enjoy right away.