Sesame Chicken

Crispy chicken bites tossed in a thick, sweet, sticky sesame sauce—classic takeaway vibes made at home.

Ingredients

• 500 g chicken thighs, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 2 eggs
• 60 g cornflour (cornstarch)
• Large pinch of salt
• 60 ml ketchup
• 60 ml soy sauce
• 60 ml honey
• 12 g brown sugar
• 10 ml rice vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 ml sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), for thickening
• Sesame seeds, to finish
• Water, a splash (to make a cornflour slurry)

Method

• 1

  Step 1: Cut the chicken

  Slice the chicken thighs into bite-size pieces so they cook quickly and evenly.

• 2

  Step 2: Coat the chicken

  Add the chicken to a bowl with the eggs, 60 g cornflour, and a large pinch of salt. Mix until every piece is well coated in a thick batter.

• 3

  Step 3: Cook until crispy

  Air fry or deep/shallow-fry the chicken pieces until crispy and golden brown and cooked through (the coating should be set and crunchy, and the chicken should no longer be pink in the center). Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.

• 4

  Step 4: Simmer the sauce

  Add the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and sesame oil to a pan. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the sauce is smooth.

• 5

  Step 5: Thicken the sauce

  Mix 1 tbsp cornflour with a splash of water to make a smooth slurry. Stir it into the simmering sauce and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring, until thick, glossy, and sticky enough to coat the back of a spoon.

• 6

  Step 6: Toss and glaze

  Add the crispy chicken to the pan and toss until every piece is evenly coated in the sticky sesame sauce.

• 7

  Step 7: Finish and serve

  Sprinkle with a pinch of sesame seeds and serve immediately while the chicken is still crisp.

Tips

• **Lighten it up**: Swap chicken thighs for **chicken breast**, reduce the **honey**, and/or use a bit less **cornflour** for fewer calories.
• **Keep it crispy**: Cook the chicken in batches and toss with sauce right before serving so the coating stays crunchy longer.
• **Storage**: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; re-crisp in an air fryer or hot oven before saucing (or expect the coating to soften).

Nutrition (per serving, estimate)