Easy Air-Fried Sesame Chicken
Easy Air-Fried Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, as needed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or cooking spray, as needed
For the Sesame Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, light or dark, packed
- 3 garlic, cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breast into uniform 1-inch bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss thoroughly until each piece is well-coated. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or spray with cooking spray) and mix again until the chicken looks slightly sticky.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd. You may need to cook in batches. Air fry for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown, and crispy.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 375
- 3
While the chicken cooks, prepare the sesame sauce: In a measuring cup or small bowl, combine the soy sauce, water, honey, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, and 1 tablespoon ketchup. Whisk all the sauce ingredients together until well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Cook the sauce: Set a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour the mixed sauce into the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to bubble. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low and continue stirring until the sauce thickens to a consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Assemble and serve: Transfer the air-fried chicken into a large serving bowl. Pour the thickened sesame sauce directly from the saucepan over the chicken. Toss the chicken gently to ensure every piece is evenly coated with the sauce. Garnish with additional sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve immediately, ideally over steamed jasmine rice.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Easy Air-Fried Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, as needed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or cooking spray, as needed
For the Sesame Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, light or dark, packed
- 3 garlic, cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breast into uniform 1-inch bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss thoroughly until each piece is well-coated. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or spray with cooking spray) and mix again until the chicken looks slightly sticky.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd. You may need to cook in batches. Air fry for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown, and crispy.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 375 - 3
While the chicken cooks, prepare the sesame sauce: In a measuring cup or small bowl, combine the soy sauce, water, honey, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, and 1 tablespoon ketchup. Whisk all the sauce ingredients together until well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Cook the sauce: Set a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour the mixed sauce into the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to bubble. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low and continue stirring until the sauce thickens to a consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Assemble and serve: Transfer the air-fried chicken into a large serving bowl. Pour the thickened sesame sauce directly from the saucepan over the chicken. Toss the chicken gently to ensure every piece is evenly coated with the sauce. Garnish with additional sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve immediately, ideally over steamed jasmine rice.
⏱️ 5 min