Better than takeout, this grilled Easy Sesame Chicken is juicy and delicious, thanks to a flavorful marinade.
Growing up with an Asian mother, there were a few ingredients that were always in frequent rotation in my childhood kitchen: soy sauce, ginger, and sesame. So it was pretty inevitable that I’d always keep these ingredients on hand in my own kitchen once I grew up. Sesame chicken is one of the dishes that I love to make with these particular flavors. It’s a wonderfully savory dish and an easy way to jazz up plain chicken. Plus, my kiddos love it (and I love seeing them eat chicken that isn’t dino nuggets).
While you might be familiar with the battered and fried pieces of sesame chicken that you’d normally see on Chinese takeout menus, this recipe calls for chicken breasts that are grilled. By first marinating the meat and then grilling it, it ensures the chicken stays nice and juicy, and it infuses it with a succulent, smoky flavor. The marinade also includes honey and lime, so there’s a tasty sweet-and-sour layer to it as well.
Since it’s not coated in a heavy sauce, it’s a dish that feels light yet filling at the same time. I love serving it with steamed rice or grilled veggies, but it pairs well with so many other sides!
Is This Easy Sesame Chicken Healthy?
Chicken breasts are a great source of lean protein, and this marinade includes garlic and ginger, both of which have anti-inflammatory compounds. Plus, sesame seeds contain many beneficial nutrients as well. While many marinades are sweetened with refined white or brown sugar, this recipe calls for honey as a natural sweetener. It does contain soy sauce, which is high in sodium, but you could use a low-sodium soy sauce, if you’re watching your salt intake. And if you want to reduce the amount of fat or calories in this dish, you could use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of skin-on chicken breasts.
Why Marinating Makes A Difference
If you’re in a hurry to get dinner on the table, you might be tempted to skip marinating the chicken. But this can definitely affect the overall flavor of the dish. Marination not only tenderizes the chicken and helps it retain moisture, but it also infuses the meat with a deeper flavor. This recipe only calls for 30 minutes of marination (though you could definitely marinate it longer, even overnight), which is enough time to let the flavors develop a bit. I like to prep my other dishes and set the table while the meat is marinating, so that everything is ready to go once the chicken hits the grill!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Let the chicken cool completely, and place any leftovers in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container. The chicken should last for up to 4 days when stored in the fridge. It will also last for up to 3 months in the freezer. Allow it to thaw overnight. When you’re ready to reheat, you can either warm it up in a pan on the stove, in the microwave, or in the oven—just add a little liquid like water or broth to the pan to prevent the chicken from drying out.
Serving Suggestions
As I mentioned before, I love serving sesame chicken with Steamed Rice or even Vegetable Fried Rice. It also pairs well with a wide range of vegetable sides, like Grilled Zucchini, Grilled Broccoli, Roasted Carrots, or Garlic Mushrooms.
If you’d like to keep the meal on the lighter side, you could also pair this dish with Asian Cucumber Salad or Asian Cabbage Salad, or, on a colder day, Hot-And-Sour Soup.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger chopped
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 tablespoon white & black sesame seeds
- 2 chicken breasts skin on
- Handful of fresh coriander
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to 400°F.
- In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, lime juice, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and half of the sesame seeds until well combined.
- Add the chicken breast to the marinade and store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it on the grill. Cook the chicken breasts for 6 minutes on each side.
- Transfer the chicken breast to plates and garnish with fresh coriander.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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