Skip the take out and make even better Sesame Chicken at home! Try this gluten free Asian chicken recipe next time you’re craving Chinese food.
Sesame Chicken
This Sesame Chicken tasted just like the real deal without junk oils, soy sauce, or flour. Oh happy day!
I’ve always been proud when I can recreate a restaurant dish at home and it’s as good if not better than the restaurant.
This gluten free sesame chicken is just that. I couldn’t believe how good it was. As soon as I took a bite, I knew this was a recipe I needed to share for those of you who love your takeout meals!
I’d never made Sesame Chicken that I can remember, but now that I’ve tried this homemade version, I’m sure it’ll be making a regular appearance at our dinner table.
While it may not be considered “healthy” by the strictest standards it sure is healthier than take out. I opted to use tamari instead of soy sauce so the Sesame Chicken recipe would be gluten free, too.
Don’t freak when you see the amount of sugar, I promise you’ll be okay and no it probably won’t be the same if you use honey or agave, believe me I’ve tried.
Again just think of how you’re not eating the questionable chicken and MSG ridden takeout food. Plus, I guarantee you that the sesame chicken you’ve been ordering from your preferred takeout joint has way more sugar than this.
Did I mention you’ll be saving money when you make your own Sesame Chicken from scratch, too? With pantry friendly ingredients, this is definitely a more economical option than eating out at a restaurant!
See, all better 🙂
Why this Chicken is Best
Sweet, sticky, crunchy chicken…that’s what sesame chicken is all about and this one meets all three of those criteria.
The chicken pieces are fried in avocado oil, covered in a sticky sesame chicken sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Throw in some steamed broccoli for good measure and serve on a bed of rice and you’ve got the perfect fake out meal.
Be sure to make extra because it’s even better the next day! Who doesn’t love Chinese leftovers, right?
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How to Make Sesame Chicken
Here’s everything I used to make this delicious copycat takeout Sesame Chicken recipe:
{Recipe and ingredients at a glance; scroll down for amounts and full printable recipe}
- Boneless skinless chicken breast
- Tamari
- Rice wine vinegar
- Chicken broth
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Egg whites
- Avocado oil
- Garlic
- Red pepper flakes
- Sesame seeds
- Green onions
- Cooked jasmine rice (for serving)
STEP 1. Mix the Sesame chicken sauce ingredients
Combine the tamari, sugar, rice wine vinegar and chicken broth in a bowl. Set aside.
STEP 2. Pan fry the chicken
In a separate bowl, combine chicken pieces with the egg whites and all but two teaspoons of the cornstarch. Then stir until chicken is coated.
Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok until hot. Fry chicken until golden on both sides about 4-5 minutes depending how big your pieces are. (You may need to work in batches.)
Once the chicken is cooked through remove and drain on paper towels.
STEP 3. Cook the sauce
Leaving a few tablespoons of oil in the wok reduce the heat to medium and saute the garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Add the tamari sauce mixture to the skillet and increase the heat to medium high. Simmer 10 minutes. then whisk in the remaining cornstarch. When the sauce has thickened add the chicken and toss to coat.
Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and serve over jasmine rice and broccoli if desired.
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Tips and Tricks
- If you like your food extra spicy, like I do then, add an extra pinch or two of red pepper flakes and you’ll be golden.
- Soy sauce can be substituted for the tamari here if you don’t need the Sesame Chicken sauce to be gluten free. I just happen to like the flavor the tamari brings to the sauce better.
- The chicken is at its crispiest served hot right away. However, we all loved the way the leftovers tasted the next day as the sauce “marinates” the chicken. Don’t be afraid to make a LOT of chicken so you’ll have leftovers.
- Use sugar in this recipe, please! Real granulated white sugar. Subbing sugar substitutes like stevia or agave nectar just won’t work here. There’s a time and a place for having some sugar in your dinner and Sesame Chicken is definitely it!
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Chicken Fried Rice
- Mandarin Chicken Pasta
- Orange Chicken
- Beef Broccoli
- Lettuce Wraps
- Instant Pot Orange Chicken
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Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
- ¼ cup tamari
- 3 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch + 2 teaspoons
- 2 egg whites beaten
- ½ cup avocado oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 Tablespoons sesame seeds
- 4-6 green onions chopped
- 4 cups cooked jasmine rice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine sugar, tamari, rice wine vinegar and chicken broth. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine chicken pieces with the egg whites and cornstarch, stir until chicken is coated.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok until hot. Fry chicken until golden on both sides about 4-5 minutes depending how big your pieces are. You may need to work in batches. Once the chicken is cooked through remove and drain on paper towels.
- Leaving a few tablespoons of oil in the wok reduce the heat to medium and saute the garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Add the tamari sauce mixture to the skillet and increase the heat to medium high. Simmer 10 minutes. then whisk in the remaining cornstarch. When the sauce has thickened add the chicken and toss to coat.
- Whisk the remaining cornstarch into 2 tablespoons of water and add to the skillet. When the sauce has thickened add the chicken and toss to coat.
- Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and serve over jasmine rice and broccoli if desired.
Notes
- If you like your food extra spicy, like I do then, add an extra pinch or two of red pepper flakes and you’ll be golden.
- Soy sauce can be substituted for the tamari here if you don’t need the Sesame Chicken sauce to be gluten free. I just happen to like the flavor the tamari brings to the sauce better.
- The chicken is at its crispiest served hot right away. However, we all loved the way the leftovers tasted the next day as the sauce “marinates” the chicken. Don’t be afraid to make a LOT of chicken so you’ll have leftovers.
- Use sugar in this recipe, please! Real granulated white sugar. Subbing sugar substitutes like stevia or agave nectar just won’t work here. There’s a time and a place for having some sugar in your dinner and Sesame Chicken is definitely it!
Nutrition
Once you try this deliciously sticky, crunchy, sweet sesame chicken recipe you may never go back to take out!
