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Sesame Chicken with Broccoli

Our easy sesame chicken recipe brings a favorite Chinese restaurant dish right into your own kitchen.

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sesame chicken with broccoli and rice on a plate with a fork

A Super Easy Sesame Chicken Stir Fry, With Broccoli for Good Measure.

Sesame chicken is a staple of Chinese restaurants in America, and a big favorite especially at spots like P.F. Chang’s and Panda Express that serve up primarily Chinese-American dishes. You know the kind! Crispy pieces of tender, juicy chicken in sticky, savory, slightly sweet sauces. Well, sesame chicken is one of our very favorite go-to takeout orders, but we have come to really love making it at home, too! Not only is it speedy—stir fries usually are—but homemade sesame chicken from scratch is also healthier than what you’d get in a restaurant because the chicken is stir-fried instead of deep fried.

raw chicken breast cut into pieces, broccoli, green onions, soy sauce, sesame seeds ginger garlic for sesame chicken stir fry

Sesame Chicken Sauce: The Key To Making Delicious Sesame Chicken

Sesame chicken is all about the yummy, honey-sweetened sesame chicken sauce that coats the stir fried chicken and broccoli pieces. Fresh garlic gives it a nice punch of sharpness, and sesame oil gives it a wonderful richness and depth. The cornstarch is a bit part of what makes it sticky enough to coat the chicken, so don’t skip it! Here’s what you’ll need to make the sauce:

  • Cornstarch
  • Low-sodium soy sauce
  • Sesame oil
  • Chili-garlic paste
  • Brown sugar
  • Honey
  • Garlic cloves
raw chicken pieces with salt and cornstarch in a bowl
steamed broccoli in a bowl
sauce for sesame chicken in a small bowl
browned chicken pieces on a plate for sesame chicken

5 Simple Sesame Chicken Ingredients

You’ll notice that, other than what you’ll need to make the sesame chicken sauce, all you really need otherwise is just chicken and broccoli! See? Making sesame chicken is actually super, super easy. It’s even made with pretty darn basic pantry ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2" cubes
  • Kosher salt
  • Cornstarch
  • Sesame oil
  • Broccoli
broccoli in a pan with sesame sauce
sesame chicken with broccoli in a pan

How to Make Sesame Chicken From Scratch

While some sesame chicken recipes call for you to batter and fry the chicken breast pieces, we’ve opted for a simple stir-fry. It’s healthier than deep frying, it’s not as messy, and we also think it results in a more delicious finished dish. How’s how to make easy sesame chicken with broccoli:

  1. Blanch the broccoli. You could even do this ahead of time, if you’re meal prepping.
  2. Coat the chicken pieces in salt and cornstarch.
  3. Make the sesame chicken sauce by whisking together all of the sauce ingredients.
  4. Brown the chicken. You’ll need to do it in two batches, so you don’t crowd the pan.
  5. Pour in the sauce and the broccoli and stir-fry to combine it all!
  6. Garnish with sesame seeds and scallions, and serve!
Sesame Chicken with Broccoli and rice on a plate

Tools You’ll Need:

More Favorite Chinese Restaurant Recipes

Sesame Chicken with Broccoli and rice on a plate with green onions and sesame seeds
Sesame Chicken with Broccoli and rice on a plate

Sesame Chicken, Without the Delivery Fee

The next time the craving hits, try this sesame chicken recipe, and let us know how you like it, OK? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!

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Sesame Chicken with Broccoli

  • Serves: 6
  • Prep Time:  20 min
  • Cook Time:  20 min
  • Calories: 219

Ingredients

  • 1 pound broccoli, cut into florets
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2" cubes
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 Tbsp sesame oil

Sesame Sauce

  • 1/4 cup Water
  • 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce (or tamari to make it gluten-free)
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 1/2-1 tsp Chili-garlic paste
  • 2 Tbsp Brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

For Serving

  • 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced

Method

  1. Heat a large pot of salted water over high heat. Blanch the broccoli for 3 minutes. Discard water set broccoli aside.
  2. Place the chicken in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt and 2 tablespoons cornstarch then toss until the chicken is thoroughly and evenly coated.
  3. In a small bowl mix the water with 1 tablespoon cornstarch to make a slurry. Mix in soy sauce (or tamari), 1 tablespoon sesame oil, chili garlic paste, brown sugar, honey and minced garlic.
  4. Heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Cook the chicken in two batches taking care to not crowd the pan, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes total.
  5. Add the broccoli along with the sauce to the pan, simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
  6. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories219
  • Protein26 g
  • Carbohydrates19 g
  • Total Fat5 g
  • Dietary Fiber2 g
  • Cholesterol0 mg
  • sodium609 mg
  • Total Sugars11 g

Sesame Chicken with Broccoli

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • Debra

    Is chili-garlic paste the same as sambal oelek? Is there a substitution?

    They are a little different but I use them interchangeably. You can also sub a little sriracha if you have that on hand. But go easy just in case!

  • Camille

    My family loved this recipe. It was surprisingly good

    Thanks Camille, so happy you enjoyed it!

  • Amy

    This was tasty, my family enjoyed it. Simple clean up too.

    Thanks Amy! We are so glad the whole family loved it. Is there any better feeling than a delicious meal with simple clean up? We think not!

  • Kris

    I didn't have honey on hand so I made it without, the dish still came out savory and delicious. Will definitely make again.

    Thank you Kris, so glad you loved it!

  • Jenn

    This was so delicious!

    Thank you!