Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken
Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken balances tender, cornstarch-coated bites with a glossy soy-honey glaze, brightened by rice vinegar and a hint of chile-garlic heat. Toasted sesame seeds and green onions add nuttiness and freshness in every bite. It’s an ideal weeknight dinner when you want takeout-style flavor at home without the fuss.
- Prep7 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 43 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 54 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 21
- Heart Health
- 52
- Metabolic
- 15
- Digestive
- 27
- Inflammatory
- 45
- Performance
- 29
- General Wellness
- 1
In a large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, salt, and black pepper; add the chicken and toss to coat.
- 2
Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches, turning occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- 3
In a small bowl, whisk the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chile-garlic sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and 1 tablespoon sesame seeds.
- 4
Pour the sauce over the chicken in the skillet; toss to coat the chicken. Reduce the heat to medium-low; simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 2 minutes.
- 5
An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 2 minutes.
- 6
Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and the chopped green onions.
- Calories 417.9 kcal High 21%
- Protein 29.12 g Good Source 58%
- Carbohydrate 41.57 g 15%
- Total Fat 14.74 g Moderate 19%
- Saturated Fat 2.54 g Moderate 13%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 108.14 mg High 36%
- Sodium 1215.91 mg High 53%
- Dietary Fiber 0.93 g Low Source 3%
- Total Sugars 11.91 g --
- Added Sugars 0.36 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 44.0 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 1.02 mg Low Source 6%
- Potassium 385.09 mg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin A 4.62 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 7.27 mg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Soy 🌱
- Sesame
- Corn 🌽
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken is made with 14 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 22 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cornstarch, Fresh Ginger, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 417.9 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cornstarch, Fresh Ginger, Garlic, Green Onion. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken?
- About 22 mins in total: 7 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 417.9 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 14 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken healthy?
- Quick Weeknight Sesame Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 35/100. Per serving, it provides 417.9 calories and 29.12 g of protein, or 58% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1215.91 mg (53% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 2.54 g (13% of the Daily Value). It contains Soy, Sesame, Corn, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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