This easy crispy air fryer sesame chicken recipe is a weeknight staple! Tender chicken bites air fried until crispy and tossed in a homemade sesame sauce. This recipe takes less than 15 minutes to make and uses mostly pantry staples. Serve over steamed rice or with stir fried green beans and other veggies.
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Quick Steps for this easy recipe:
- Cube chicken
- Toss chicken pieces in seasoned flour
- Air fry until crispy
- Combine sauce ingredients
- Simmer until thickened
- Toss cooked chicken in sesame sauce
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds
Lightly tossing the chicken in flour before cooking helps it get nice and crispy!
Highlights of this easy air fryer chicken recipe:
- Lighter sesame chicken recipe
- Quick dinner idea
- Easy clean up
- No messy oil from frying
- Homemade sesame sauce is quick and free of preservatives
- Good family meal
- Keeps well for meal prep
- Low carb option
This easy sesame chicken recipe is a staple for busy weeknights or as a substitute for take out!
Can I put raw chicken in the air fyrer?
Absolutely! This sesame chicken goes into the air fryer raw, dusted in flour and comes out perfectly crispy. Just make sure chicken temps at 165 degrees F. before eating.
What is the sauce made of in sesame chicken?
This homemade sesame chicken sauce is made of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, and cornstarch. It takes just minutes to mix up and reduces into a thick sauce.
How long does chicken take to cook in the air fryer?
Depending on the size and thickness of the chicken, it usually takes between 12-18 minutes to cook chicken in the air fryer. This sesame chicken recipe is done in about 13-15 as the pieces are cut smaller. If using bone-in chicken, it can take slightly longer. Cook until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F.
Homemade sesame sauce has a great flavor and is made with basic pantry ingredients
Tools I used for this air fryer sesame chicken recipe:
- Instant 6 qt. Air Fryer – Sleek and functional, the perfect size for 2-3 people.
- Shallow Bowls – Perfect for serving rice bowls.
- Tongs – A must kitchen utensil, perfect for transferring the chicken.
- USA Pan Half Sheet Pan – my go-to sheet pans, these are truly non-stick and clean up nicely.
Grocery Store List & Substitutions:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts, or substitute chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken thighs
- All-purpose flour
- Kosher Salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Soy sauce (could use a gluten-free soy sauce)
- Light brown sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Cornstarch
- Sesame seeds
- Green onion, for garnish
Crispy sesame chicken can be served with steamed white rice or brown rice. Top with cucumber or carrot salad, avocado, fresh mint of green onions, and more sesame seeds!
If you like this air fryer sesame chicken recipe, you’ll love these other perfect air fryer recipes…
Quick & Easy Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Bowls
Meal Prep Air Fryer Beef Meatballs
Crispiest Air Fryer Chicken Katsu Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Meatball Bowls
Instructions for this easy air fryer chicken recipe:
For the sesame sauce:
- In a medium or small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, corn starch, water, and sesame oil. Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture starts to bubble. Reduce heat to medium and allow to simmer 10-12 minutes until thick and reduced. If the sauce is to thick, thin with a little water.
For the chicken:
- In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Toss the cubed chicken in the flour mixture to evenly coat.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees for 13-15 minutes. Once preheated, add the chicken into the air fryer basket in a single layer*. Air fry for 13-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when it has an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Transfer cooked chicken to a large mixing bowl, top with the sesame sauce, and toss to combine. Add in the sesame seeds and toss again.
- Serve over steamed rice. Leftover chicken will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Notes:
*Chicken needs to cook in a single layer in order to get crispy. If needed, cook in batches and keep warm in a 250 degree oven.
*Add red pepper flakes or chili pepper flakes to the sesame sauce or flour mixture to add extra spice if desired. Garlic powder can also be added to the flour mixture for extra flavor.
Easy Crispy Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2 6-8 oz. Boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
- 1/4 cup All-purpose flour
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
For the sesame sauce:
- 1/4 cup Soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup Light brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup Water
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 tbsp Sesame oil
Instructions
For the sesame sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, corn starch, water, and sesame oil. Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture starts to bubble. Reduce heat to medium and allow to simmer 10-12 minutes until thick and reduced. If the sauce is to thick, thin with a little water.
For the chicken:
- In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Toss the cubed chicken in the flour mixture to evenly coat.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees for 13-15 minutes. Once preheated, add the chicken into the air fryer basket in a single layer*. Air fry for 13-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when it has an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Transfer cooked chicken to a large mixing bowl, top with the sesame sauce, and toss to combine. Add in the sesame seeds and toss again.
- Serve over steamed rice. Leftover chicken will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @theheartylife on Instagram and hashtag it #theheartylife.
Serve this easy Crispy Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Recipe with Failproof Long Grain Rice in the Instant Pot, Perfect Steamed Rice (without a rice cooker), or Perfect Brown Rice (without a rice cooker)!
Did you make this recipe?
I would love to see it! Take a picture and post to Instagram with the tag @theheartylife and the hashtag #theheartylife – You can also leave me a question or comment below! If you’ve tried this recipe, feel free to give it a star rating on the recipe above.