It’s a quick and easy chicken recipe that tastes amazing and obviously has a lot of protein. You can make this dish in less than 15 minutes and when done, it looks like if it’s from a good Asian restaurant. Easy way to impress your friends.
The chicken in this Spicy Sesame Chicken is very soft inside, crispy outside, and a bit of spiciness as well which makes it fun to eat. You can literally feel the flavour of each sesame seed in your mouth.
Since I learned this recipe, I have been making this for lunch and quick post workout meals. Also, check out my Honey Sesame Chicken and Spicy Sesame Tofu recipes.
Health benefits of sesame seeds
Sesame seeds are very healthy because they are full of good nutrients. They have healthy fats that are good for your heart and help lower bad cholesterol. They also contain plant protein, which is useful for diversifying your protein intake. Sesame seeds are rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and zinc, which help keep your bones strong and support your body’s functions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why I love this recipe
- Few ingredients.
- Quick and easy to make.
- Looks amazing. Did I tell you it looks seriously good?
- Super tasty. No hard time consuming some lean protein.
Protein and calories
Chicken breast is arguably the best source of protein to lose weight or build muscle. It has minimal amount of fat, making it very lean.
One serve of this Spicy Sesame Chicken has about 28g of protein and only 294 calories.
Ingredients needed
- Chicken breast. Use chicken breast for the fine cuts. Otherwise, thigh fillet is also fine.
- Sesame seeds. White ones.
- Cornstarch.
- Herbs and spices.
How to make Spicy Sesame Chicken
This is an overview of how to make this recipe. Full ingredients & instructions with step-by-step photos are in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Marinating
- Cut chicken into small pieces and put them in a large bowl. Add the cornstarch, all the herbs and spices, and some olive oil. Mix them well and leave for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Cooking
- Add some oil in a large frying pan. On a low to medium heat, roast the sesame seeds first. When the sesame seeds turn golden, add the chicken pieces leaving some gap in between them.
- Cook them on all sides while turning them in every 1 to 2 minutes.
- Cook for 6 to 8 minutes and then it’s ready to serve.
Recipe tips
- Avoid overcooking as it makes the chicken dry.
- Dry chicken breast with a paper towel first if it’s too watery.
- Start with low heat to roast the sesame seeds as they tend to burn easily.
Serving
Serve the Spicy Sesame Chicken warm with a bowl of jasmine or sushi rice. Top it with some mayo if you like.
Storage instructions
- To store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
- To freeze: Let leftovers cool completely, then store them in a shallow container in the freezer for up to three months.
- Reheating: Microwave leftovers or reheat in a frying pan over medium heat until warm.
Recipe card
Spicy Sesame Chicken Recipe (VIDEO)
Ingredients
- 250 g Chicken breast
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp chilli flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp mixed herbs
Video
Instructions
- Cut chicken breast into smaller cubes. Add all the spices and half of the olive oil.250 g Chicken breast, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp cornstarch, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder, ½ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp chilli flakes, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp mixed herbs
- Mix well. Let it marinate for 15 mins if you have time.
- Put a pan on medium heat and spread with rest of the olive oil. Add sesame seeds and roast for few seconds until it turns golden.1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- Add the marinated chicken and turn the heat to high. Cook the chicken on one side for 2 minutes.
- Turn the chickens and cook on the other side for 2 minutes.
- Now keep stirring the chicken and let it cook on all sides for 2 to 4 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Avoid overcooking as it will make the chicken dry. Now it's ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
*Originally published on Jun 2023, updated on Jul 2025
Quick and easy receipe
Thank you for trying 🙂