Sesame Chicken Recipe
This recipe for Sesame Chicken will have you serving crispy, tender, sesame seed battered chicken nuggets anytime you crave it.

My mother has made Sesame Chicken for as long as I can remember. I think she came across this recipe in the 1970’s and for our family is has definitely been a keeper.
While it might not be the same as what you get when you order Chinese takeout, this version still results in dish that is delicious. My mom always makes a homemade sauce to dip it in.
The accompanying sauce is a unique blend of sour from horseradish sauce and sweet from plum jelly. It sometimes helps to place those ingredients in a microwave container and “nuke” for 20-30 seconds to get the jelly to liquify a bit before mixing.
My mom would typically serve this dish with a vegetable on the side along with rice that had been cooked with a packet of onion soup mix.
📝 Ingredients
There are two components to this dish – the tender fried chicken nuggets and a special dipping sauce. To make them, you need the following ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Greek seasoning
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1-2 cups flour
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- oil for frying
Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1 small jar of red plum jelly
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ Tablespoons horseradish
- 1 ½ Tablespoons mustard
👩🏻🍳 How To Make Sesame Chicken
To make the chicken, mix together the first 8 ingredients. Place it in an airtight container and add the desired amount of boneless chicken breasts that have been cut into bite-size pieces. Marinate for several hours or overnight.
Preheat oil over medium-high heat for 10 minutes in a large skillet.
Combine flour and sesame seeds. Drain the chicken breasts. Dip a few pieces of chicken at a time in the flour mixture and then deep fry until thoroughly cooked. Remove from the oil and place on a plate that has been lined with a paper towel. Salt to taste.

For the sauce, mix together all ingredients. Serve over the chicken or use as a dip

Sesame Chicken, American Style
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1-2 cups flour
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- oil for frying
Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1 small jar red plum jelly
- 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons horseradish
- 1 ½ tablespoons mustard
Instructions
- Mix together first 8 ingredients. Place in an airtight container and add desired amount of boneless chicken breasts that have been cut into bite size pieces. Marinate several hours or overnight.
- Preheat oil over medium-high heat for 10 minutes in a large skillet.
- Combine flour and sesame seeds. Drain chicken breasts. Dip a few pieces of chicken at a time in the flour mixture.
- Deep fry until thoroughly cooked. Remove from oil and place on a plate that has been lined with a paper towel. Salt to taste if desired.
Sauce
- Mix together all ingredients. Serve over chicken or as a dip.
Nutrition
This sesame chicken is not spicy on its own, so if you want some heat, you will need to dip it in a sauce. If you are gluten-sensitive, you could substitute gluten-free rice flour for the (wheat) flour. If you have any leftovers, they should keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Just reheat them in the microwave.
This dish is great with a side of green beans or broccoli along with some Minute Rice cooked according to directions PLUS a packet of onion soup mix.
Curious as to which came first – the chicken or the egg? Head over to the Smithsonian Magazine and read the article 14 Fun Facts About Chicken and discover the answer to the age-old question.
More Recipes You Might Like
- Brownie Sheet Cake – This dessert is a cross between a brownie and chocolate cake – kind of like the two got together and had a love child.
- Brown Sugar Glazed Meatloaf – This is my go-to recipe for meatloaf. It’s topped with a sweet brown sugar glaze and is a great way to answer the proverbial question, “What’s for dinner?”
- Southern Buttermilk Biscuits – With a handful of kitchen staples, you can whip up a batch of these biscuits and serve them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
What’s your favorite dipping sauce?
I had this and I cant wait to have it again. I was so impressed with the flavor and the texture. You can combine with other sauces. Yummy
I am so glad you enjoy it. It’s a family favorite here!
I would usually be overwhelmed by the thought of making sesame chicken at home but your recipe doesn’t seem as difficult as I would suspect.
I love sesame chicken and cannot wait to try it.
Yumm, I’m going to have to try this!!
Yum!I had no idea it was so easy!
This looks crazy good.
Yum! I love sesame chicken!
sounds so tasty we’ve been trying to do more with chicken
I made sesame chicken last night for the first time. Mine came out good but I want to try your recipe too!
That looks really good!
This looks good!
looks yummy. thanks for sharing.
Makes my belly growl just reading about it. Must try soon!
Oh that sounds and looks delicious.
Wow, this sounds amazing.
Interesting flavor combos. I think I’d like it.
Where do you get Greek seasoning and what is in it?
I buy it in the spice section. Salt, black pepper, garlic, MSG (oh my!), oregano, flavor base (?), sugar, onion powder, parsley….Looks like I need to figure out how to make my own version that is healthier.
Please do! And thanks.
Could I use P.F. Chang’s sesame sauce to dip??
I don’t see why you couldn’t.
My kids love sesame chicken. I have to try this recipe. I don’t have Greek seasoning I’ll have to see if I can find some.
Yum!
yum! Love sesame chicken!
that sounds delish.
yummy!
Looks delicious!