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Quick & Easy Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe

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This Quick & Easy Honey Sesame Chicken recipe features tender boneless chicken thighs coated in a crispy starch crust, then tossed in a flavorful homemade honey sesame sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a delicious and satisfying dish perfect for busy weeknights. The combination of sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and nutty sesame oil pairs beautifully with garlic and a hint of rice vinegar for a well-balanced Asian-inspired meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup cornstarch or potato starch for coating chicken
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
  • ½ green onion finely chopped

Sauce

  • ½ cup honey (plain liquid kind)
  • 2.5 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 wine (or dry white wine or chicken broth for non-alcoholic version)
  • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar or apple cider/white vinegar
  • ¾ cup water (room temperature)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Pat the skinless boneless chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of salt evenly over the chicken pieces. Then coat each piece thoroughly with ¼ cup cornstarch or potato starch, shaking off any excess. This coating will help create a crispy exterior when cooked.
  2. Cook the chicken: Heat ⅓ cup of vegetable or neutral oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, fry the coated chicken thighs in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook each side until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per side, ensuring chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on paper towels to drain excess oil.
  3. Make the honey sesame sauce: In a bowl, whisk together ½ cup honey, 2.5 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, ½ tablespoon white granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons Shaoxing cooking wine (or alternative), 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, and ¾ cup room temperature water until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.
  4. Combine and simmer sauce: Using the same skillet, pour the prepared sauce mixture into the pan over medium heat. Stir continuously as the sauce heats and thickens, which should take about 3-5 minutes. The sauce will become glossy and coat the back of a spoon.
  5. Coat the chicken in sauce: Return the fried chicken pieces to the skillet and toss them gently in the honey sesame sauce until well coated with the thickened glaze. Let the chicken absorb the sauce for 1-2 minutes while stirring occasionally to evenly distribute the flavors.
  6. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the finely chopped green onion over the chicken. Serve immediately with steamed rice or your favorite side dishes for a comforting, flavorful meal.

Notes

  • For a gluten-free version, use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce and ensure the starch coating is gluten-free.
  • You can substitute chicken thighs with boneless, skinless chicken breasts but adjust cooking time accordingly.
  • If you do not have Shaoxing wine or dry sherry, use chicken broth or dry white wine as a non-alcoholic option.
  • Make sure the oil is hot before frying to ensure a crispy coating and prevent excess oil absorption.
  • Adjust sweetness or saltiness by altering honey or soy sauce quantities to taste.

Find it online: https://amandafood.com/quick-and-easy-honey-sesame-chicken-recipe/