Air Fryer Sesame Chicken

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Air fryer sesame chicken is a delicious, easy-to-make dish that the whole family will love. The chicken is air-fried until crispy, then coated in a flavorful sesame sauce. You can easily serve it with rice and vegetables for a complete meal!

Love making your meals in the air fryer? Try my Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp and my Air Fryer Pineapple Cream Cheese Wontons for more delicious air fryer recipes!

This air fryer sesame chicken recipe is an easy Chinese staple to make without the use of pots and pans. The chicken crisps up in the air fryer and is tossed with a delicious homemade sauce. Perfect to serve as lunch or dinner and pairs with rice or your favorite side.

Sesame chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that the whole family will love. It’s going to be a family favorite, it’s that GOOD!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The chicken is low in calories and fat and high in protein.
• This chicken recipe is also a healthy option.
• Let’s not forget that it’s easy to prepare.
• If you’re tired of eating the same thing over and over again, you’ll love this chicken recipe!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For The Chicken

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs –  You’ll need about 2 pounds of chicken.
• Potato Starch – You’ll need about 1/4 cup.
• Olive Oil – A little olive oil goes a long way.

For The Sauce

• Brown Sugar – To help get the correct flavor, you’ll need brown sugar.
• Orange Juice – You’ll need the orange juice flavor for this recipe!
• Hoisin Sauce – This is my favorite ingredient to put in this recipe.
• Soy Sauce – This makes the sesame sauce delicious.
• Ground Ginger – You will just need a little ground ginger.
• Garlic Powder – Make sure you add plenty garlic powder.
• Water – A simple, yet important ingredient.
• Cornstarch – This will help to thicken the chicken recipe.
• Sliced Green Onions – A little garnish is so much fun for recipes!
• Sesame Seeds – This ingredient will help to complete the meal.

How to Make This Recipe

For The Chicken

Step 1:

Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F.

Step 2:

While the air fryer is preheating, cut the chicken into 1-2″ pieces. Place the diced chicken in a large mixing bowl. Add the potato starch and use your hands to coat the chicken evenly.

Step 3:

Coat the air fryer basket with the olive oil, then add the chicken. Cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

For The Sauce

Step 1:

While the chicken is cooking, add the brown sugar, soy sauce, orange juice, hoisin sauce, ginger and garlic powder to a small saucepan. Whisk together and bring to a slight simmer.

Step 2:

Once the sauce starts to simmer, whisk in the cornstarch and water.

Step 3:

Continue cooking until thickened, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 4:

Once the chicken is done cooking, toss in sauce. Serve the chicken over steamed rice and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Helpful Recipe Tips

• Using frozen chicken? Set it in the refrigerator the night before so that it has time to thaw.
• You can use minute rice for this meal if you struggle with cooking rice.
• Air fryer meals are capable of also being made on the stove or the oven.

Variation Ideas

• If you’re not a fan of hoisin sauce, you can use teriyaki sauce in its place.
• You could also add some cashews or peanuts to the recipe for crunch.
• If you’re looking for a spicy dish, try adding in some sriracha sauce.
• This recipe also tastes great with broccoli or asparagus added in.
• Choose a vegetable you like and make it with this meal! 
• If you want a little more of a kick, add some red pepper flakes to the seasoning mixture.
• If you’re not a fan of chicken thighs, you can use chicken breasts instead.

Storing & Freezing

Storing: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezing: Place the cooked chicken and sauce in an airtight container or freezer bag. It will keep for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Sesame chicken can be reheated in the air fryer or in the oven. To reheat in the air fryer, preheat it to 400 degrees F and cook for 5-7 minutes. To reheat in the oven, preheat it to 350 degrees F and cook for 10-15 minutes.

FAQ

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