Discover the ultimate recipe for Baked Honey Sesame Chicken, an irresistible Asian-inspired dish that surpasses takeout! Enjoy the delectable blend of crispy diced chicken, perfectly coated in a delightful sweet, savory, and tangy sauce. Pairing it with white rice or mouthwatering fried rice creates a truly satisfying homemade meal!
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Jump to:
- Homemade Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe
- Why You’ll Love this Honey Sesame Chicken
- Sesame Chicken Ingredients
- How to make Baked Honey Sesame Chicken
- Tips for the best Baked Crispy Honey Sesame Chicken
- Storing Leftovers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Chinese Inspired Recipes to Try
- Easy Baked Honey Sesame Chicken
Homemade Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe
My family loves ordering take-out, however, since there are five of us, it gets expensive. That’s where copycat recipes like my PF Chang’s Copycat Lettuce Wraps, Taco Bell Copycat Mexican Pizzas, Crunchwrap Supreme, and Better Than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice come in handy! Same great flavors that are served at the restaurants, only made conveniently at home for half the cost.
This Baked Sesame Chicken recipe came about after my son ordered honey sesame chicken from our local restaurant, fell in love, and I set out to make an at home version for him. After a few trial runs, this version came about and was instantly a family favorite. Diced, tender chicken that gets baked until perfectly crisp. Then, coated in a sweet, honey glaze and topped with green onions and sesame seeds. The flavor just can’t be beat! In fact, you may never order takeout again after giving this recipe a try!
Why You’ll Love this Honey Sesame Chicken
- Better Than Takeout– this homemade version has all same great flavors as takeout, just a bit healthier of a version and can be made any time that craving hits.
- Quick and Easy– using a few simple steps, this can be prepped and in the oven in under 10 minutes!
- Budget Friendly– catch chicken when its on sale at your local grocery store and you can make this meal for less than $10.
Sesame Chicken Ingredients
See printable recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and step by step instructions.
- Chicken– I use about 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- Cornstarch– this is needed for the breading
- Egg– this is for the chicken to dip into before dredging into the coating
- Oil– canola or vegetable oil, to crisp up the chicken
Honey Sesame Sauce Ingredients
- Honey– perfectly sweetens the sauce
- Soy Sauce– aim to use low sodium as regular can have a hit salt count in it
- Ketchup– adds the perfect balance to the sweetness in the sauce
- Brown Sugar– pairs perfectly with the honey
- Rice Wine Vinegar– this is a classic in Asian dishes, adds a slight tang
- Sesame Oil– adds the traditional sesame flavoring throughout
- Garlic– fresh, minced
- Cornstarch– this helps thicken the sauce so it isn’t runny
How to make Baked Honey Sesame Chicken
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Cut the chicken breasts into small, diced pieces.
- In a large bag, add the 1 cup cornstarch.
- In a small bowl, add the eggs and slightly beat until broken up.
- Drop chicken pieces into bag and shake around until thoroughly coated. Remove from bag and dip into egg
- Place chicken in a large skillet with canola oil. Cook until chicken is browned. This is only flash frying, the chicken will cook the rest of the way in the oven.
- Remove from pan and place into a greased 9×13.
- In a separate bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and cornstarch.
- Pour mixture over chicken and bake in oven about 45 minutes.
- Stir chicken a few times while cooking to coat in sauce.
- Remove from oven and serve. Sprinkle sesame seeds and green onions on top if desired!!
Tips for the best Baked Crispy Honey Sesame Chicken
- Before dipping chicken into coating, be sure to pat dry using a paper towel.
- Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Use a Ziploc bag to coat the chicken into cornstarch. This makes that step easy and clean up a breeze.
- No need to cook the chicken in the oil all the way through. The chicken will finish cooking in the oven.
- Add in some Sriracha Sauce or Red Pepper Flakes for an added heat kick.
- Chicken thighs can be used in place of the boneless chicken breast, just adjust the cook time accordingly.
- Add a bit of chicken broth or water if you find the sauce too thick.
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers are my fav with this recipe! The chicken won’t be as crispy once reheated, however, the sauce gets absorbed into the chicken and adds even more flavor!
- Refrigerator– store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer– place leftovers in a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating– I don’t recommend using the microwave as it makes the chicken a bit rubbery in texture. Use a skillet or wok over the stove-top to reheat until heated through. Or stick chicken into air fryer at about 300 degrees for 5 minutes. Keep an eye on the chicken so it doesn’t burn as every air fryer is different.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I serve with this Baked Honey Sesame Chicken?
Sesame chicken goes great when served over white rice, fried rice, or even noodles. You can also serve it with Cauliflower rice to keep it low-carb.
Is Honey Sesame Chicken an authentic Chinese meal?
Although you can find this dish in most Americanized Chinese restaurants, it isn’t an authentic Chinese dish. It has been widely promoted in restaurants throughout America however and become a classic favorite with many.
What is the difference between this recipe and Orange Chicken?
Both use fried chicken pieces in the recipe, however, orange chicken uses orange juice and zest whereas this recipe uses honey and some sesame seeds on top as garnish.
Why is Sesame Chicken so sweet?
The sweetness comes from the honey and brown sugar being combined. The soy sauce, ketchup, and other ingredients help add the tanginess which results in a sweetened tangy sauce everyone will enjoy!
Can I use chicken thighs in place of the boneless chicken breast?
Absolutely! Chicken thighs work great too, just be sure to adjust the cook time to ensure the chicken is cooked through.
More Chinese Inspired Recipes to Try
PF Changs Copycat Lettuce Wraps– a copycat recipe that you can easily make right at home in just 20 minutes. And it tastes a million times better too!
Crispy Baked Egg Rolls– easy to make, truly crispy and absolutely delicious. They’re the perfect crowd pleasing appetizer!
Better Than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice– no need to get take-out when you can make this from scratch version right at home! One of the best weeknight dinners, this take-out classic is packed with flavor, not greasy, and is loaded with chicken, veggies, and tender rice!
Simple Orange Chicken– made with crispy homemade boneless chicken bites that are covered with an authentic homemade orange chicken sauce you will love! This dish comes together in just 30 minutes!
Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein– a noodle dish packed with classic Chinese flavor! Skip ordering takeout and make this at home in a fraction of the time!
Asian Ramen Coleslaw– uncooked ramen noodles, almonds and sunflower seeds add crunch to this side salad. Quick to prepare and easy to tote, it’s an obvious choice for potlucks and camping.
Angry Chicken– this sweet and spicy chicken recipe is easy to make and a family favorite!
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Easy Baked Honey Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts *boneless, skinless
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup canola oil *or vegetable oil
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoon garlic *minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Sesame Seeds/Green Onion *optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Cut the chicken breasts into small pieces.
- In a large bag, add the 1 cup cornstarch.
- In a small bowl, add the eggs and slightly beat until broken up.
- Drop chicken pieces into bag and shake around until thoroughly coated. Remove from bag and dip into egg.
- Place chicken in a large skillet with canola oil. Cook until chicken is browned.
- Remove from pan and place into a greased 9×13.
- In a different bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and cornstarch.
- Pour mixture over chicken and bake in oven about 45 minutes.
- Stir chicken a few times while cooking to coat in sauce.
- Remove from oven and serve. Sprinkle sesame seeds and green onions on top if desired!!
Nutrition
Julie says
Hi!
This Chickhen looks amazing! can you add the recipe for the rice as well?
Thanks!
Kristin says
Hi!! This chicken is definitely delicious!! Here is the recipe for the fried rice, enjoy!! https://thecookinchicks.com/better-than-takeout-chicken-fried-rice/