For a lighter version of the Chinese takeout favorite, sesame chicken, skip the deep frying, marinate the chicken, and whisk together a homemade sesame sauce with soy, toasted sesame oil, brown sugar, and hoisin. (210 calories or 3 WW points)
Healthy sesame chicken starts with the chicken. I opt for chicken breast meat over thighs, skip the breading and deep-frying, and instead marinate the chicken for 15 minutes in a mix of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger to tenderize it and maximize flavor.
For the sweet sesame sauce, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, toasted sesame oil, and hoisin, a thick Asian sauce with sweet, salty, and smoky notes resembling American-style barbecue sauce. The toasted sesame oil and hoisin provide the warmth that sesame chicken is known for, but I’ve tested the recipe with both hoisin and American barbecue sauce and couldn’t detect too much of a difference so feel free to substitute bottled barbecue sauce for the hoisin if you’d like.
While your sesame chicken is cooking, steam broccoli florets and stir them into the pan with the sesame sauce to complete the meal. Enjoy!
Healthy Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
Marinade:
- 1 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- .25 c cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp tablespoons grated fresh ginger
- 2 garlic cloves minced
Sesame Chicken:
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce or barbecue sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 2 tsp 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- 2 scallions chopped
Instructions
- In a gallon-size plastic bag, combine the chicken, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Press the air from the bag, seal it, and toss a few times to coat the chicken. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil. Set aside.
- In a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade, discard the remaining liquid, and add it to the skillet. Cook, turning to brown on all sides, until cooked through, about 6 minutes. Stir in the hoisin mixture and cook until the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the sesame seeds and scallions. Serve
Trying the recipe this weekend!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe.
Made this last night and it was great! My husband even had seconds. I served it with cauliflower rice.
Hi Andie!
I absolutely love this recipe and how easy that it is to make.
The recipe is really good..
Your recipe was fantastic. Me and my family loved it!
I agree in recipes sesame chicken!
Skipping the deep frying but still keeping all that flavor from the soy, sesame oil, brown sugar, and hoisin is a win. And only 210 calories?
This looks so delicious and nutritious! Healthy sesame chicken is a great way to enjoy a flavorful meal without the guilt. Definitely trying this recipe!
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This looks like a healthy and flavorful alternative to traditional takeout. The homemade sauce sounds delicious, and I appreciate the detailed instructions. Thanks for sharing such an easy recipe that anyone can try at home.
Wow! Such a yummy recipie
I appreciate recipes that don’t sacrifice flavor for healthier ingredients. This sesame chicken looks fresh, colorful, and incredibly inviting. Looking forward to giving it a try at home.
This recipe looks absolutely delicious and healthy! I love how simple and easy the ingredients are to follow. It’s a great option for someone looking for a quick and nutritious meal. Thanks for sharing such a helpful guide!”
. Thanks for sharing such a helpful guide!” this reciepe is very helpful
Thanks for sharing such a helpful guide!”
This recipe looks absolutely delicious and healthy! I love how simple and easy the ingredients are to follow. It’s a great option for someone looking for a quick and nutritious meal. I will definitely try making this at home this weekend. Thanks for sharing!”
I like that the recipe skips the deep frying and relies on a flavorful ginger, garlic, and soy marinade instead. The homemade sesame sauce sounds simple but packed with flavor, and adding broccoli makes it an easy, balanced weeknight meal.