Healthy Sesame Chicken (Better Than Takeout!)
Published Jan 25, 2022 Updated Sep 26, 2025
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If you love takeout as much as I do, then you’re going to fall hard for this healthy sesame chicken recipe! It has all the sweet, savory flavor of your favorite Chinese restaurant dish, but it’s made with simple, wholesome ingredients you can feel good about. No heavy batter, no MSG, and no mystery oil. Just juicy chicken coated in a thick, glossy sesame sauce that hits every craving.
Why You’ll Love This Sesame Chicken Recipe
This is my go-to when I want better-than-takeout without blowing my calories, and it comes together quickly enough for a weeknight dinner! It’s a perfect January reset meal after the holidays, and just as handy for busy back-to-school nights when you need something quick and wholesome.
I’ll be the first to admit it: I LOVE takeout. But I don’t love the way it makes me feel afterward. That’s why I started testing this recipe – I wanted all the sesame chicken flavor, but in a lighter way. This version swaps frying for a simple sauté, cutting way down on fat and calories while still giving you golden, tender chicken. Another win? It’s completely free of MSG and uses coconut aminos for that classic soy sauce flavor without the gluten, wheat, or soy.
It’s flexible too! You can make it Whole30, Paleo, or even keto with a simple sweetener swap. And if you’ve ever been frustrated by watery sesame sauce, I’ve got you covered: a quick slurry of arrowroot or cornstarch creates a thick, glossy sauce that clings beautifully to every bite. For me, this dish is pure comfort – quick, flavorful, and perfect for serving over cauliflower rice on busy weeknights.
Inside Out Egg Roll in a Bowl is another favorite of mine, and it pairs perfectly with this chicken for a complete better-than-takeout spread!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken breast: Lean protein that stays tender when cut into bite-size pieces.
- Olive oil: Keeps the chicken juicy while cooking.
- Coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce: A gluten-free, soy-free swap that tastes just like soy.
- Honey or monk fruit syrup: Adds natural sweetness for that signature sesame flavor.
- Garlic and ginger: Fresh aromatics that deepen the sauce.
- Rice vinegar & ketchup: Balance out the sweetness with tang.
- Sesame oil & sesame seeds: Nutty finish that makes sesame chicken shine.
- Cornstarch or arrowroot: Thickens the sauce to glossy perfection.
- Green onions: Bright garnish for serving.
Substitutions: Use monk fruit or allulose for keto, or arrowroot for paleo/Whole30. For a veggie boost, add broccoli florets and turn it into sesame chicken with broccoli dish!
Creamy Chicken and Tomato Bake (Keto & Whole30) is another healthy option you’ll love!
How to Make Healthy Sesame Chicken
Step 1: Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet and sauté chicken in a single layer, 2-3 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Step 2: Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a bowl.
Step 3: Pour the sauce into a saucepan over medium heat. Slowly whisk in the slurry and simmer 2-3 minutes until thickened.
Step 4: Toss the cooked chicken in the sauce until coated. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve over basmati or cauliflower rice.
Mac’s Pro Tip
Cooking Variations
The stovetop method is the main recipe, but here are a few optional variations if you’d like to switch things up!
- Baked Sesame Chicken: Bake the chicken at 400°F for 18-20 minutes, then toss with sauce.
- Air Fryer Sesame Chicken: Cook chicken at 390°F for 12-14 minutes, shaking halfway, then coat in sauce. For another air fryer chicken try these Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders!
- Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken: Add chicken and sauce ingredients to the crock. Cook on low for 4 hours, thicken sauce with slurry, then return chicken to coat.
Storage
Store leftover sesame chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth to loosen the sauce. For longer storage, freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Baking or air frying keeps it light while still giving you that golden texture.
A slurry of arrowroot or cornstarch in water will thicken the sauce in just a few minutes of simmering.
Yes! Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, arrowroot instead of cornstarch, and honey or monk fruit to suit your dietary needs.
Absolutely. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for 2 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth.
This easy sesame chicken recipe is everything I love about takeout. It’s quick, saucy, and so satisfying but made with ingredients that actually fuel my body! Try it baked, air fried, or in the slow cooker, and make it your own with swaps that fit your lifestyle.
And if you’re craving another quick dinner, don’t miss my Quick Whole30 Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry Bowls.
More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
If you love this healthy sesame chicken recipe, please give it a star rating and leave a comment below! Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for more!
Healthy Sesame Chicken (Better Than Takeout!)
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 lbs chicken breast cut into 1 1/2 – inch pieces
- salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Garnish with 2 green onions chopped and sesame seeds
- Serve over the top of Basmati rice or cauliflower rice
Sauce
- ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ⅓ cup coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce if not gluten-free
- 3 tbsp water
- 2 ½ tbsp ketchup
- 2 tsps sesame oil
- 2 tbsps honey or sweetener of choice: allulose, coconut sugar, monk fruit
- 2 tbsps rice vinegar
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger or ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 3 cloves garlic minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot dissolved in 2 tbsp cold water
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in a single layer, 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside while making the sauce.
- While the chicken is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce.
- Pour the sauce into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until warm. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch/arrowroot slurry and simmer 2–3 minutes until thickened.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken. Toss to coat evenly. Serve over basmati rice and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- For Keto, sub sugar free syrup for the honey or maple syrup
- Sub tapioca or arrowroot flour for xanthan gum. Use 1 1/2 Tablespoons flour dissolved in 2 Tablespoons water.
- For the slow cooker method, see above in the blog post.
- Serve with cauliflower rice for keto/paleo and regular brown rice for gluten-free.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Nutirtion is calculated using honey.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was delicious! The whole family loved it. I laughed at the part that said you can save the leftovers for later…well they ate every bit of it! Next time I may double it so we can have leftovers. It was a quick and flavorful recipe. It will be on repeat for sure.
Thank you Monica. So happy to hear!
Thanks for the recipe. You’re my new favorite site with your delightful recipes (GF, DF, et al)! It was easy and delicious and the kids LOVED it! We served it with brown rice and broccoli. It just barely served my family of five. I will probably double it next time to make sure my little growing people have enough and there’s some for lunch the next day.
So very happy to hear this. Thank you so much!
This was delicious and simple to make. I will be making it again.
Thanks, Hannah! Happy to hear it was a hit
This is a “keeper” – no left-overs here, either!
It does taste like something you would get in a restaurant; fairly easy to put together and made with things you have on hand.
Will definately refer back to this site frequently for inspiration!
Thank you…
So happy to hear this. Thank you