Sesame Chicken (The BEST Recipe with Video!!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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This is the best Sesame Chicken recipe with crispy chicken in sweet and savory sesame chicken sauce. It tastes just like Chinese restaurants and takes only 20 mins to make. Serve the chicken with steamed rice for an authentic homemade Chinese meal.

Sesame Chicken (The BEST Recipe with Video!!) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

Sesame Chicken (The BEST Recipe with Video!!) - Rasa Malaysia (2)

Table of Contents

Sesame Chicken Recipe

What is Sesame Chicken?

It’s one of the most popular Chinese recipes found in Chinese restaurants and takeouts in the United States.

Everyone loves this deep-fried and crispy chicken coated with a sweet and savory sesame sauce.

Garnished with white sesame seeds, the crispy chicken and sauce pairs perfectly with a bowl of steamed rice.

This is the BEST recipe you will find online! It’s easy, authentic and tastes the same, if not better than Chinese restaurants!

Sesame Chicken (The BEST Recipe with Video!!) - Rasa Malaysia (3)

Other Recipes You Might Like

  • Honey Sesame Chicken
  • Honey Chicken
  • Lemon Chicken
  • Orange Chicken
  • General Tso’s Chicken

Sesame Chicken Sauce

The sweet and savory sesame sauce is the star of the dish. It calls for the following ingredients:

  • Soy sauce
  • Rice vinegar
  • Sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Water

How to Make Sesame Chicken?

It’s very easy to make the dish at home. First, prep the chicken, frying batter and the sauce.

Next, coat the chicken with the batter and deep fry. The final step is to make the sauce and coat the chicken with it.

This homemade recipe is very easy and fail-proof and takes less than 20 minutes to make.

Cooking Tips

For the best results that is the same as the best Chinese restaurants, please follow my cooking tips below:

  • For the crispiest chicken, follow my batter recipe and coat the chicken evenly. The frying batter produces crispy, light and airy chicken. Shake off the excess batter before deep frying the chicken.
  • Use chicken breast meat for the best flavor.
  • Do not drown the chicken with too much sesame sauce. Too much sauce will make the chicken soggy and not crispy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sesame Chicken the Same As General Tso’s Chicken?

General Tso’s Chicken is a completely different dish with a spicy and dark sauce.

Sesame sauce is sweet and savory in taste but not spicy. Both dishes are equally delicious!

Sesame Chicken (The BEST Recipe with Video!!) - Rasa Malaysia (4)

Can I Use Air Fryer for This Recipe?

For the best results, you should deep-fry the chicken. However, you can use an air fryer to air fry the chicken.

How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe is only 304 calories per serving.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

This meal is best served with steamed rice or noodles. For a wholesome Chinese meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

How to Cook Sesame Chicken?

Please refer to the recipe card and video for detailed step-by-step method on how to make this recipe.

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Sesame Chicken

Easy, healthy and homemade Chinese Sesame Chicken recipe with sesame sauce. This is the BEST recipe you'll find online and tastes just like takeout restaurants.

4.62 from 307 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 4 people

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. (230g) boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
  • oil (for deep-frying)
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • white sesame seeds (for garnishing)

Frying Batter:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/3 cup cold water
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 pinch salt

Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 1/3 cup water

Instructions

  • Mix all the ingredients in the Sauce until well combined. Set aside.

  • Mix all the ingredients in Frying Batter in a bowl until well combined, stir a few times to make sure there are no lumps and the batter is smooth. Add the chicken into the batter, stir to evenly coat with the batter.

  • Heat 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of the oil in a wok or a stockpot to 350°F (175°C) for deep-frying. Gently drop the chicken into the oil and loosen them up immediately with a spatula to prevent the chicken from clumping together.

  • Deep-fry the chicken to golden brown. Remove the chicken from the oil with a strainer or slotted spoon, draining the excess oil by laying the chicken on a dish lined with paper towels. Discard the oil.

  • Heat up 2 tablespoons of the oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry until aromatic before adding the Sauce.

  • As soon as the Sauce thickens, add the fried chicken into the wok or skillet. Stir continuously until all the ingredients are well coated with the sauce. Dish out, garnish with the white sesame, and serve immediately with steamed rice.

Video

Notes

Watch the cooking video on this page for step-by-step guide.

My batter is very thick because it will make the chicken extra crispy, even after adding the sauce. If it's too thick to work with, add 1-2 tablespoons water to loosen it up.

Course: Chicken Recipes

Cuisine: Chinese

Keywords: Sesame Chicken Recipe

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Sesame Chicken

Amount Per Serving (4 people)

Calories 304Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Cholesterol 36mg12%

Sodium 595mg26%

Carbohydrates 33g11%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 15g30%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Sesame Chicken (The BEST Recipe with Video!!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between General Chow chicken and sesame chicken? ›

General Tso's chicken is a spicy and tangy dish made with a mix of chicken breast and thighs, while sesame chicken is a sweeter option made with succulent chicken thighs. Whether you're in the mood for something spicy or sweet, both dishes offer a delicious and crispy meal that's sure to satisfy your cravings.”

What culture is sesame chicken from? ›

Sesame chicken is a dish commonly found in Chinese restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. The dish is similar to General Tso's chicken but the taste of the Chinese-based chicken is sweet rather than spicy.

Can you use sesame oil to fry chicken? ›

Sesame Oil

The neutral flavor and low smoke point make it ideal for stir-fried and sauteed meat dishes. It is full of antioxidants along with vitamin E and phytosterols that reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Why is sesame chicken so sweet? ›

Sesame chicken sauce is a balanced combination of sweet, sour and spicy that comes from light soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar and sugar.

What does Chinese sesame chicken have in it? ›

The sauce is a combination of honey, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil and takes just minutes to put together. Sometimes I even make the sauce a day or two in advance, then store it in the fridge until we're ready to eat. This chicken is fried in a few inches of oil which makes for a crispy outer crust.

Is Chinese sesame chicken white meat? ›

Life doesn't get sweeter (or spicier) than this. Generous cuts of grilled white meat chicken, served with fluffy white rice and vegetables, then covered in an unforgettable sweet and spicy sesame sauce.

What is the best oil to cook chicken in? ›

Think vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil. Don't use olive oil or butter—they both have lower smoke points. The ideal temperature for frying chicken is 350˚ to 365˚, and you'll want to make sure that you bring the oil back to temperature between batches.

Which is better for frying sesame or olive oil? ›

Olive oil and sesame oil have different smoke points when it comes to deep frying. High-quality, unrefined extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of about 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is usually suitable for home deep frying needs. Unrefined sesame oil has a lower smoke point, around 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the best oil for deep-frying? ›

Oils with higher smoke points are ideal for deep frying because they can withstand higher temperatures without burning. Some common oils with high smoke points include peanut oil, canola oil, and safflower oil. These oils are suitable for high-heat cooking and provide a crispy texture to fried foods.

What nationality is sesame chicken? ›

Sesame chicken is a Chinese delicacy that originated in the Canton region. The dish became famous in North America after it was brought over by immigrants who built restaurants serving their native country's cuisine.

How do you make sesame chicken crispy again? ›

Preheat the oven to 350F. Cover the bottom of a baking dish with either water or chicken broth and then add the chicken on top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

How long is sesame chicken good for? ›

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. I like to reheat Sesame Chicken in the air fryer or oven! Reheat in the air fryer for 6-8 minutes at 350F or in the oven at 375F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through and crispy.

What does General Chow chicken taste like? ›

General Tso's Chicken is that perfect combination of sweet, savoury, spicy and tangy with crispy Chinese chicken bites. It's a Chinese takeout favourite that just pushes all the right buttons!

What is the different name for General Tso chicken? ›

The two claims may be somewhat reconciled in that the current General Tso's chicken recipe — where the meat is crispy fried — was introduced by Chef Wang under the name "General Ching's chicken", a name which still has trace appearances on menus on the Internet (the identity of its namesake "General Ching" is, however, ...

Is General Chow chicken healthy? ›

Worst: General Tso's Chicken

Named after a Chinese war hero, this fat-laden dish won't help you win any weight loss battles. The breaded, fried chicken is smothered in a sugary sauce. One order clocks in at around 1,500 calories and 88 grams of fat, and it delivers more sodium than you should get in a day.

What is General Tso's chicken made of? ›

General Tso's (pronounced tsow) chicken is a Chinese-American dish that features deep-fried chicken tossed in an irresistibly sticky glaze made with garlic, sugar, soy sauce, and chiles. The dish is named after 19th-century military leader Tso Tsung-t'ang.

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