Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (2024)

Published: Last updated: by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This Honey Sesame Chicken recipe is crispy pieces of chicken coated in a sticky sweet honey sesame sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (1)

This Honey Sesame Chicken recipe is made of bite-size crispy chicken pieces that are battered, fried and then coated in a sweet Asian sticky sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds. If you are a Chinese food lover, then next time you want take out, I highly recommend you make this homemade version instead.

This Honey Sesame Chicken is at the top of my family's favorite list! It is better than Chinese takeout and fare more budget friendly.

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🙋 Recipe FAQ's
  • 💭 Top Tips
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🍽 Equipment
  • Storage
  • 🏫 What I've Learned
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe


✔️ This Crispy Honey Sesame Chicken recipe is an easy-to-make, budget-friendly, finger-licking favorite!

✔️ These delectable bites are coated with an easy to make savory honey sesame sauce that the whole family will love.

✔️ The sticky honey sesame sauce makes this a family favorite!

Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (3)

Ingredients

Boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs.

Corn starch and all-purpose flour to coat the chicken.

Soy Sauce:

Cooking Wine, helps tenderize the chicken and adds flavor.

Sesame Oil: This is an important ingredient, it gives a certain flavor to the sauce that marinates the chicken pieces and should not be skipped.

Sweet Chili Sauce: You can find this in the grocery store near the hot sauces.

Ketchup

Honey

Oyster Sauce: No substitutions recommended. If you cannot use Oyster Sauce due to fish allergies, I just recommend leaving it out without a substitution.

Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (4)

🔪 Instructions

To batter the chicken

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, wine, sesame oil, and sugar until combined. Add the chicken and marinate for 1 hour.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the flour and cornstarch and place in a large ziplock bag. Drain the chicken and add to the flour mixture. Shake gently to coat.

To fry the chicken

  1. Add the oil to a deep fry pan over medium high heat and bring to 350 degrees.
  2. Gently place the chicken in the hot oil and fry until the chicken is cooked through and the batter is golden brown.
  3. Drain the chicken pieces on paper towels.

To make the sauce

  1. In a small bowl, mix the sweet chili sauce, ketchup, honey, oyster sauce, soy, sauce, and water in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring the sauce mixture to a boil, then simmer for 3 minutes, until the sauce begins to thicken.
  3. Toss the sauce with fried chicken pieces. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions (if using).
Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (5)

🙋 Recipe FAQ's

What can I substitute for cornstarch?

Rice flour, potato starch, or arrowroot starch are good substitutes and will give the same crispy results as cornstarch.

Can I reuse the oil the chicken was fried in?

Yes, you can. Strain any sediment from the oil and store it in an airtight container. After about 3 uses, the oil should be discarded.

Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (6)

💭 Top Tips

  • Use a candy thermometer to keep track of the oil temperature. It should not go higher than 350. If it drops below 350, allow the oil to reheat before resuming frying the chicken.
  • Marinating the chicken pieces imparts the flavor you want and will helps to tenderize the meat.
  • Use a paper towel lined dish to drain the chicken pieces on allowing it to absorb excess oil.

📖 Variations

  • Substitute medium shrimp for the chicken.
  • Low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos can be substituted for regular soy sauce.
  • Seasoned rice wine vinegar can be substituted for cooking wine.
  • Maple syrup or brown sugar can be a substitute for honey.
  • Stir ½ - 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes into the sauce mixture to amp it up to a spicy sauce.
Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (7)

🍽 Equipment

Cutting Board

Chef's knife

Wire whisk

Mixing bowls

Ziplock bag

Frying pan

Mesh skimmer

Medium saucepan

Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (8)

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.

To make this ahead of time, the chicken can be fried and stored in the freezer up to 3 months. Just reheat the cooked chicken in the oven or air fryer and coat with the sauce when ready to serve.

🏫 What I've Learned

Dark meat has more flavor than whit meat and usually less expensive. For this reason I recommend using chicken thighs over chicken breasts. This recipe can be made with both types of chicken, whatever your preference may be.

3-4 inches of oil is all you need to deep fry the chicken pieces.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this Honey Sesame Chicken recipe with a side of Garlic Scallion Noodles or brown rice, crab rangoon, Venison Potstickers, and air fryer egg rolls.

Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (9)

Bang Bang Chicken with Quinoa

Bang Bang Shrimp

Honey Walnut Shrimp

Vietnamese Caramel Chicken

Crispy General Tso's Tofu

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products!

When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!

If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating

📖 Recipe

Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (11)

Honey Sesame Chicken

Shelby Law Ruttan

This Honey Sesame Chicken recipe is crispy pieces of chicken coated in a sticky sweet honey sesame sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds.

4.25 from 8 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Asian

Servings 4

Calories 309 kcal

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

for the chicken

for the honey sesame sauce

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, wine, sesame oil, and sugar until combined. Add the chicken and marinate for 1 hour.

  • In a small bowl, mix together the flour and cornstarch and place in a large ziplock bag. Drain the chicken and add to the flour mixture. Shake gently to coat.

  • Add the oil to a deep fry pan and heat to 350 degrees.

  • Gently place the chicken in the hot oil and fry until the chicken is cooked through and the batter is golden brown.

  • Drain the chicken pieces on paper towels.

  • In a small bowl, mix the sweet chili sauce, ketchup, honey, oyster sauce, soy, sauce, and water in a medium saucepan.

  • Bring the sauce mixture to a boil, then simmer for 3 minutes, until the sauce begins to thicken.

  • Toss the sauce with fried chicken pieces. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions (if using).

Notes

Nutrition fact take into consideration oil absorbed by deep frying.

Nutrition

Calories: 309kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 20gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 1345mgPotassium: 380mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 61IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Honey Sesame Chicken, Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe

Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

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About Shelby Law Ruttan

Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Teresa

    There appears to be an error in the sweet chili sauce measurement. How much sweet chili sauce?

    Reply

    • Shelby

      3 Tablespoons. Thanks for letting me know. When I moved to a different printable recipe I must have cut that part off!

      Reply

  2. Brenda

    Was quite nice, but sauce had a too-strong flavour for us. I did double the sauce and used medium sherry in place of cooking wine. Probably would have to reduce soy and oyster sauces in the overall sauce. I think after those changes, this will be awesome! Will definitely be trying this again. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  3. Kristin @ Dizzy Busy and Hungry!

    What a great recipe! I am glad you were on an Asian kick and came up with this great recipe!

    Reply

  4. Carlsbad Cravings

    This sounds incredible! I am loving all the flavors going on here - anything with oyster sauce is calling my name!

    Reply

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Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe - Grumpy's Honeybunch (2024)

FAQs

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.”

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.

Is Panda Express getting rid of honey sesame chicken? ›

It is now a permanent dish on their menu. The dish was briefly introduced and removed from the menu, but now it's back on the menu. Most panda express chicken dishes use white meat. For example, chicken with string beans, mushroom chicken, honey sesame chicken, and black pepper chicken.

Why is sesame chicken so sweet? ›

The dish involves chicken (usually thigh) pieces that are de-boned, battered and Chinese deep-fried, then dressed with a translucent, reddish-brown, semi-thick, somewhat sweet sauce made from corn starch, vinegar, wine or sake, chicken broth and sugar, the last of which is a major contributor to sesame chicken's ...

What does TSO mean in General Tso Chicken? ›

Peng named the chicken after the Hunanese Qing Dynasty General Tso Tsung-t'ang (now transliterated as Zuo Zongtang). The future general began his military career fighting for the Qing in the Taiping Rebellion, a 14-year civil war waged by the Han Chinese against the Qing emperor.

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 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.

What happened to 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 Chinese honey chicken made from? ›

In a large mixing bowl, mix together Chicken, Chinese Cooking Wine, Light Soy Sauce, and Egg White. Set aside to marinate for 10 – 15 minutes. In another bowl, combine Chicken Bouillon, Water, Chinese Cooking Wine, Rice Vinegar, Light Soy Sauce, Honey, and Brown Sugar. Set aside.

What is the most ordered food at Panda Express? ›

A representative from Panda's PR team said that the five top-selling entrées at the restaurant are (drumroll please): Beijing Beef, Broccoli Beef, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Mushroom Chicken, and, of course, the Original Orange Chicken—the dish that Panda Express is credited with inventing.

Why did Panda Express stop selling orange chicken? ›

They have said this was due to the entree being a limited time item, but the popularity should make them change their minds. Now, millions of people will not be able to have a full meal other than sides at Panda Express. The people are outraged as seen in the comments on various social media accounts.

What oil does Panda Express use? ›

Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food. Panda Express uses only 100% pure soybean oil in the preparation of recipes.

What is the difference between TSO and sesame chicken? ›

Sesame Chicken is typically salty with a hint of sweetness, served with sesame seeds. General Tsos is typically sweeter with a little more heat and served with broccoli and carrots.

What ethnicity is sesame chicken? ›

Sesame Chicken is an Asian-American dish that was invented in North America and still appears on Chinese take-out menus to this day.

Do Chinese people eat sesame chicken? ›

Sesame chicken is a Chinese delicacy that originated in the Canton region. The dish became famous in North America after it was brought over by immigrants who built restaurants serving their native country's cuisine.

What does honey sesame chicken taste like? ›

Honey sesame chicken has a sweet, savory flavor with hints of heat. The chicken is coated in a sticky honey-based sauce containing soy sauce and sesame oil for an intense umami flavor. The addition of sweet chili sauce adds just the right level of sweetness and subtle spiciness, making this dish irresistible.

What is the difference between General Tso chicken and General Tao chicken? ›

General Tso's chicken (also known as General Tao's or Tsao's chicken) is an iconic Chinese-American takeout of deep-fried chicken coated in a thick sweet sauce. You can also make it spicy for those who like a little kick.

What is the taste of General Tso Chicken? ›

It falls somewhere between the tangy, caramelized, thick sauce of orange chicken and the peanut-y, peppery heat of kung pao. Our General Tso's chicken recipe uses reduced-sodium soy sauce and reduced-sodium chicken broth to make the sauce. If you want a saltier dish, swap for regular chicken broth and soy sauce.

What is the difference between General Tso chicken and Mongolian chicken? ›

Mongolian Chicken is known for its savory and slightly sweet flavor profile, while General Tso's Chicken is typically sweeter and has a more pronounced tangy and spicy taste.

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