Homemade Crispy Sesame Chicken
User Reviews
4.2
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
6
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Calories
327 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Chinese
Homemade Crispy Sesame Chicken
Description
The chicken is first dipped in a seasoned egg wash, then coated in a blend of flour and cornstarch to achieve a crisp texture when deep-fried in hot oil. Frying at 350°F ensures the chicken cooks through while developing a golden crust. The frying is done in batches to avoid crowding and maintain oil temperature.
The sauce combines honey, hoisin, soy sauce, ketchup, and brown sugar with garlic and rice vinegar, creating a balance of sweet, savory, and tangy notes. Toasted sesame seeds and sesame oil add a nutty flavor that complements the dish's texture. Once fried, the chicken is tossed in the sauce until well-coated.
Serving this chicken immediately keeps the coating crisp, though the sauce adds some moisture. This dish pairs well with rice or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
The recipe includes a tip for testing oil temperature using a wooden spoon to detect readiness. The sauce can be prepared ahead and stored to reduce cooking time. Pre-mixing the flour and cornstarch and storing it helps streamline the breading process.
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast boneless skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 egg
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper fresh ground
- cooking oil vegetable, for frying
For the sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil or vegetable oil, divided into 1 tablespoon and another 3 teaspoons
- 2-3 gloves garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder, minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup soy sauce low sodium
- 1 teaspoon hoisin sauce
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons green onion sliced
Instructions
- In a medium to large sized shallow bowl, combine flour and cornstarch.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs and add salt and pepper and mix well.
- Coat the chicken by dipping each piece of chicken into the egg mixture with tongs and then into the flour. Add to a large plate. Repeat with all of the chicken.
- In a deep pot (one that will be good for frying), add about 3- 3 1/2 inches of oil and heat on medium until oil is 350 degrees. It's best to use a thermometer for this, but you can also do the wooden spoon test.*
- Once oil is to temp, add chicken to oil (only about 8 pieces of chicken at a time as to not crowd the pot) and cook for 5 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Remove from oil and add to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat with all of the chicken.
- Let chicken drain on a paper towel lined plate.
- Meanwhile, combine the honey, hoisin, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in a bowl. You can also prepare this sauce a day in advance.
- Heat 1 teaspoon of sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds just enough for it to become fragrant, but be sure to not burn it. Then add the sauce, bring it to a simmer, and then let it all cook together for about 3 minutes.
- Once sauce has thickened, add the crispy chicken to the pan and coat all the pieces fully with the sauce. Once well coated, drizzle remaining 2 teaspoons of sesame oil over the top.
- Add sesame seeds and green onions to the top of the chicken and then serve!
Notes
- Use the wooden spoon test to check if the oil is ready for frying: gentle bubbles around the spoon handle indicate appropriate temperature.
- The sauce can be made a day in advance and refrigerated to save time on the day of cooking.
- Pre-mix the flour and cornstarch and store in an airtight container for quicker preparation.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 327 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 327kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 38g | 13% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 127mg | 42% |
| Sodium | 1149mg | 48% |
| Potassium | 595mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 17g | 34% |
| Vitamin A | 202IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 56mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.2
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