Crispy, juicy chicken coated in a sticky, sweet and savory honey sesame sauce. This easy honey sesame chicken recipe is ready in just 30 minutes. I shallow-fry the cornstarch-coated chicken and let the crust set before flipping so it stays crispy.
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Honey sesame chicken is a popular Chinese-American takeout dish featuring crispy fried chicken tossed in a sweet and savory honey sesame sauce.
Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved the combination of honey and sesame flavors, especially with chicken. I developed this homemade version because I find restaurant versions too sweet.
After testing different amounts of honey and white sugar, I found that using more honey and less sugar creates a thick, glossy sauce without making it overly sweet.
When I make this for dinner, I fry the chicken in small batches to maintain the oil temperature and keep the coating crispy. Finally, I toss the chicken in the thickened sauce just before serving so the crust doesn't become soggy.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Exact ingredient amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Chicken Thighs: Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs because their higher fat content keeps them juicy during frying. Chicken breast also works but requires a shorter cooking time since it's leaner and more prone to drying out.
- Vegetable Oil: Or use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as canola or refined avocado oil.
- Salt
- Cornstarch: Creates a light, crispy crust without a wet batter. Potato starch also works. Avoid tapioca or arrowroot starch, which can make the chicken pieces stick together.
- Green Onions
Honey Sesame Sauce
- Honey: Use plain liquid honey for its signature flavor and sticky, glossy finish.
- Regular Soy Sauce: Adds a savory, salty balance to the sweet sauce. Light or low-sodium soy sauce also works.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Gives the sauce its distinct nutty sesame flavor.
- White Granulated Sugar: Granulated cane sugar also works.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: Use toasted or roasted sesame seeds for a nutty flavor. If unavailable, toast raw sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce so it clings evenly to the crispy chicken. Potato or tapioca starch also works.
- Shaoxing Wine: Adds a subtle savory depth to the sauce. Dry sherry also works.
- Garlic: Use fresh garlic for a stronger garlic flavor than jarred minced garlic.
- Rice Vinegar: Adds acidity to balance the sweetness of the honey. Apple cider vinegar also works.
- Cold Water
Note: Asian ingredients are typically available at most Asian grocery stores or online.
Expert Tips
- Use a cooking thermometer to keep the oil at 325-350°F for a crispy, evenly fried coating.
- Let the crust set before flipping so the cornstarch coating doesn't tear or fall off the chicken.
- For extra crispiness, press the cornstarch onto the chicken to create rough edges that crisp up during frying.
- Shake off loose cornstarch to prevent excess starch from falling into the oil and burning.
- Coat the chicken just before frying to prevent surface moisture from dampening the cornstarch coating.
- Remove browned bits between batches to prevent burnt starch from giving the chicken a bitter taste.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make honey sesame chicken:
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all the honey sesame sauce ingredients until combined and the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
- Prepare the Chicken: Dice the chicken thighs into even 1.5-inch pieces. Don't pat them dry, as the natural surface moisture helps the cornstarch stick. Transfer to a large bowl and season evenly with salt.
- Coat the Chicken: Add the cornstarch to the chicken and toss until evenly coated. If wet spots remain, add 1-2 tablespoons more cornstarch as needed.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat to 350°F. Fry the chicken in a single layer, working in batches if needed, for about 5-7 minutes per batch. Leave the chicken undisturbed until the bottom is golden and the crust has set before flipping. Continue frying until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a wire rack to keep it crispy. Let the oil return to 350°F between batches.
- Thicken the Sauce: Carefully remove the frying oil from the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Whisk the sauce again to redistribute the cornstarch, then pour it into the pan. Simmer for about 30-45 seconds, stirring until thickened and glossy.
- Coat and Garnish: Add the fried chicken and toss just until evenly coated in the sauce. Remove from the heat immediately and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftover honey sesame chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For crispier leftovers, store the fried chicken and sauce separately.
- Freezer: Freeze cooled leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The coating will soften after thawing.
- Reheating: Microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring between intervals, or reheat in a nonstick pan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through to 165°F. If stored separately, warm the sauce before tossing with the reheated chicken. The coating won't be as crispy after reheating.
Variations
- Gluten-Free: Replace regular soy sauce with tamari and Shaoxing wine with dry sherry.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes to the honey sesame sauce for a little heat.
Pairing Suggestions
Serve crispy honey sesame chicken with:
- Crab Rangoon: Crispy, creamy wontons make a delicious appetizer.
- Lo Mein: Savory noodles complement the sweet and sticky chicken.
- Spicy Garlic Bok Choy: Adds a fresh, spicy contrast to the sweet sauce.
FAQ
The sauce may have simmered too long, causing the cornstarch to thicken it excessively. Stir in a splash of water over low heat until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Yes! Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange the cornstarch-coated chicken in a single layer, working in batches if needed, and spray the chicken with oil. Air fry each batch at 400°F for about 10-14 minutes, without flipping, until golden and crispy, with an internal temperature of 165°F. Prepare the sauce as directed in the recipe card, then toss with the air-fried chicken. Serve immediately.
More Like This
Check out these other chicken recipes:
📖 Recipe
Easy Honey Sesame Chicken (30 Minutes)
Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- ½ green onion finely chopped
Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- 2.5 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil toasted kind
- ½ tablespoon white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted kind
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoon Shaoxing Cooking Wine or dry sherry
- 2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- ¾ cup water cold
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until combined and the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
- Dice the chicken thighs into even 1.5-inch pieces. Don't pat them dry, as the natural surface moisture helps the cornstarch stick. Transfer to a large bowl and season evenly with salt.
- Add the cornstarch to the chicken and toss until evenly coated. If wet spots remain, add 1-2 tablespoons more cornstarch as needed.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat to 350°F. Fry the chicken in a single layer, working in batches if needed, for about 5-7 minutes per batch. Leave the chicken undisturbed until the bottom is golden and the crust has set before flipping. Continue frying until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a wire rack to keep it crispy. Let the oil return to 350°F between batches.
- Carefully remove the frying oil from the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Whisk the sauce again to redistribute the cornstarch, then pour it into the pan. Simmer for about 30-45 seconds, stirring until thickened and glossy.
- Add the fried chicken and toss just until evenly coated in the sauce. Remove from the heat immediately and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Rosa
Our whole family loved this - great flavour and easy to make. Served with steamed greens. Can see this being a regular in our house!
Christie Lai
Thanks so much for making my recipe and for sharing your positive experience with it, Rosa! Glad you and the whole family enjoyed it!
Vince
It was very good. Super easy even for a beginner like me. Wife loved it.
Christie Lai
This makes me so happy to hear, thank you so much for making my recipe Vince! Glad your wife enjoyed it 🙂
Anastasia
Loved it, super easy recipe to follow & family loved it. Will be adding this to the recipe book
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for leaving this kind review, Anastasia! So glad you and your family enjoyed it!
Sal
Great recipe, easy to make
christieathome
So happy to read this, thanks for making my recipe!
Joelle
My husband and I enjoyed this. It was on the sweeter side even with leaving out the sugar because I didn’t have the wine and substituted mirin. But all around, you should be expecting a sweeter dish (as advertised) and therefore this did not disappoint!
christieathome
Great to hear and glad you enjoyed my recipe, Joelle! Thanks for making it!
Michelle
This was delicious! I made it for dinner and I'm already sharing it! It was as sweet as I thought it would be (so much honey!) but the wine and vinegar make a huge difference. Absolutely saving this recipe and trying your others!
christieathome
Thanks so much Michelle for making and sharing my recipe! Glad you enjoyed my Honey Sesame Chicken. Yes that wine and vinegar really help create balance 🙂 I hope you enjoy my other recipes too! Have a lovely day.
Christiana L
I tried so many of your recipes and all of them were amazing and so flavored and delicious, my kids love them too! Your recipes made family dinners happier and more fulfilling for us! Thank you 🙂
christieathome
This is by far the sweetest comment I've ever received here on my blog! Thank you SO MUCH for making my recipes and for sharing this kind message with me. One of my goals is to make family meals more fulfilling in taste and in joy 🙂 Have a lovely day Christiana!
Tim
Very tasty but far to sweet. I'd leave the sugar out next time for sure
christieathome
Sorry to hear it's too sweet for your liking. Thank you for making my recipe!
Rosemary Gainey
This is a wonderful recipe! Will def make it many times for family dinners with grands! I added the Chinese udon noodles and in a separate pan stir fried chopped red pepper, onion, shredded carrots with a cup of green peas to make a complete meal. SOOOOO good!! Thank you for sharing this!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my Honey Sesame Chicken, Rosemary! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it with udon noodles in a delicious stir fry! I am drooling as I read your comment!
Melissa
I wish I could give this more than 5 stars!! The sauce is delicious and yummy, so easy to make. So many are tomato based and even just a little changes the sauce. This was SPOT on for an Asian sauce that we enjoyed. Now that I've made it, I'll do it again and add some heat, mushrooms and some water chestnuts, even though that changes the main recipe. I fried half in a pan with oil and the other half I did in the air fryer. Going air fryer all the way next time. Thank you for this!
christieathome
Thank you so much for these kind words and for making my recipe, Melissa!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the dish and happy you liked the sauce so much 🙂 Have a lovely day!
Jacquie
Fab recipe. Easy and delicious. Helps us avoid ordering takeaways
christieathome
Thank you for making my recipe! So glad to hear this Jacquie!
Rosemary
I have everything for this honey sesame chicken except for the Chinese wine! What could I use instead?
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
Mmmm, your honey sesame sauce is so perfect... and pairing this chicken with some steamed bok choy is so perfect!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
This one looks so darn good Christie! The honey sesame sauce has my name written all over it!
Josiah - DIY Thrill
This Honey Sesame Chicken looks irresistible such a great weeknight meal idea!
Michelle | Sift & Simmer
This looks like the perfect weeknight meal! Way better than take-out! Yum! 🙂