The 30Minute Weeknight Wonder Speedy Sesame Chicken

The 30minute Weeknight Wonder Speedy Sesame Chic

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Preparation time:12 Mins

Cooking time:18 Mins

Servings:4 servings

Ingredients:

• 680 g (1.5 lb) Boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breast), cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
• 2 large Eggs, lightly beaten
• 120 g (1 cup) Cornflour/Corn Starch (or Potato Starch)
• 1 tsp Fine Sea Salt
• ½ tsp Black Pepper, freshly ground
• 90 ml (6 Tbsp) Neutral cooking oil (canola, vegetable, or peanut) for shallow frying
• 120 ml (½ cup) Low-sodium Soy Sauce (or Tamari)
• 60 ml (¼ cup) Honey or Maple Syrup
• 60 ml (¼ cup) Rice Vinegar (unseasoned)
• 4 Tbsp Brown sugar (packed)
• 1 Tbsp Fresh Ginger, grated
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
• 2 Tbsp Cold water
• 1 Tbsp Cornflour/Corn Starch (for thickening)
• 1 Tbsp Toasted white and black sesame seeds (for garnish)
• 2 Spring onions (scallions), sliced thinly (for garnish)

Instructions:

• Pat the chicken pieces very dry and cut into uniform, bite-sized pieces (about 1 inch / 2.5 cm). In a shallow dish, whisk together the cornflour, salt, and pepper. Dip chicken first into the beaten eggs, then dredge thoroughly in the cornflour mixture, pressing lightly to adhere the coating.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey/maple syrup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, grated ginger, minced garlic, and the 2 tsp of toasted sesame oil. Set aside. Prepare the slurry: In a very small separate cup, mix 1 Tbsp cornflour with 2 Tbsp cold water until completely smooth.
• Heat 90 ml of neutral oil in the wok or frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook the coated chicken in two or three batches (do not overcrowd the pan!) for 3–4 minutes per batch, turning until all sides are deep golden brown and crispy. Remove the cooked chicken pieces and place them on a wire rack to drain excess oil. Keep warm.
• Pour off any excess oil from the wok, leaving about 1 teaspoon of residue. Reduce the heat slightly to medium. Pour the prepared Sesame Sauce into the hot pan and bring it to a gentle simmer. Whisk the cornflour slurry one more time, then pour it gradually into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens almost instantly to a syrupy consistency. Cook for 30 seconds.
• Return all the cooked chicken to the wok. Toss quickly to coat every piece evenly in the sticky glaze. Remove immediately from heat, transfer to a serving platter, and garnish generously with toasted sesame seeds and sliced spring onions.

Nutrition Facts

Calories:475 kcal

Protein:38 g

Fat:20 g

Carbs:38 g

Fiber:1 g

Sugar:19 g

Sodium:775 mg

Recipe Info

Category:Main Course

Cuisine:Chinese

Takeout Taste, Homemade Speed: The Best Quick & Delicious Sesame Chicken

Oh my gosh, is it just me? I am absolutely fed up with weeknight meal prep burnout. You know that feeling? We all crave those comforting takeaway flavours sometimes.

But who has the time, or the money, frankly?

That is exactly why I poured my heart into perfecting this Quick & Delicious Sesame Chicken . It’s genuinely one of those transformative Quick Healthy Meals .

Seriously, this recipe is a total game-changer.

The Secret to 30 Minute Sesame Chicken Success

We are diving into a true classic here. This is the ultimate Chinese-American sesame chicken . It’s that sweet, savoury, nutty dish everyone loves.

Think of it as a much fitter version of your favourite takeaway. But this Sesame Chicken Recipe is way faster.

We are talking 30 minute sesame chicken —total time, start to finish. That beats calling Uber Eats any day.

My biggest challenge was always the texture. I hated making soggy chicken! My first few attempts were utter failures, honestly.

They were more steamed than crispy. But I cracked the code. Using a specific coating technique gives you that perfect Crispy sesame chicken shallow fry .

It’s golden, crunchy, and utterly addictive. This recipe makes four decent servings. Plenty for family dinner!

The Glory of the Sticky Sesame Chicken Glaze

What truly elevates this dish is the Sesame Chicken Sauce . Forget those thin, watery sauces. This one is rich, thick, and glossy.

It creates the most magnificent Sticky sesame chicken glaze . Every bite is coated perfectly. We use natural sweeteners, which cuts down on processed stuff.

Bonus points!

This is such an Easy Sesame Chicken to master. If you are worried about dietary issues, don't be. This is easily adapted.

Need a Gluten free sesame chicken recipe ? Just grab some Tamari instead of standard soy sauce. Job done.

And the best part? It’s perfect for everything. Got friends coming over spontaneously? Need a speedy Friday fix? This is your answer.

It is packed with protein and ready before you can finish setting the table. Honestly, once you try this Sesame Chicken Recipe Easy , you will ditch the takeaway menu forever.

Ready to get cooking? Let’s look at what we need!

Your Secret Weapon for Quick Healthy Meals: The Ingredients Lowdown

Honestly, when I first started making this, I used to panic about the ingredient list. It seemed long! But trust me, 90% of it is probably already in your cupboard.

This is truly an Easy Sesame Chicken recipe. We’re focusing on flavour punch, not complexity. Making this 30 minute sesame chicken means we need ingredients that move fast.

The Foundation: Crispy Chicken Bits

For the main event, I swear by chicken thighs. Grab 680 g (1.5 lb) of boneless, skinless thighs. They are more forgiving than breast meat.

They stay super juicy under that sticky coating. Seriously, they handle high heat like a champ.

The key to that gorgeous Crispy sesame chicken shallow fry texture is the coating. Forget wheat flour. We need 120 g (1 cup) of cornflour (corn starch).

Cornflour gives you that classic crunch without getting heavy. You just dip the chicken into two beaten eggs first, then dredge in the cornflour mix.

Simple. Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking! That was my biggest mistake when learning this Sesame Chicken Recipe .

Building the Sticky Sesame Chicken Glaze

The Sesame Chicken Sauce is where we cheat a bit—it's fast, fierce, and flavourful. We need a balance of sweet, sour, and savoury.

Measure out 120 ml (½ cup) low-sodium soy sauce. Use low-sodium, trust me. Otherwise, it can get way too salty, masking the beautiful garlic and ginger.

If you’re attempting a Gluten free sesame chicken recipe , swap that soy for Tamari. It works perfectly! The true hero is the toasted sesame oil.

Only use 2 teaspoons, and add it right at the end. That nutty aroma is essential for the Sticky sesame chicken glaze .

If you cook the oil too long, you lose the flavour. We want that strong, pungent hit that screams Chinese-American sesame chicken .

Essential Kitchen Bits and Bobs

Good news: you don't need a professional kitchen for this Sesame Chicken Recipe Easy . The only non-negotiable tool is a large wok or a heavy, non-stick frying pan.

You need room! Remember that overcrowding challenge I mentioned? A big pan solves it.

You also need a good whisk for the sauce and a wire rack. Seriously, a wire rack. It lets the air circulate under the chicken after frying.

This keeps your Quick & Delicious Sesame Chicken crunchy while you finish the sauce. If you don't have a rack, lean the crispy chicken against a mug on a plate lined with kitchen roll.

Improvise! Making Quick Healthy Meals shouldn't require a loan for new gadgets.

Getting Organized: The Secret to 30 Minute Sesame Chicken

Right then, time to cook! If you want truly Quick Healthy Meals , organization is vital. Honestly, I used to skip this bit.

I learned the hard way. Trying to grate ginger while the oil smokes? Not fun. This Quick & Delicious Sesame Chicken relies on speed.

First, your Essential mise en place is the backbone. Get all your sauce ingredients ready. Whisk that amazing Sesame Chicken Sauce together now.

Set it aside. Prepare your cornflour dredge next. Ensure the chicken pieces are totally dry first. This is crucial for Crispy sesame chicken shallow fry .

Moisture is the enemy of crunch!

Frying for Flavour

I know, frying sounds scary. But this is just a quick sizzle. It's how we get that lovely crunch. We are going for an Easy Sesame Chicken texture here.

1. Heat the Oil: Pour in the 90 ml of neutral oil. Heat it in your wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Wait until the oil is shimmering.
2. The Test: Drop a tiny bit of coating in. It should bubble immediately. If it doesn't, wait!
3. Fry in Batches: Now, coat your chicken in the eggs, then the cornflour mix. Cook only about one-third of the chicken at a time. This is the biggest mistake I made early on! Overcrowding drops the temperature. We need hot oil.
4. Golden Perfection: Fry each batch for around 3– 4 minutes . Turn the pieces constantly. They should look deep golden brown and completely cooked through.
5. Drain: Remove the pieces and set them on a wire rack. Don't use a solid plate unless it has kitchen paper. We want air flow to keep them crispy.

The Glorious Glaze

This is the fastest part. The sauce comes together in seconds. It transforms the dish from plain chicken to full-blown Sesame Chicken Recipe .

1. Sauce Time: Pour off all but about 1 teaspoon of oil from the pan. Turn the heat down a little.
2. Simmer: Pour in the Sesame Chicken Sauce mixture. Bring it quickly to a gentle simmer.
3. Thicken: Give that cornflour and water slurry one last whisk. Pour it slowly into the sauce, whisking constantly. You will see the sauce turn into a luxurious, sticky sesame chicken glaze instantly. Cook for only 30 seconds .
4. Toss: Dump all your crispy chicken back into the wok. Toss it for maybe 15 seconds . Every piece needs that glossy coating.

My Top Pro Tip for Amazing Takeout Taste

If you want truly authentic Chinese-American sesame chicken flavour, here is the secret. Do not cook with the toasted sesame oil! Add the 2 tsp of toasted sesame oil right at the end.

Toss it in with the chicken just before serving. That huge nutty flavour hit makes all the difference. It takes this from good to great.

You just created a masterpiece! Go enjoy your perfect Easy Sesame Chicken !

Finishing Touches and Your Next-Day Nosh Plan

Alright, my friend, you’ve smashed it! You’ve successfully whipped up the Quick & Delicious Sesame Chicken . Honestly, give yourself a pat on the back.

This section is all about turning this triumph into a habit. We’ll cover how to make it look magazine-worthy and how to handle those inevitable glorious leftovers.

Plating Up: Making the Sesame Chicken Recipe Easy Look Fancy

Presentation matters, you know? It makes dinner feel special. I usually serve my Sesame Chicken Recipe Easy over plain steamed rice.

Jasmine rice is the absolute dream for soaking up that gorgeous, Sticky sesame chicken glaze .

For colour, you need greens. I always make sure there’s a side of quick-steamed broccoli or some snappy green beans.

That little bit of crunch breaks up the sticky texture. When you plate it, pile the chicken high. Then, be generous with the garnish! Sprinkle those toasted sesame seeds and sliced spring onions like colourful confetti.

It just elevates the entire plate. It makes this Quick Healthy Meal look like it took hours, not 30 minutes.

The Leftovers Conundrum (Storage Tips)

Let’s be real. This Crispy sesame chicken shallow fry coating is magic when it's fresh. But day two? It gets sad and soggy.

Oh my gosh, the horror! So, here’s my top trick for proper storage.

Keep the leftover chicken pieces and the remaining Sesame Chicken Sauce in separate airtight containers. They can chill in the fridge for up to 3 days .

The secret to decent reheating is not the microwave. Please, never microwave the chicken . You will regret it. Instead, heat your oven to 180° C ( 350° F) .

Pop the chicken on a tray for 5– 7 minutes until it’s crispy again. Warm the sauce separately, then toss and serve.

It’s almost as good as fresh!

Switching It Up: Variations for Everyone

One of the best parts about this Sesame Chicken Recipe is how adaptable it is. Need to cater to different dietary needs? No problem.

If you’re making a Gluten free sesame chicken recipe , just swap the regular soy sauce for Tamari. It tastes almost identical, and no one will notice the difference.

For my veggie friends, this works brilliantly with pressed, cubed tofu instead of chicken. Use the exact same coating steps! Trust me, it’s amazing.

I’ve even thrown in some quick-blanched carrots during the autumn for a nice seasonal colour splash. It genuinely keeps this feeling like a Quick Healthy Meal all year round.

The Health Angle: Quick Healthy Meals

I know we’re talking comfort food here. But honestly, this homemade version is light years better than any takeaway. When I make this 30 minute sesame chicken , I know exactly what’s in the Sesame Chicken Sauce .

Less salt, less refined sugar, and way more protein. Did you know that when we are truly hungry, we often make bad food choices in under 10 minutes? Making this Easy Sesame Chicken recipe yourself stops that impulse dead! It’s a win for your waistline and your wallet.

Go forth and enjoy your amazing creation. Job’s a good ‘un!