Healthy Sesame Chicken Recipe
This Healthy Sesame Chicken recipe is a quick and easy Chinese-inspired dish perfect for meal prep. Made with tender chicken thighs or breasts coated in a flavorful sesame sauce with garlic, ginger, honey, and a hint of heat from optional hot sauce, it cooks entirely in a pan in under 20 minutes. The use of low sodium soy sauce and toasted sesame oil creates a rich yet nutritious meal that’s ideal for busy weeknights or batch cooking.
- Prep Time: 6 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
Sauce
- 5 Tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1-2 Teaspoons Hot Sauce (Optional for heat)
- 2 Teaspoons Minced Garlic
- 2 Tablespoons Honey
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Ground Ginger
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame Seeds
- 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch
- 2 Tablespoons Cold Water
Chicken
- 2 Pounds Chicken Thighs or Chicken Breast (less fat)
- 2 Tablespoons Corn Starch
- Salt, to taste
- Black Pepper, to taste
- 2 Tablespoons Toasted Sesame Oil (or other oil)
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a bowl, mix together the corn starch and cold water until smooth. Add the soy sauce, hot sauce (if using), minced garlic, honey, ground ginger, and sesame seeds. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Prepare the Chicken: Trim the fat off the chicken and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Place the chicken pieces into another bowl and add the corn starch, salt, and black pepper. Toss thoroughly until all pieces are evenly coated.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the toasted sesame oil in a fry pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer. Let cook without stirring for a few minutes until the bottom side is browned and crisped.
- Flip and Brown: Flip the chicken pieces over to brown the other side, cooking for an additional few minutes until the chicken is well cooked and crisp on all sides.
- Simmer with Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken in the pan. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken evenly, about 3-5 minutes.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for juicier results; chicken breast lowers fat content.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce according to your preferred spice level.
- Make sure to mix the corn starch with cold water to avoid lumps in the sauce.
- Serve with steamed rice or vegetables for a complete meal.
- Store leftovers in airtight meal prep containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Find it online: https://recipesbyliza.com/healthy-sesame-chicken-recipe/
