They’re a breeze to make, and are a great meal prep option to prepare in bulk. You’ll just love these leftovers for lunch. We love stir fry dinners, just a bit of chopping and you’re ready for a meal that cooks up in minutes. From our Mongolian Beef to Thai Basil Chicken and Hunan Shrimp, we’re always firing up the wok. We’ve even made Sweet and Sour Meatballs! This sesame chicken recipe is another one of our favorites. It’s savory, sweet, nutty, and oh so delicious.
Why this Recipe Works
Perfect Balance of Flavors: The sauce, with its combination of sweet honey, savory soy sauce, aromatic garlic and ginger, and a touch of rice vinegar, creates a harmonious balance of flavors that is classic in many Asian cuisines. Easy to Make: The recipe is straightforward and doesn’t require any overly complex cooking techniques, making it accessible for cooks of all levels. Quick Cooking Time: This dish comes together quickly, with the chicken cooking in just 5-6 minutes and the entire meal ready in under 20 minutes. Great dinner idea for any night! Visually Appealing: The final dish, with its vibrant colors and garnish of scallions and sesame seeds, is not only delicious but also visually appealing, making it a great dish to serve to guests.
What is Sesame Chicken?
If you’ve ever been to an American-Chinese restaurant (and who hasn’t?), you’ve surely seen sesame chicken on the menu. The dish consists of bite sized pieces of chicken that are coated in egg and cornstarch, deep fried, then tossed in a sticky and sweet sesame sauce. For our version, we’re going a bit healthier without skimping on any of the flavor. Instead of deep frying, we’re going to shallow fry the chicken. We’re also adding in some veggie power to round out the meal.
Ingredients
Chicken – boneless + skinless. We are going with thighs, they cook up so tender and flavorful. Feel free to substitute with breast if you prefer. For frying – egg, corn starch, oil, soy sauce. Sauce – honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, corn starch, sesame seeds. Veggies – we are using snow peas, but see below for other options. Garnishings – scallions and more sesame seeds.
How to Make Sesame Chicken Bowls
Cut up the chicken into bite sized pieces, then toss with the corn starch and egg. Add oil to a wok and get it nice and hot. Add chicken and 2 tsp soy sauce, and cook 5-6 minutes, till the chicken starts to brown up. Pour in sauce, toss with chicken, and cook till it starts to thicken up, anout 3-4 minutes. Mix in snow peas and cook for another minute or two.
How to Serve Sesame Chicken
We love it in a bowl over hot white rice, garnished with scallions and more sesame seeds. Other options:
Brown rice Asian noodles (chow mein, hakka, etc.) Cauliflower rice Zoodles
What Other Veggies Can Go In This Sesame Chicken Recipe?
Any of your favorite stir fry veggies can go in this dish. That being said, some would want to go in earlier, at the the same time as the sauce, to cook a little more. Veggies to add earlier, with the sauce: broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, bell peppers, onion, green beans Veggies to add in the last minute: snow peas, baby corn, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, green onions We recently made it with broccoli, and it turned out great!
Other Variations
For a lighter version of the dish, do not fry the chicken. Cut it into very thin (about 1/8-1/4 inch thick) strips and stir fry in a little oil before adding to the sauce. Give it a little kick! Add 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite red chili sauce (sriracha, sambal oelek, gochujong, etc). Add some cashews for additional flavor and texture. For a saucier version, add 1/4 cup water to the sauce mixture.
Leftovers and Meal Prep
Leftover sesame chicken is great refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days. We like to store it in individual portion sized containers, along with the rice. Simply reheat in the microwave with an extra splash of water for a quick meal prep lunch. You can also freeze leftovers for 1-2 months. For best results, freeze in a freezer bag, with as much air squeezed out as possible to prevent freezer burn. Whip up these easy sesame chicken bowls in your kitchen some hectic weeknight, they’ll be on the table before you know it. And while you’re at it, make a big batch. You’re going to love meal prepping with this recipe. Save or pin this easy weeknight recipe so you always have it handy. And be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, we’re always cooking up new recipes for you! Also check our other cracking Asian Recipes on GypsyPlate, and come back again for all the new flavors coming to you.
Sesame Chicken Bowl, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
Check out these other great stir fry dishes!Kung Pao ChickenMongolian Ground BeefEasy Pork Stir FryBeijing BeefThai Basil Fried RiceChicken Ramen Stir Fry
