Sesame Chicken Wellplated Com

Stir fry recipes have been a key to meal sanity around here since Ben and I were married more than a decade ago (!). From Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry to Sweet and Sour Chicken, the fact that stir fries are fast and that the leftovers give us something fast and filling to reheat the next day for lunch means it’s easier to eat healthy more often. Of the different varieties of stir fries I cook (of which there are many), the one “genre” that never fails to hit the spot is anything involving juicy pieces of chicken coated in a thick, sticky, sweet-and-savory sauce. We’re talking General Tso Chicken, Bourbon Chicken, Healthy Orange Chicken—the mall takeout standbys we loved as kids. Sesame chicken is most similar to General Tso chicken but with a few key differences:

General Tso’s is sweet and spicy, whereas sesame chicken is sweet with deeply nutty umami notes from the sesame oil.General Tso chicken can use breasts, thighs, or a mix, whereas sesame chicken typically calls for chicken thighs.Both chicken stir fries feature green onions for bite and sesame seeds for crunch.

How to Make Sesame Chicken

Traditionally, sesame chicken sauce contains soy sauce, brown sugar, and its signature ingredient, sesame oil. To make this a healthy stir fry recipe, I’ve cut down on the sugar, replacing it with a modest amount of honey. Most authentic sesame chicken recipes don’t include other vegetables, but you can certainly add any you like. We mixed ours with Roasted Broccoli.

The Ingredients

Chicken. Mild in flavor and protein-packed, chicken works famously in stir fry recipes. It makes the dish filling, keeps it nutritious, and becomes tender and flavorful in the sauce.

Sesame Oil. An essential ingredient, it adds delicious nuttiness and savoriness. Scallions. For onion flavor, color, and bite. Ginger + Garlic. The classic flavor building blocks of a stir fry dish. Using fresh is worth it here.Red Pepper Flakes. While this dish isn’t spicy, red pepper flakes give it a little heat. Sesame Seeds. For nuttiness and texture.Fresh Basil. Fresh herbs are a scrumptious way to finish this dish. Cilantro would also work well here. Sesame Chicken Sauce. Soy sauce adds umami, honey adds sweetness, rice wine vinegar brings acidity, and cornstarch helps make it thick.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate leftover chicken fries in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave. To Freeze. Freeze chicken stir fry in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

12-Inch Skillet. Both a cast iron and non-stick skillet would work well here. Liquid Measuring Cup. The perfect place to measure and mix the sauce. Extra Large Cutting Board. This one has plenty of space to get all the stir fry ingredients prepped.

What are the meals that your family comes back to again and again? You can also serve sesame chicken with a side of Oven Roasted Vegetables, Roasted Carrots, Air Fryer Broccoli, Roasted Frozen Broccoli, or any of your other favorite frozen veggies.