Master the Art of Homemade Sesame Chicken: Your Ultimate Sweet & Savory Takeout Recipe Guide
There’s a reason why sesame chicken holds a special place in the hearts of Chinese-American cuisine lovers. This delightful stir-fry dish is a celebrated classic, renowned for its incredible balance of sweet and savory notes, perfectly crispy chicken, and an irresistible, glossy sauce. Unlike its spicier counterpart, General Tso’s chicken, sesame chicken typically leans into a milder, more approachable sweetness, making it a family favorite that everyone can enjoy. The magic truly lies in its signature sauce, a carefully crafted blend featuring the vibrant kick of aromatic diced ginger, the subtle tang of red wine vinegar, the deep umami of hoisin sauce, and the familiar saltiness of soy sauce. Traditionally, it’s beautifully garnished with steamed broccoli florets and toasted sesame seeds, often with the delightful crunch of optional peanuts for an extra layer of texture. In this comprehensive guide, we’re excited to walk you through every step to create your own authentic and delicious version of this beloved takeout dish, ensuring it’s even more delicious, fresh, and satisfying than anything you could order!
Why Choose Homemade Sesame Chicken?
There’s an undeniable satisfaction that comes with recreating your favorite restaurant dishes at home. With homemade sesame chicken, you gain complete control over the quality of ingredients, allowing you to opt for fresh, high-quality chicken and crisp vegetables. You can adjust the sweetness, the saltiness, and even the thickness of the sauce to perfectly match your family’s preferences. Plus, making it from scratch means you can avoid common additives like MSG and excessive oils often found in takeout versions. It’s a healthier, fresher, and often more cost-effective way to enjoy this beloved dish, and the aroma filling your kitchen will be an added bonus that makes dinner an event to look forward to!
Our Family’s Favorite Sesame Chicken Recipe
In our household, stir-fries are a constant delight, and this particular sesame chicken recipe is a star player in our meal rotation. It’s a dish that has consistently brought smiles to the dinner table, whether served alongside a generous portion of our favorite chicken fried rice or simply over a bed of fluffy white rice. We genuinely can’t get enough of its delectable flavors and satisfying textures. This recipe isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience that brings the whole family together, eager for every sweet and savory bite.
I am thrilled to share this specific sesame chicken recipe with you because it features a truly outstanding sauce. This sauce is so flavorful and addictive that you’ll undoubtedly find yourself reaching for seconds, or even thirds! It strikes that perfect balance of sweetness, tang, and savory depth, coating each piece of crispy chicken beautifully and transforming simple ingredients into a gourmet experience. Get ready for a new family favorite!
RELATED: If you enjoy this recipe, you might also like these other Asian-inspired classics – Mongolian Beef or Kung Pao Chicken.
Key Ingredients for Unforgettable Homemade Sesame Chicken
Crafting the perfect homemade sesame chicken starts with selecting the right ingredients. For a full list of precise measurements and all ingredients, you’ll find a convenient printable version in the recipe card at the very end of this post. However, let’s highlight some of the core components that make this dish shine and contribute to its iconic flavor and texture:
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs are ideal. Chicken breast offers a leaner option and cooks quickly, while chicken thighs provide a juicier, more tender result thanks to their higher fat content. Cut them into uniform bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
- The Crispy Batter: This is crucial for achieving that authentic takeout crispiness. Our batter is a simple yet effective combination of all-purpose flour for structure, cornstarch for its ability to create an extra-crisp crust, an egg to bind everything together, baking powder for a light and airy texture, and a touch of salt for seasoning. Cold water helps achieve the perfect, smooth consistency.
- The Signature Sauce: This sweet and savory symphony is the heart of the dish. It includes fresh diced ginger for warmth and an aromatic zing, chicken broth as a flavorful liquid base, sugar for the characteristic sweetness, red wine vinegar for a tangy counterbalance that cuts through the richness, hoisin sauce for deep savory and slightly sweet notes, soy sauce for essential umami and saltiness, and sesame oil for its distinct nutty fragrance. A small amount of cornstarch acts as a thickening agent, ensuring the sauce perfectly clings to every piece of chicken.
- Vegetables & Garnish: Fresh broccoli florets add a welcome crunch, vibrant color, and nutritional boost. Toasted sesame seeds are essential for both their nutty flavor and beautiful presentation. An optional but highly recommended handful of peanuts adds a delightful textural contrast and an extra layer of savory richness.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Crispy Sesame Chicken at Home
Making delicious sesame chicken from scratch might seem daunting, but with these clear and detailed steps, you’ll be serving up a restaurant-quality meal in no time. Precision in preparation and attention to oil temperature are key to achieving that perfect crispy exterior and juicy interior that makes this dish so popular.
- Prepare the Batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the batter ingredients (flour, cold water, cornstarch, egg, salt, and baking powder) until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps. This batter is essential for giving your chicken its delightful crispiness. Once mixed, set it aside to rest for at least 45 minutes. Due to the raw egg, it’s best to place the bowl in the refrigerator during this resting period. This crucial rest allows the flour to fully hydrate, resulting in a lighter and crispier coating when fried, which is key to that authentic texture.
- Mix the Sauce Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients: diced ginger, chicken broth, sugar, red wine vinegar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Whisk them together thoroughly until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is well-combined and homogenous. Set this flavorful sauce aside for now; it will be added to the stir-fry later, allowing its complex flavors to develop further.
- Coat the Chicken: Take your bite-sized chicken pieces and add them directly into the prepared, rested batter. Stir gently but thoroughly to ensure each piece of chicken is completely and evenly coated with a good, consistent layer of batter. This even coating is vital for achieving uniform crispiness when frying.
- Deep Fry the Chicken: Fill a wok or a large, heavy-bottomed pot halfway with canola oil (or another neutral, high-smoke-point oil suitable for frying). Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches a precise temperature of 370-380 degrees Fahrenheit (188-193 degrees Celsius). Using a kitchen thermometer is essential for accuracy here. Carefully add the battered chicken pieces to the hot oil, adding them one at a time to prevent them from sticking together and to maintain the oil’s temperature. Fry the chicken in batches if necessary (do not overcrowd the wok!), until it turns a beautiful, even golden brown and is thoroughly cooked through. This typically takes about 10-15 minutes per batch, depending on the size of the pieces. Ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) for safety.
- Remove and Keep Warm: Once fried to perfection, carefully remove the chicken pieces from the hot oil using a slotted spoon or a spider, allowing any excess oil to drain back into the wok. Transfer the crispy chicken to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Place this in a low oven (around 200°F or 90°C) to keep the chicken warm and maintain its crispiness while you proceed with preparing the sauce and vegetables.
- Stir-fry Vegetables and Sauce: Carefully pour out the excess oil from the wok, leaving behind just a thin, flavorful film, or wipe the wok clean with a paper towel. Add 1 tablespoon of fresh olive oil (or canola oil) to the wok and heat over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli florets and the optional peanuts, and stir-fry them for about 3-4 minutes until the broccoli is tender-crisp – vibrant green and still retaining a slight bite. Then, pour in the reserved sauce mixture and stir gently but continuously. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, allowing it to thicken slightly and become glossy as it bubbles.
- Combine and Serve: Finally, add the warm, crispy fried chicken back into the wok with the thickened, bubbling sauce. Stir everything together meticulously to ensure every single piece of chicken is thoroughly coated in the luscious, sweet-savory glaze. Sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds for an added layer of nutty flavor and visual appeal. Serve immediately over a steaming bed of white rice, brown rice, or your preferred side, and prepare for a truly satisfying and memorable meal that tastes just like your favorite takeout!
Tips for Perfect Homemade Sesame Chicken
To ensure your homemade sesame chicken turns out perfectly crispy and coated in that delicious sauce every time, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Oil Temperature is Paramount: For truly crispy chicken that isn’t greasy, maintaining the correct oil temperature (370-380°F or 188-193°C) is absolutely crucial. Invest in a good kitchen thermometer and monitor the temperature diligently. Too low, and your chicken will absorb too much oil; too high, and it will burn on the outside before cooking through.
- Avoid Overcrowding the Wok: Fry the chicken in small batches to prevent the oil temperature from dropping too drastically. Overcrowding cools down the oil and steams the chicken instead of frying it, resulting in a less crispy texture. Patience here pays off!
- Rest the Batter: Do not skip the 45-minute resting period for the batter in the refrigerator. This step allows the flour to fully hydrate, which is essential for developing a light, airy, and ultimately crispier coating on your chicken.
- Use Fresh Ginger: While ginger paste is convenient, fresh diced or grated ginger offers a more potent, vibrant, and aromatic flavor that significantly elevates the complexity and freshness of the sauce.
- Adjust Sweetness to Taste: The sauce recipe provides a balanced sweetness, but feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to match your personal preference. You can add a little more if you prefer a sweeter profile, or slightly less for a more savory dish.
- Versatile Serving Suggestions: While classic white rice is the traditional accompaniment, consider serving your sesame chicken with fluffy brown rice, a side of stir-fried lo mein or chow mein noodles, or even a quinoa salad for a healthier twist. Steamed green beans or snap peas also make great additions alongside the broccoli.
- Storage and Reheating: Store any leftover sesame chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For best results when reheating, use an air fryer or oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes to help restore some of its crispiness, rather than a microwave which can make it soft.
Explore More Asian-Inspired Favorites from Our Kitchen
Cooking Chinese dishes has become a delightful tradition in my kitchen, often making an appearance 3-4 times a month. It’s a cuisine that genuinely excites the whole family, offering a diverse range of flavors and textures that never get old. Beyond this fantastic sesame chicken recipe, we have several other tried-and-true favorites we love to rotate through.
One of my absolute go-to Chinese dishes is Moo Goo Gai Pan. The elegant combination of tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, and a medley of fresh, crisp vegetables in a light, savory sauce makes this dish incredibly satisfying and a constant craving. It’s light yet flavorful, perfect for a balanced and wholesome meal.
Another beloved recipe that frequently makes its way onto our family menu is my Chinese Pepper Steak. This savory and vibrant dish, packed with tender strips of beef and colorful bell peppers in a rich, garlicky brown sauce, is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and always leaves everyone wanting more. It’s robust in flavor and surprisingly simple to prepare.
For those interested in exploring wonderful vegetarian options within Chinese cuisine, we have two truly mouth-watering recipes that are just as flavorful and satisfying as their meat counterparts. Our General Tso’s Cauliflower offers a delightful, crispy, and tangy experience, mirroring the classic chicken dish but with a healthy vegetable twist. Alternatively, our Sticky Garlic Cauliflower is utterly addictive with its sweet and savory glaze, making it an excellent side dish or a standalone vegetarian main. Both are fantastic ways to enjoy the vibrant and complex flavors of Chinese cooking with a plant-based twist.
More Delicious Asian Recipes You’ll Love
- Sesame Chicken – Bookmark this page for quick access to this very recipe!
- Szechuan Beef – A bold and spicy beef stir-fry, perfect for those who love a bit of heat with their savory dishes.
- Kung Pao Chicken – A classic spicy, sweet, and savory chicken dish featuring crunchy peanuts and dried chilies.
- Bourbon Chicken – Sweet and sticky, with a hint of Southern flair in its rich, flavorful sauce.
- Honey Walnut Shrimp – Crispy shrimp coated in a creamy, sweet honey sauce, often topped with delightful candied walnuts.
- Korean Fried Chicken – Indulge in ultra-crispy, double-fried chicken often served with a spicy-sweet gochujang-based glaze.
- General Tso Chicken – The famous sweet, savory, and spicy takeout favorite, known for its deep-fried chicken and tangy sauce.
Sesame Chicken
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 head broccoli about a handful cut up pieces
- sesame seeds
- ½ cup peanuts optional
Batter
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup cold water
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Whisk batter ingredients together until smooth. Set aside for 45 minutes I placed it in the refrigerator due to the raw egg.
Sauce
- 1 tsp ginger diced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp cornstarch
Instructions
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First, Whisk batter ingredients together until smooth. Set aside for 45 minutes (I placed it in the refrigerator due to the raw egg).
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Mix all sauce ingredients together and set aside.
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Place chicken pieces into the batter you made earlier. Stir to coat completely.
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Fill wok halfway with canola oil and bring to 370-380 degrees. Deep fry chicken pieces, adding one at a time, until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
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Remove chicken and keep warm.
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Remove oil from wok and wipe out with paper towel. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or canola oil) and stir fry broccoli and peanuts until broccoli is tender crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Add the sauce and stir gently until it bubbles.
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Add chicken and stir to combine, coating chicken pieces with the sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over a bed of rice.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post was originally published on this blog on April 20, 2009. It has been updated and republished to provide more detailed instructions, additional tips, and improved readability for a better cooking experience.