This one pan sesame rooster is the reply to all of your fast and simple weeknight dinner goals.
Sesame rooster is a candy and saucy dish of crispy bits of rooster coated in a sticky savory sauce, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. It’s a basic Chinese language take-out favourite and one among my should order dishes.
It’s extraordinarily versatile – go together with no matter items of rooster you’ve gotten within the fridge or picked up on the retailer on sale, both breasts or thighs will work. I choose pores and skin off, however pores and skin on works too. The secret is ease. From there, your rooster will get a bit coat of cornstarch for each tenderizing and so as to add a little bit of crisp.
What’s sesame rooster?
Sesame rooster is an excellent widespread American Chinese language rooster dish that’s almost definitely impressed by actual Chinese language dishes like candy and bitter pork or lemon rooster. It’s nearly identical to Common Tso’s rooster however as a substitute of on the spicy aspect, it’s candy. Like Common Tso’s rooster, nobody is sort of certain of the origins of sesame rooster. Sesame rooster is uniquely Chinese language-American and extremely scrumptious.
What’s in sesame rooster sauce?
Sesame rooster sauce is made from garlic, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil, which provides it that sesame-ness.
make sesame rooster
- Season and cornstarch your rooster. Lower the rooster into chunk sized items then combine it up with some cornstarch.
- Fry the rooster. Warmth up a little bit of oil and pan-fry the rooster till golden and crisp.
- Make the sauce. Push the rooster to the aspect and fry the garlic for a minute, then add all of the sauce components. Prepare dinner till it begins to bubble and thicken, stirring often.
- Make it rain. Sprinkle on the sesame seeds and revel in scorching with fluffy white rice!
Ingredient notes
- Rooster – I used boneless skinless thighs however you should utilize no matter boneless rooster you occur to have, pores and skin on or pores and skin off doesn’t actually matter. Each breasts and thighs will work on this recipe. Versatility is the secret.
- Cornstarch – that is what we’re utilizing to dry coat the rooster with earlier than it will get pan fried. Cornstarch doesn’t have any gluten in it which can assist make the rooster a bit bit crispy and golden.
Garlic – only a little bit of garlic for these mellow heat garlicky flavors everyone knows and love. - Honey – that is what will add the sweetness and likewise cook dinner down properly right into a sticky, thick sauce.
- Soy sauce – There are so, so many soy sauces on the market, however on this case, one of the best one is the one in your pantry. That being stated, when you’re working out or need to develop your soy sauce assortment, be sure you go for a naturally brewed soy sauce for its complicated deep aroma and taste. We like each Amoy and Lee Kum Kee.
- Rice vinegar – rice vinegar provides that signature little little bit of tang that sesame rooster has. The tanginess highlights the sweetness and that distinction is what makes sesame rooster irresistible. We like to make use of Marukan or Kikkoman unseasoned rice vinegar. If you happen to don’t have any available, you possibly can substitute white vinegar.
- Toasted sesame oil – Toasted sesame oil will add an enormous hit of sesame taste! It’s intensely nutty, toasty, and so so good. It’s not the identical as common sesame oil. Toasted sesame oil is created from toasted sesame seeds and is a ending oil, very similar to a extremely good olive oil. Our favourite model is the Japanese one, Kadoya, with its signature bottle form and yellow cap. Yow will discover it within the Asian aisle at most grocery shops, in your native Asian grocery retailer, or on-line.
- Toasted sesame seeds – These guys are the of entirety. Search for toasted sesame seeds on the retailer, they’ve a nuttier, toastier taste.
Why that is one of the best sesame rooster recipe on the market
Most sesame rooster recipes are deep fried rooster however I like this one-pan model as a result of it’s the best technique to make selfmade sesame rooster from scratch. As a substitute of coating every bit of rooster in a batter and deep-frying, we’re going to toss our rooster cornstarch to present it a barely crispy coat. Not fairly the identical as deep fried, however 1000 occasions simpler and faster, which is what everybody wants on a weeknight. This sesame rooster is certainly quicker (and more healthy) than ordering take out!
Extra Chinese language takeout dishes you need to attempt

Sesame Rooster Recipe
This one pan sesame rooster is the reply to all of your fast and simple weeknight dinner goals.
Serves 2
- 1 lb boneless skinless rooster thighs ~4 thighs, or sub 2 breasts, reduce into 1 inch items
- salt and freshly floor pepper
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Season the rooster with salt and freshly floor pepper, then toss with 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
Warmth up oil in a big skillet over medium excessive warmth. Prepare dinner the rooster in a single layer, till cooked by means of, golden brown, and crispy, flipping as soon as. Prepare dinner in batches, if wanted.
Push the rooster to 1 aspect, then add the garlic to the pan and cook dinner till tender, however not brown.
Add soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Prepare dinner over medium warmth, stirring till the sauce turns barely thick and shiny and coats the rooster. End with toasted sesame seeds and revel in scorching!
Diet Info
Sesame Rooster Recipe
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 433
Energy from Fats 201
% Every day Worth*
Fats 22.3g34%
Saturated Fats 6.3g39%
Ldl cholesterol 180mg60%
Sodium 603mg26%
Potassium 580mg17%
Carbohydrates 22.6g8%
Fiber 0.2g1%
Sugar 17.4g19%
Protein 38.8g78%
* % Every day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie food plan.