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Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe

4.9 from 142 reviews

Honey Sesame Chicken is a crispy, flavorful dish featuring tender chicken pieces marinated and coated in a light batter, fried to golden perfection, then tossed in a sweet and tangy honey sesame sauce. This recipe combines savory, sweet, and slightly tangy flavors with aromatic garlic and toasted sesame seeds, making it a perfect dish for a weeknight dinner or special occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Marinade

  • 1 ½ lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon water

Batter

  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 teaspoon vegetable oil

Sauce

  • 3 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon ketchup
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoon water
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Cornstarch Slurry

  • 2 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoon water

Garnish

  • Green onion, sliced
  • Toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with chicken bouillon powder, white pepper, and 1 tablespoon water. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes to infuse flavor.
  2. Prepare the Batter: In another bowl, whisk together eggs, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, water, and vegetable oil until smooth and well combined to create a light batter.
  3. Coat the Chicken: Dip the marinated chicken pieces into the batter, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated for a crispy, golden finish when fried.
  4. Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Fry the battered chicken pieces in batches, cooking for about 4-5 minutes per batch until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  5. Make the Sauce: In a separate saucepan, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add light soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, honey, brown sugar, and water. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer.
  6. Thicken the Sauce: Mix cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring continuously. Cook until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.
  7. Toss Chicken in Sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces into the sauce and toss gently to coat evenly with the honey sesame glaze.
  8. Garnish and Serve: Transfer the coated chicken to a serving dish. Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot with steamed rice or vegetables.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, double fry the chicken pieces by frying them once, letting them rest briefly, then frying again until golden.
  • You can substitute chicken breast with boneless, skinless thighs for more juiciness.
  • If you prefer less sweetness, adjust the honey and brown sugar quantities accordingly.
  • Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point for frying, such as vegetable or canola oil.
  • Make sure to stir the sauce constantly while adding the cornstarch slurry to prevent lumps.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari and use gluten-free flour in the batter.

Keywords: Honey Sesame Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Chinese Chicken Recipe, Fried Chicken with Honey Sauce, Sweet and Savory Chicken