Easy Honey Sesame Chicken
Easy Honey Sesame Chicken is a quick, flavorful dish that combines tender chicken with a sweet and savory sauce made from honey, soy sauce, and sesame seeds. It’s a customizable recipe that can be made healthier with simple substitutions while still offering a satisfying meal.
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cornstarch or potato starch for coating the chicken
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- ½ green onion finely chopped
For the Sauce:
- ½ cup honey plain, liquid type
- 2 ½ tablespoons regular soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- ½ tablespoon white granulated sugar or cane sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons Shaoxing cooking wine or dry sherry, dry white wine, or chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar or apple cider/white vinegar
- ¾ cup water room temperature
In a small bowl, mix together all the sauce ingredients and set aside.
Cut the chicken thighs into 1.5-inch pieces and place them in a large bowl. Season the chicken with salt.
Add cornstarch to the chicken and toss to coat each piece evenly. You can add more cornstarch if needed. Set aside.
Heat vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken in small batches until golden brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove the chicken and place it on a wire rack or a paper towel-lined plate.
Discard any excess oil from the pan and pour in the sauce. Let it simmer until it thickens.
Add the fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Remove from heat and garnish with chopped green onions. Enjoy!
To Air Fry Chicken
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or a neutral oil.
Arrange the coated chicken in a single layer in the basket, ensuring there’s no overlap. You may need to air fry in batches.
Lightly spray the chicken with cooking spray or neutral oil.
Air fry at 400°F for 10-14 minutes, or until the desired level of crispiness is achieved. There's no need to flip the chicken.
