This honey sesame chicken is easy to make with crispy chicken pieces coated in a sweet and savory sauce made with honey, sesame oil and sesame seeds. Better than takeout!

Honey sesame chicken on a plate.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Quick and Easy Honey Sesame Chicken

This homemade honey sesame chicken is a sticky, sweet, and savory recipe inspired by a favorite Chinese take-out dish! It’s easy to make with crispy pieces of shallow-fried chicken breast, smothered in a mouth-watering honey sesame sauce.

It’s ready in 30 minutes which is great for busy weeknights. When paired with fried rice and steamed vegetables it’s a satisfying meal for anyone who loves Chinese takeout!

Ingredient Notes

Honey sesame chicken ingredients on a marble counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Chicken breast: I tend to use skinless boneless chicken breasts but you can use chicken thighs if preferred. Cut them into bite-sized pieces.
  • Coating: Cornstarch, salt, pepper and garlic salt. This mixture will be used to dredge the chicken.
  • Egg: Seals the coating.
  • Oil: I prefer a neutral oil like canola oil or avocado oil for pan frying.
  • Honey sesame sauce: Honey, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, rice vinegar, cornstarch, and water combine for a thick sweet, and sticky sauce.

How to Make Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe

In a medium bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the sauce until well combined. Set it aside.

Honey sesame sauce in a bowl with a whisk.

Trim any excess fat off the skinless chicken breasts and cut them into evenly bite-sized pieces. Place in a large zip-top bag with cornstarch, salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Shake until each piece is evenly coated.

Coating chicken pieces in flour.

Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet over medium. Whisk an egg in a shallow bowl. Dip coated chicken into egg, then fry in batches 6–8 minutes until golden. Add oil as needed. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

Frying chicken pieces.

Drain oil, then add sauce to pan. Simmer until slightly thickened, then return the chicken and toss to coat. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Crispy homemade sesame chicken in skillet.

Tips and Variations

  • Add-ins: Sugar and ketchup added to the sauce will make it sweeter like my sesame chicken. A pinch of red pepper flakes will add some heat.
  • To elevate the sesame flavor, use toasted sesame oil rather than regular sesame oil.
  • Substitute rice vinegar in the sauce with white vinegar or apple cider. Vinegar cuts through the sweetness to give the sauce a nice tangy balance.
  • Wait until oil is hot. To test oil, splash a little water in the oil. If it pops, it’s ready. If you add the meat too early, it will start to absorb way too much oil.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan. It lowers the temperature of the oil and prevents all pieces from crisping up evenly.
  • Simmer sauce. Simmer sauce until it is thick and glossy before adding your chicken back to the pan. This evaporates the water and helps sauce stick to the chicken.

Serving Suggestions

If you’re interested in making some Asian-inspired appetizers, you’re going to want to make another Panda Express copycat recipe, cream cheese wontons. A side of egg rolls is always a must-have on our table.

Honey sesame chicken is great on its own, but to make it a complete meal like my chicken broccoli stir fry, we’ll usually have it with rice and steamed vegetables.

Sticky honey sesame chicken served over rice.

Other Asian recipes we love to make at home include sweet and sour chicken, copycat Kung Pao chicken and this PF Chang’s lettuce wraps recipe.

More Asian Inspired Recipes

See all
See all
Honey sesame chicken cooking in a pot.

Honey Sesame Chicken

5 from 15 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
This honey sesame chicken is easy to make with crispy chicken pieces coated in a sweet and savory sauce made with honey, sesame oil and sesame seeds. Better than takeout!
Print Pin This! Rate

Video

Ingredients 

Honey Sesame Sauce

  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons regular soy sauce (not light)
  • 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar (distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work too)
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¾ cups water

Chicken

  • 1 ¼ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs , cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ¾ cup cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ cup canola oil , divided (avocado oil will work too)
  • 2 large eggs , whisked

For serving: Cooked rice, Broccoli and/or carrots, Sliced green onions

Instructions

Honey Sesame Sauce

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 Tablespoon sugar, 3 Tablespoons soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons sesame oil, 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds, 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, and 3/4 cups water until well combined.

Chicken

  • In a large zip-top bag, add 1 1/4 pounds bite sized chicken pieces, 3/4 cup cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt and shake until evenly coated.
  • In a large wok or nonstick frying pan, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium heat. In a shallow bowl, add the 2 whisked eggs. Using a fork, dip the chicken in the egg and place in the pan, working in batches. Fry chicken 6 to 8 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Dispose of the burnt oil. Heat the remaining 1/4 cup oil before frying the remaining chicken. Dispose of oil.
  • Add the sauce to the wok and simmer until it starts to thicken. Stir in the fried chicken and toss to evenly coat each piece in sauce.
  • Serve with steamed rice and vegetables. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired. Enjoy!

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Oil for frying: To test if the oil is hot enough, splash a little water on the oil. If it pops, it’s ready.
Air Fryer Instructions: Skip dipping the coated chicken in egg. Place coated chicken the basket, allowing space between each piece (fry in batches, if needed). Spray with cooking oil. Air fry at 400°F for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Simmer the sauce and add the chicken as instructed.

Nutrition

Calories: 397kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 122mg, Sodium: 881mg, Potassium: 273mg, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 169IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 38mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this in the air fryer?

You can! You can do it by skipping the egg mixture too. Once coated in seasoning and cornstarch, add the pieces to the air fryer basket (again, work in batches if necessary), then spray with cooking oil. Air fry at 400°F until golden and crispy and in the meantime simmer the sauce. Once cooked, combine the nuggets with the sauce.

Can it be made in the oven?

Absolutely! Very similar to General Tso’s chicken, which is spicy and without sesame seeds, once the chicken is coated in the egg, we coat it once more in cornstarch and then brown the chicken in oil. Place the browned pieces on a baking sheet, pour the combined sauce overtop and bake in a preheated 325°F oven for 45 minutes.

Can I add vegetables?

Yes, if you like them softer, you may need to saute first in a separate pan otherwise feel free to add bell peppers, snow peas, snap peas or green beans.

How to store leftovers?

Keep honey sesame chicken leftovers stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave, it won’t be as crispy but will still have great flavor.