Copycat Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe

This copycat Panda Express honey sesame chicken recipe is so good you have to try it at home! Lightly breaded and fried chicken, green beans, and peppers in a sweet, tangy honey sauce. Serve over a big bowl of steamed rice with extra sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. This is a fun dish the whole family will love and you can make a big batch for a fraction of the cost!

Highlights of this chicken recipe and why you’ll love it:

• Healthier alternative: making this honey sesame chicken at home is a healthier option compared to the fast food option, you can choose your ingredient quality and adjust ingredients as desired. Organic ingredients can be used and you can use simple ingredients better serve to gluten and soy allergies at home.
• Customizable: this dish will work with chicken thighs or chicken breasts and the sauce can be made sweet or spicy as desired. Store-bought popcorn chicken can be substituted if you do not want to fry your own chicken. The topping and side dish choices can be customized as this dish goes well with so many things. Making this a great meal for the whole family!
• Budget friendly: making this dish at home is much more affordable then buying the fast food version. Chicken breasts can be a very budget friendly cut and they are so versatile. Serving this with steamed rice makes a filling complete meal that won’t break the bank.
• Family favorite: kids and adults will love this dish! I like to serve with different topping and side dish ideas so everyone can create their own white rice or noodle bowl! This dish is also a great source of protein for everyone.

This popular dish checks all the boxes, its crispy, crunchy, salty and sweet. It reminds me exactly of the fast food chain itself! I love this dish served over steamed rice with extra sauce and a drizzle of soy sauce. The honey sesame chicken breast is perfectly crispy with a light breading, and the veggies are still slightly crunchy and fresh. All tossed in a thick, sweet and tangy sauce!

Ingredient List & Ingredient Notes:

• Chicken breasts: use boneless skinless chicken breasts, boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken tenders, or frozen pre-breaded crispy chicken bites.
• Whole eggs: use just the egg yolk or liquid eggs for this as needed.
• All-purpose flour: gluten-free flour can be a substitute if needed.
• Arrowroot powder: I prefer arrowroot powder as my thickener as it doesn’t get as clumpy, cornstarch can be a substitute.
• Vegetable oil: this is for frying the chicken, use canola oil or soybean oil.
• Olive oil: extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or sesame oil can all substitutes.
• Soy sauce: coconut aminos, low sodium soy sauce, or tamari can be a substitute to traditional soy sauce if you need a gluten free or soy free option.
• Honey: this adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the sauce and gives it a nice thick texture, agave can be an option as well.
• Ketchup: this gives the sauce a tangy, smooth consistency and also thickens the sauce a bit.
• Sweet chili sauce: this store-bought sauce adds easy flavor to the honey sauce and gives it the perfect thickness.
• Green beans: used fresh or frozen green beans, fresh green beans give the best texture.
• Bell peppers: use any kind of bell pepper in the recipe, yellow bell peppers are in the traditional recipe. Mini sweet peppers can be a substitute.
• Sesame seeds: add as many as you like! I lovvee sesame seeds and tend to go overboard, so use at your own discretion – these make a great garish and are part of the classic dish. If I have them, I like a mix of white and black sesame seeds.
• Green onions: sliced green onions make a good garnish, they are optional.

How to make the Copycat Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe (with step by step instructions):

Let’s talk a little about how to make this sesame honey chicken (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Quick overview:

• Lightly bread and fry chicken.
• Sauté green beans and peppers.
• Mix sauce ingredients.
• Add sauce to pan with veggies and cook down until thickened.
• Add in fried chicken and stir to combine.
• Serve over rice with sesame seeds and green onions.

1: Firstly, to a large mixing bowl combine the cubed chicken and 1 egg. Stir to combine, all of the chicken needs to coat in the egg mixture.

2: Secondly, I add my chicken to a large gallon sized plastic bag so I can easily toss all the chicken to coat and not coat each piece individually. If not using a bag, add the flour mixture to a separate bowl and hand dip each piece from the egg mixture into the flour mixture.

3. Thirdly, in a separate bowl combine flour, arrowroot powder, salt, and pepper, stir to combine. Coat each piece of egg-washed chicken in the flour mixture. As noted before, this can be done easily in a large gallon bag!

4. Fourthly, heat cooking oil in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat, fry breaded chicken in batches for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Set on a paper towel lined plate to absorb the grease after frying.

5. Fifthly, in a large sauté pan heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in fresh, trimmed green beans and bell peppers. Sauté for 4-5 minutes or until veggies start to soften.

6. In a small mixing bowl combine soy sauce, ketchup, sweet chili sauce, rice wine vinegar, honey, water, and arrowroot powder. Stir to combine.

7. Pour the sauce over the sautéed veggies and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened.

8. Lastly, add the breaded chicken into the pan with the sauce and veggies, toss everything to combine.

9. Serve immediately over rice with sesame seeds and green onions!

If you like this Copycat Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe, you’ll love these other easy recipes…

Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

Easy Instant Pot Teriyaki Meatballs Recipe

Easy Crispy Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Recipe

Sesame Ginger Orange Chicken Salad

Copycat Panda Express Air Fryer Orange Chicken (also on the Panda Express menu)

Easy Teriyaki Chicken Skewers in the Air Fryer

Tools I used for this easy chicken recipe:

• Shallow Bowls – I love this matching set, it is perfect for serving the chicken over rice or noodles.
• Tongs – A must kitchen utensil, perfect for frying the chicken. I love these locking tongs for saving space.
• Sauté pan: I love this non-stick sauté pan for several things, it is large enough to sauté all the veggies, chicken, and sauce in one batch and the sticky sauce does not stick to the pan.

I love the crispy coating of the chicken with the sweetness of the honey! Served over brown rice this is one of our favorite meals.

Recipe tips for perfect sesame chicken:

Coconut aminos can be used instead of soy sauce for a soy-free, gluten-free substitute that isn’t quite as salty. Coconut aminos has a bit more sweetness.

If sauce gets too thick thin with a bit of water (thinning with soy sauce will make this too salty).

If sauce gets too thin thicken with a bit of arrowroot powder or cornstarch, a little goes a long way.

Fry chicken in batches so the chicken cooks evenly and the oil does not burn, keep an even heat.

Sauté veggies just until soft don’t overcook, you want them to have a bit of crunch.

Recipe FAQ’s:

What can I serve with my honey sesame chicken?

This honey sesame chicken goes good with a side of rice, lots of sesame seeds and green onions . Some other ideas are cauliflower rice, soba noodles, lo mein, or fried rice!

What is in the honey sesame chicken at Panda express?

This famous dish is made with tender chicken breasts, lightly fried and tossed with bell peppers, green beans, and a tangy honey sauce! With flavors of honey and sweet chili, the homemade honey sauce offers the perfect amount of flavor for the lightly breaded chicken, peppers, and green beans. Topped with sesame seeds and green onion for garnish.

How to store leftover panda express sesame honey chicken?

Honey chicken is great as a leftover, simply allow to cool completely and transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.