Description
Discover a healthier take on a classic with this Healthy Sesame Chicken recipe. This dish offers a quick, flavorful, and protein-packed dinner that’s naturally gluten-free and superior to takeout. It’s ready in just 25 minutes, maintaining all the sweet and savory sesame flavor you love without deep frying, excessive oil, or heavy ingredients. This stovetop sesame chicken uses simple, wholesome ingredients you can feel good about. Serve it with rice and your favorite vegetables for a complete meal that consistently outperforms delivery.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 cups green beans (or vegetable of choice)
- Cooked white or brown rice, for serving
- ¼ cup coconut aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger (or 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together coconut aminos, honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch (if using). Set aside.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- Thicken the Sauce: Pour the sesame sauce into the same skillet. Increase the heat and cook until the sauce bubbles and thickens, 2–3 minutes.
- Combine: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat it evenly in the healthy sesame sauce.
- Serve: Serve the healthy sesame chicken with steamed green beans and warm rice. Garnish with sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- Prep everything first: Have all ingredients measured and ready to go for this healthy sesame chicken.
- Use precooked or microwave rice: This makes your healthy sesame chicken dinner even faster.
- Whisk the sauce ahead of time: Mix the healthy sesame sauce while the chicken browns for a seamless process.
- Ingredient Substitutions for your healthy sesame chicken: For chicken, use chicken thighs or tenders. For rice, serve with white rice, brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice. For avocado oil, substitute olive or coconut oil. For green beans, swap with broccoli, snap peas, or mixed veggies. For coconut aminos, use low-sodium soy sauce (note: slightly higher sodium). For honey, replace with maple syrup. Do not substitute toasted sesame oil with regular sesame oil—the flavor is completely different. Use 1 teaspoon grated ginger if preferred instead of ground ginger. Leave out rice vinegar if needed, or add a splash more coconut aminos.
- Paleo-Friendly: Serve this healthy sesame chicken with cauliflower rice for a paleo option.
- Storage: Store leftover healthy sesame chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: Warm your healthy sesame chicken in a skillet or microwave.
- Freezing: Freezing should work well, though the texture of the healthy sesame chicken may vary slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Not available
- Sugar: Not available
- Sodium: Not available
- Fat: Not available
- Saturated Fat: Not available
- Unsaturated Fat: Not available
- Trans Fat: Not available
- Carbohydrates: Not available
- Fiber: Not available
- Protein: Not available
- Cholesterol: Not available
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