The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (2025)

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Classic Chinese take-out, made in your own kitchen.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated December 06, 2022

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The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • A balanced sauce has plenty of vinegary kick to balance out the cloying sweetness that most restaurant versions have.
  • Cooking the aromatics for the sauce at a lower temperature lets their flavors develop without having to superheat your wok or skillet.
  • Adding vodka to the chicken coating inhibits gluten formation and leaves you with a crisper crust.
  • Adding some of the marinade to the dry coating mixture makes more surface area which results in extra crunch.

I developed a great technique for perfecting General Tso’s crispy, battered chicken, which is easily transferred to make an amazing orange chicken, or this sesame chicken. Once you start with the General Tso's base, sesame chicken is even easier than orange chicken. The main difference is that sesame chicken tends to be a little sweeter (if you can imagine that) than General Tso's, with no heat, and a good shower of toasted sesame seeds is added to the sauce.

The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (3)

I make the sauce almost the exact same way I make my General Tso's sauce: sautéed garlic, ginger, and scallions deglazed with a sweet-tart mixture of soy, wine, vinegar, chicken stock, and sugar. I add a little extra sugar and sesame oil to the mix in this case, but otherwise, it's pretty much identical.

The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (4)

Once the chicken is tossed with the sauce, I pile it up in the authentic manner: with steamed broccoli florets and a shower of toasted sesame seeds.

The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (5)

This story was originally published under the column name "The Food Lab Redux."

July 2014

Recipe Details

The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe

Prep10 mins

Cook20 mins

Active45 mins

Total30 mins

Serves4to 6 servings

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

  • 1 egg white

  • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (see notes)

  • 2 tablespoons 80-proof vodka

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch chunks (see notes)

For the Dry Coating:

  • 1/2 cup flour

  • 1/2 cup cornstarch

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (see notes)

  • 2 tablespoons Chinese rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar

  • 3 tablespoons homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock

  • 5 tablespoons sugar

  • 2 teaspoons roasted sesame seed oil

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

  • 2 teaspoons peanut, vegetable, or canola oil

  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 medium cloves)

  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger (about one 1-inch piece)

  • 2 teaspoons minced scallion bottoms (about 1 scallion)

  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

To Finish:

  • 2 quarts peanut, canola, or vegetable oil for deep frying

  • Steamed white rice and steamed broccoli for serving

Directions

  1. For the Marinade: Beat egg whites in a large bowl until broken down and lightly foamy. Add soy sauce, wine, and vodka and whisk to combine. Set aside half of marinade in a small bowl. Add baking soda and cornstarch to the large bowl and whisk to combine. Add chicken to large bowl and turn with fingers to coat thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

    The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (6)

  2. For the Dry Coat: Combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk until homogenous. Add reserved marinade and whisk until mixture has coarse, mealy clumps. Set aside.

    The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (7)

  3. For the Sauce: Combine soy sauce, wine, vinegar, chicken stock, sugar, sesame seed oil, and cornstarch in a small bowl and stir with a fork until cornstarch is dissolved and no lumps remain. Set aside.

    The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (8)

  4. Combine oil, garlic, ginger, and minced scallions in a large skillet and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are aromatic and soft, but not browned, about 3 minutes. Stir sauce mixture and add to skillet, making sure to scrape up any sugar or starch that has sunk to the bottom. Cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens, about 1 minute. Add half of sesame seeds. Transfer sauce to a bowl to stop cooking, but don't wipe out skillet.

    The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (9)

  5. To Finish: Heat 1 1/2 quarts peanut, vegetable, or canola oil in a large wok or Dutch oven to 350°F (177°C) and adjust flame to maintain temperature.

  6. Working one piece at a time, transfer chicken from marinade to dry coat mixture, tossing in between each addition to coat chicken. When all chicken is added to dry coat, toss with hands, pressing dry mixture onto chicken so it adheres, and making sure that every piece is coated thoroughly.

    The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (10)

  7. Lift chicken one piece at a time, shake off excess coating, and carefully lower into hot oil (do not drop it). Once all chicken is added, cook, agitating with long chopsticks or a metal spider, and adjusting flame to maintain a temperature of 325 to 375°F (163-190°C), until chicken is cooked through and very crispy, about 4 minutes. Transfer chicken to a paper towel-lined bowl to drain.

    The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (11)

  8. Add chicken to empty skillet and return sauce to skillet. Toss chicken, folding it with a rubber spatula until all pieces are thoroughly coated. Sprinkle with remaining sesame seeds and serve immediately with white rice and steamed broccoli.

    The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (12)

Special Equipment

Wok or Dutch oven for deep frying

Notes

Shaoxing wine can be found in most Asian markets. If unavailable, dry sherry can be used in its place.

If you can't find boneless skinless chicken thighs, you can debone them yourself using this guide.

Read More

  • Chinese-American Orange Chicken
  • The Best General Tso's Chicken
  • Chicken Stir-Fry
  • Chinese-American
  • Fried Chicken
  • Chicken Thighs
  • Chicken Mains
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
500Calories
20g Fat
54g Carbs
24g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories500
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g26%
Saturated Fat 3g16%
Cholesterol 108mg36%
Sodium 962mg42%
Total Carbohydrate 54g20%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 78mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
Potassium 331mg7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The Best Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe (2025)

FAQs

What is the sauce made of in sesame chicken? ›

Mix chicken broth, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, chile paste, and garlic together in a small pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.

What is the difference between TSO and sesame chicken? ›

The main difference is that sesame chicken tends to be a little sweeter (if you can imagine that) than General Tso's, with no heat, and a good shower of toasted sesame seeds is added to the sauce.

What is the most popular Chinese chicken dish? ›

Five Iconic Chinese Chicken Dishes
  1. Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁) Kung Pao Chicken is a fiery Sichuan dish known for its spicy and slightly sweet flavors. ...
  2. General Tso's Chicken (左宗棠鸡) ...
  3. Chinese Lemon Chicken (柠檬鸡) ...
  4. Moo Goo Gai Pan (蘑菇鸡片) ...
  5. Chicken Congee (鸡肉粥)
Feb 7, 2024

How do you keep Chinese chicken crispy? ›

After cooking, put the chicken on a clean rack so no moisture develops under it. It should have a very crunchy coating, and if you have leftovers, let the chicken cool uncovered in the refrigerator so it does not get wet from steam. After it cools completely, then cover the chicken. It should be crunchy the next day.

What is Chinese sesame sauce made of? ›

Ingredients: Sesame paste, soybean oil, gum arabic, xanthan gum.

Is Chinese sesame sauce the same as tahini? ›

Chinese sesame paste and tahini look similar, but the Chinese is made with toasted sesame as opposed to raw, which is what tahini is made with. The flavor of the Chinese paste is much stronger and nuttier. Chinese sesame oil is similarly made with toasted seeds, usually mixed into a base of vegetable or peanut oil.

What is the closest thing to sesame chicken? ›

Sesame Chicken, General Tso, and Orange Chicken look quite similar and share some common ingredients, which can make it difficult for some to choose between them. Chicken: Each dish uses chunks of boneless chicken meat (usually thigh).

What is better, Szechuan chicken or General Tso's? ›

Our experts say… General Tso's chicken is about the most dangerous Chinese dish on the menu—dark meat battered and deep-fried, then cooked with vegetables in a sweet, spicy sauce. Szechuan chicken, made with leaner, white meat and sautéed with vegetables, is a far better choice.

What is China's number one dish? ›

1. Kung Pao Chicken. There aren't many Chinese dishes that are more popular than Kung Pai Chicken. The classic dish originates from southwestern China, specifically Sichuan cuisine, and is associated with general Chinese food and cuisine.

What is the most expensive Chinese dish in the world? ›

Known for its healing properties, Bird's Nest Soup (or Swiftlets Nest Soup) is an expensive food that's considered a delicacy in China. This soup is exactly what it sounds like — it's a soup that's made from the nest of a swiftlet bird, which dissolves in water and adds a gelatinous texture to the soup.

How do Chinese food restaurants get their chicken so tender? ›

There are actually a few different ways to tenderise chicken the Chinese restaurant way: marinating in a cornstarch/cornflour sludge then deep frying or blanching in water before proceeding to cook in the stir fry.

How do Chinese get their chicken so crispy? ›

The chicken is then air-dried for 10 to 12 hours before being flash-fried, then oil-poached. The skin gets its signature crispiness from 10 to 12 minutes of basting with scalding hot oil right before serving.

Should I use cornstarch or flour for crispy chicken? ›

Cornstarch Is the Secret to the Crispiest Fried Chicken. You might keep cornstarch on hand for thickening gravy and making near-instant pudding at home.

What sauce is made from sesame? ›

Tahini sauce is one of our go-to toppings for a variety of savory dishes. It's made from tahini, a dense paste made from crushed sesame seeds. Tahini sauce is a mixture of tahini paste, lemon juice, garlic, and water. This traditional sauce is served in Israel and in Arab countries throughout the Middle East.

What is sesame dressing made of? ›

Perhaps no other salad dressing is as versatile as sesame dressing. The simple mixture of sesame seeds, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and brown sugar has the ideal balance of nutty, salty, tart, and lightly sweet.

What is Chinese chicken sauce made of? ›

CHINESE CHICKEN SAUCE 3 tbsp oyster sauce 1 tbsp. ketchup 1/2 cup water 1 tsp. corn starch 1/2 tsp fresh minced ginger 1 tsp. minced garlic.

Is sesame sauce healthy? ›

According to a review of eight studies, sesame seeds may also reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (the top and bottom numbers or a reading), which could help prevent heart disease and stroke ( 7 ). As tahini is made from ground sesame seeds, these findings apply to the paste as well.

References

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