Description
This Crispy and Sticky Honey Sesame Chicken recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors with tender bite-sized chicken pieces coated in a crunchy batter and tossed in a rich honey soy sauce. An Asian-inspired main course that’s easy to prepare and perfect for serving over steamed rice, delivering restaurant-style deliciousness right at home.
Ingredients
Scale
For the chicken:
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the sauce:
- â…“ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry for thickening)
To finish:
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- Steamed rice, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken coating: In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, and black pepper. This mixture will form the crispy batter for the chicken.
- Coat the chicken: Dip the bite-sized chicken pieces into the beaten eggs, then dredge them thoroughly in the flour and cornstarch mixture to ensure a good coating.
- Fry the chicken: Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches for 4 to 5 minutes each or until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Place the fried chicken on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Make the sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated fresh ginger. Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Thicken the sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Toss chicken in sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces into the saucepan and toss them well to coat evenly with the sticky honey sesame sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle sesame seeds and sliced green onions over the chicken. Serve immediately over steamed rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- For a lighter version, bake or air-fry the chicken until crispy, then toss with the sauce instead of frying.
- To make this dish vegetarian, substitute chicken with firm tofu and cook accordingly.
- The sauce can be adjusted for sweetness or saltiness by varying the honey and soy sauce quantities.
- Ensure the oil temperature is medium-high to achieve a crispy exterior without overcooking the chicken.
