Quick & Easy Sesame Honey Chicken Recipe (2024)

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5 from 2 votes

by SkinnyMs.

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Published: January 2, 2012 Last Updated: March 17, 2021

This tasty sesame honey chicken will leave you feeling full and guilt free!

Quick & Easy Sesame Honey Chicken Recipe (2)

Asian food, at its core, is generally pretty healthy. Their traditional diets are testament to the benefits of including lots of fermented foods, roots, green leaves, nuts, and seeds in cooking. American-Chinese take-out, on the other hand, is a quick and easy way to get a meal on the table that is loaded with sodium, fat, and often preservatives. The much loved Sesame Honey Chicken from your local takeout is no exception. While chicken dishes might seem as if they would be healthier than beef options, don’t count on it. Our version of this sweet and nutty favorite takes all the regret out of an otherwise pretty nutritionally sound recipe.

Why is This Sesame Honey Chicken Recipe So Good?

This sesame honey chicken recipe doesn’t aim to replicate the crispy takeout version but its more subtle, savory, nutty, honeyed flavor comes out just superbly. Did we mention this recipe only has four ingredients? Because of the chicken broth, you don’t even need to add salt particularly. Plus, this is a one-pan meal so it keeps the mess down and the cook-time quick.

Sesame seeds give this Honey Sesame Chicken this crunch which is not only stunning on your plate but full of a ton of great texture as well. It turns out sesame seeds, tiny edible seeds native to only India and Africa, are a rich source of natural oils, lignans, antioxidants, protein, dietary fiber, and amino acids. The potent nutritional benefits of sesame seeds include their ability to prevent cancer, improve heart health, lower blood pressure, build strong bones, improve male fertility, and prevent diabetes. They also are used to help cure sleep disorders, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, boost respiratory health, aid in dental care and eliminate depression and chronic stress.

What if I Want to Thicken my Sauce?

If you like the sauce more on the thick side, you can thicken your sesame honey chicken with cornstarch. Start with 1 teaspoon at a time so you don’t over-thicken the sauce. In a small bowl, add about 1-2 tsp of cornstarch and then add equal amounts of cold water and mix. Pour slowly into your skillet and watch your sauce thicken up.

And to Serve?

Given that this is only going to take 25 minutes out of your nigh, it’s ideal for low-mood or low-energy nights when you’re not feeling delighted at the prospect of cooking and cleaning. If you want to get extra fancy, serve this with “rice”: our healthy Cauliflower Fried Rice. I also like to serve mine with some steamed broccoli and sugar snap peas to just boost the health factor. Equally, go down the traditional Chinese route by serving with a bowl of high quality steamed white rice and whatever vegetable side dishes your heart desires: bok choi, fried mushroom, Chinese-style eggplant. Get out the chopsticks and enjoy this feast family-style?

Need help navigating the Chinese takeout menu? We’ve written down some great tips on how to make those choices just a little bit cleaner.

Quick & Easy Sesame Honey Chicken Recipe (3)

Our sesame honey chicken recipe helps you satisfy your craving for Chinese take-out without all the detrimental ingredients. All of our chicken recipes are healthy and this one is no exception. The next time you have a hankering to pick up the phone for Chinese delivery, give this recipe a try instead. Don’t let the fat content scare you. About 98% of the fat in this recipe comes from the sesame seeds which contain very healthy fats. Learn more about healthy fats here.

5 from 2 votes

Quick & Easy Sesame Honey Chicken Recipe

With only four ingredients, this easy and quick recipe is ideal for any night of the week and it's kid friendly!

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Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Yield 6 people

Serving Size 0.75 cups

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Quick & Easy Sesame Honey Chicken Recipe (4)

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth low sodium, no sugar added
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds roasted
  • 1/4 cup honey

Instructions

  • Cut up the chicken into bite-sized cubes (about 1 x 1).

  • In a large skillet add chicken and broth, turn to medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduced heat to medium and cook until the chicken is nearly cooked through.

  • Pour in the honey and sesame seeds and stir well. Cook until all liquids have cooked out and the chicken is a light golden brown.

Notes

My favorite honey is raw Y.S. ECO. The flavor is mild, super creamy, and perfect for Chinese dishes.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.75cups | Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g |

SmartPoints (Freestyle): 4

Keywords Quick and Easy

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Quick & Easy Sesame Honey Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is sesame chicken sauce made of? ›

Mix chicken broth, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, chile paste, and garlic together in a small pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.

What is Panda Express honey sesame chicken made of? ›

Ingredients: chicken breast strips, green beans, yellow bell pepper, water, distilled vinegar, modified food starch, corn starch, contains less than 2% of: wheat, caramel color, ginger, garlic, phosphoric acid, salt, sodium phosphate, sesame oil, sesame seeds. *The dish uses a proprietary batter and sauce.

What is Chinese honey sauce made of? ›

Make the Honey Sauce – In another bowl, combine Chicken Bouillon, Water, Chinese Cooking Wine, Rice Vinegar, Light Soy Sauce, Honey, and Brown Sugar.

What is the difference between General Tso chicken and honey sesame chicken? ›

General Tso's chicken is a spicy and tangy dish made with a mix of chicken breast and thighs, while sesame chicken is a sweeter option made with succulent chicken thighs. Whether you're in the mood for something spicy or sweet, both dishes offer a delicious and crispy meal that's sure to satisfy your cravings.”

How do you thicken sesame sauce? ›

Whisk together a tablespoon of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water until smooth, in a small bowl. This slurry can then be gradually introduced to your stir-fry sauce over medium heat, leading to a thicker, glossier consistency.

What is the most unhealthy thing at Panda Express? ›

"Panda Express's Orange Chicken and Chow Mein are considered unhealthy due to their high levels of sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats," says Young. The Chow Mein and Orange Chicken is packed with: Calories: 1,000. Total fat: 43 grams.

Is honey sesame chicken the same as orange chicken? ›

Both dishes use breaded and deep-fried white meat chicken. Orange chicken sauce contains orange juice whereas sesame chicken does not.

What happened to Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken? ›

Panda Express first introduced the Honey Sesame Chicken Breast in 2013, and has brought it back a number of times for people to enjoy. The return was always sporadic, but after its return to menus in August as a limited-time offer, Panda Express is now opening up a permanent spot on the menu.

What is KFC's honey sauce? ›

But, presumably to cut even more costs in a competitive fast-food market, KFC doesn't actually serve real honey. Instead, it's "Honey Sauce," made from the ingredients many parents try to avoid: high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and sugar.

What sauce do Chinese restaurants use? ›

Soy sauce (jiàng yóu, 酱油), the most common of Chinese sauces, sounds simple, and for the most part, it is. However, there are many types, each unique to different Asian cuisines (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc.).

What is the brown sauce they use in Chinese food? ›

Oyster sauce is commonly used in Chinese food and adds a savory, salty, umami flavor. Both can be found in most grocery stores. If you like, you can add grated or minced ginger or garlic. Serve your homemade brown sauce with a beef, chicken, or pork stir-fry or chow mein dish.

What is orange chicken called at Chinese restaurants? ›

In Chinese, this dish is known as "陳皮雞", literally "dried citrus peel chicken", referring to dried orange or tangerine peel. However, the taste and recipes of this dish differ due to cultural and geographical factors.

What is the closest thing to General Tso Chicken? ›

Sweet and sour chicken: The two are super similar. The main difference is that General Tso sauce has more ginger flavor, as well as a little more heat from the hot sauce or chili flakes.

What is kung bo? ›

Kung Pao chicken (a.k.a. Gong Bao or Kung Po) is a stir-fried Chinese dish that consists of cubed chicken in a sweet, spicy, and savory sauce. It originated in southwestern China in the early 1800s.

What is sesame sauce made of? ›

Goma (胡麻, ごま) refers to sesame seeds, while Dare or Tare (たれ) translates to sauce in Japanese. Pronounced as [Goh-mah Dah-Leh], this delectable sauce is made from Japanese sesame paste, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and dashi (Japanese soup stock).

What does Chinese sesame sauce taste like? ›

Simple yet bold, our Sesame Sauce highlights sweet, tangy and roasted notes with toasted sesame seeds, ginger, michiu flavored wine and brown sugar.

What is sesame dressing made of? ›

Perhaps no other salad dressing is as versatile as sesame dressing. The simple mixture of sesame seeds, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and brown sugar has the ideal balance of nutty, salty, tart, and lightly sweet.

Is sesame sauce healthy? ›

Studies show sesamol, a natural chemical found in sesame seeds and sesame oil, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits. Other studies suggest it also has strong anti-cancer effects.

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