This baked sesame chicken is an easy weeknight dinner with tender, juicy chicken breasts and a delicious, sweet-and-savory sesame sauce. The chicken bakes right in the sauce with honey, soy sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil, so there’s no breading or frying required. Serve it over rice, quinoa, noodles, or cauliflower rice for a simple, flavor-packed dinner the whole family will love!
Ingredients list for the baked sesame chicken recipe
- 2 lb. chicken breasts, skinless, boneless
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low-sodium)
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce, optional
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 scallions, sliced
Recipe highlights
- This twist on sesame chicken nuggets is less work, has the same delicious umami flavor, and is great for leftovers. Perfect for a busy week!
- Makes a full meal in minutes: Prep the side while the chicken bakes. We like to serve the baked sesame chicken over rice, quinoa, rice noodles, cauliflower rice, or veggies on the side.
Directions
1. Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 400ºF (200°C).
2. Season chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper, and arrange in a baking dish.
3. In a bowl, combine oil, minced garlic, ginger, honey, soy sauce, hot sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Pour the mixture over the chicken breasts in the baking dish, keeping some for serving later, if you want.
4. Bake the seasoned chicken breasts for 20-25 minutes, depending on your oven. You can broil for the last 2 minutes to crisp up the top if you like.
5. Sprinkle the baked sesame chicken with fresh chopped scallions and serve it immediately, with a side of rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or baked veggies, and the remaining sauce to dip. Enjoy! ❤️
Tips for the baked sesame chicken
- We like to slice the chicken breasts horizontally to make them thinner and cook them quicker – usually, you can cut baking time by 5 to 10 minutes with this method.
- If you have time: Marinate the chicken with half the marinade for 30 minutes, and pour the remaining over before baking. The acidity of rice vinegar tenderizes the meat, and the flavors infuse deeper.
How to keep the chicken leftovers
Keep any baked sesame chicken leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave, adding a few drops of water to loosen the sauce. It’s a delicious protein addition on a green salad or a quinoa bowl.
More baked chicken recipes you might also like
- Baked Chicken Wings
- 17 Healthy Baked Chicken Recipes
- Baked Tuscan Chicken Casserole
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bake
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Baked Sesame Chicken
Baked sesame chicken is an easy 30-minute dinner with juicy chicken breasts coated in a sweet, savory, and garlicky honey sesame sauce. No breading or frying required!
Ingredients
- 2 lb. chicken breasts, skinless, boneless
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low-sodium)
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce, optional
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 scallions, sliced
Instructions
- Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 400ºF (200°C).
- Season chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper, and arrange in a baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine oil, minced garlic, ginger, honey, soy sauce, hot sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Pour the mixture over the chicken breasts in the baking dish, keeping some for serving later, if you want.
- Bake the seasoned chicken breasts for 20-25 minutes, depending on your oven. You can broil for the last 2 minutes to crisp up the top if you like.
- Sprinkle the baked sesame chicken with fresh chopped scallions and serve it immediately, with a side of rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or baked veggies, and the remaining sauce to dip. Enjoy! ❤️
Nutrition
Nutrition information for this recipe.
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