Description
This honey sesame chicken is crispy, juicy, and coated in a sweet, savory, and sticky honey sesame sauce. Made with fried chicken breast or thighs and tossed in a flavorful sauce with soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil, this homemade Chinese takeout recipe is even better than Panda Express! Serve with rice, noodles, or vegetables for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
For the Honey Sesame Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
Step 1: Marinate the Chicken
- In a bowl, mix chicken, bouillon powder, salt, and white pepper. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Make the Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, honey, brown sugar, and minced garlic. Set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Batter
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and baking powder.
- Beat eggs in a separate bowl, then mix into the dry ingredients until a batter forms.
- Coat the marinated chicken pieces evenly in the batter.
Step 4: Fry the Chicken
- Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot to 365°F (185°C).
- Fry the chicken in batches for 3 minutes, then remove and drain on a wire rack.
- Increase oil temperature to 375°F (190°C) and fry the chicken again for 2 minutes until golden brown and extra crispy.
Step 5: Cook the Sauce & Combine
- In a wok or pan, heat 1 teaspoon of oil and sauté the garlic.
- Pour in the prepared honey sesame sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 1 minute until thickened.
- Turn off heat, add sesame oil, and mix.
- Toss the crispy chicken in the sauce until fully coated.
Step 6: Serve
- Garnish with sesame seeds and serve hot with rice, noodles, or vegetables.
Notes
- Double-frying makes the chicken crispier and prevents it from getting soggy in the sauce.
- Use a thermometer to maintain the correct frying temperature.
- Make it spicy by adding dried chili peppers, chili oil, or sriracha to the sauce.
- For a healthier version, pan-fry or grill the chicken instead of deep frying.
