Sesame Chicken

Similar to General Tso’s chicken, sesame chicken is an American Chinese restaurant classic. Nuggets of fried chicken are tossed with a sweet and savory sauce, then served with broccoli and rice for a crowd-pleasing favorite. The chicken has a good deal of umami from a marinade made with chicken bouillon powder, and gets extra crispy when fried thanks to cornstarch and a touch of baking powder. The tangy, sweet sauce is just thick enough to coat and glaze the chicken without being gloppy or overly thick. 

Can you use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, you can swap chicken breasts for the thighs. However, thighs stay juicier and are preferred in this recipe. 

Note from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Have everything measured out and ready to go before you start cooking. This recipe comes together quickly.

Make ahead

Marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours. Make the sauce up to three days in advance.

This recipe was developed by Anna Theoktisto; the text was written by Breana Killeen.