I’m excited to share this Cheater Sesame Chicken recipe — all the flavors of classic Chinese sesame chicken made quickly at home without deep frying. It’s faster and lighter than takeout, and you don’t need special equipment.
After my favorite local Chinese restaurant closed, I learned to recreate the dishes I missed. Living rurally means limited options, so I developed a simple version of sesame chicken I make again and again.
This recipe delivers big flavor with minimal effort. It’s become a household favorite — we made it multiple times in a short span because it’s quick, satisfying, and easy to adapt.
The ingredient list is straightforward: ground chicken, low-sodium soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, toasted sesame oil, cornstarch, sesame seeds, and green onions. These staples are commonly available and keep the recipe fast and accessible.
About 10 minutes of hands-on time and roughly 20 minutes total get dinner on the table. Serve it over rice, in lettuce wraps, or on top of a salad for a lighter meal.
Ground Chicken Stir Fry
Ground chicken is the star here. If you can’t find it, you can grind boneless, skinless chicken thighs yourself or substitute lean ground turkey. Your grocery butcher may grind chicken for you if asked.
Cook ground chicken until opaque rather than trying to deeply brown it. A few faint pink spots are okay because the simmering sauce finishes the cooking. Since the recipe uses a generous amount of soy sauce, choose low-sodium soy sauce to avoid an overly salty result. The same goes for the chicken broth — low-sodium stock gives you better control over seasoning.
Toasted sesame seeds add a nutty finish. If you can’t find pre-toasted seeds, toast them quickly in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, then transfer to a plate to cool before they scorch. Reserve a few sesame seeds and some sliced green onions to use as a garnish.
We enjoy Cheater Sesame Chicken served over steamed rice, wrapped in lettuce leaves, or chilled on a spinach salad. It’s versatile, family-friendly, and stores well for leftovers.
Love this Cheater Sesame Chicken? Try these other shortcut or Asian dishes!
- 15 Minute Korean Style Beef
- Lazy Sushi Bowls
- One Pot Lightened Up Chicken Parmesan Pasta {25 Minute Meal}
- Chicken Sausage, Kale, and Mushroom One Pot Pasta {25 Minute Meal}
Useful tools for making Cheater Sesame Chicken
- Everyday stainless steel pan or a cast iron skillet with high sides
- Bamboo or wooden spoon for breaking up ground meat
- Liquid measuring cup
- Small whisk for cornstarch slurry
More ground chicken ideas
- Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
- The Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Sub
Check out how easy it is to make Cheater Sesame Chicken!
Cheater Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sunflower or refined coconut oil
- 2 pounds ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons grated ginger or ginger paste
- 1–2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
- 1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock, plus 1/4 cup separated
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 8 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Drizzle the oil into a stainless steel pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the ground chicken, sprinkle with salt, and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until opaque and no longer pink. Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chili garlic paste and brown sugar and cook for 30 seconds.
- Whisk together the soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and 1 1/4 cups chicken stock, then pour the mixture over the chicken and bring to a simmer.
- Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup chicken stock with the cornstarch until smooth. Pour the slurry into the simmering sauce, stirring vigorously to combine. Return to a simmer, lower the heat to medium-low, and let the sauce bubble and thicken for about 3 minutes. If it becomes too thick, add chicken stock 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Remove from heat and stir in the toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve hot over rice, wrapped in lettuce leaves, or chilled on a salad.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate with the exact ingredients you use if needed.
This post was originally published January 29, 2018 and updated in February 2021.