Healthy Sesame Chicken (2024)

Published by: Liz Marino | 05/15/2019 |

Last updated: 04/14/2024

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Healthy Sesame Chicken is a delicious, healthy dinner! Packed with protein, low in carbs, and gluten free – it’s simple to make & better than takeout!

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my policy and more about affiliate links. This post was originally shared in 2018.

If you like sesame chicken – you have to try this Healthy Sesame Chicken! It’s so easy to make and it’s delicious.

ThisHealthy Sesame Chicken recipe only takes 25 minutes from start to finish.. and you know that you’d be waiting that long for delivery anyways!

What Makes This Healthy Sesame Chicken?

Cooked on a stovetop vs being fried: Sesame chicken is usually fried. We cook the chicken over the stove which helps to make this lower in fat and carbs.
Not super high in sodium: Most sesame chicken recipes are made with a lot of salt or coated in
Simple Ingredients: This recipe is made with simple, wholesome ingredients you can feel good about eating and find at pretty much any store.

Important Note: This is not an authentic sesame chicken recipe. My goal is always to share recipes that are a bit healthier and made with affordable, accessible ingredients so everyone can enjoy them regardless of their food allergies or dietary restrictions. If you’re looking for an authentic sesame chicken recipe check out this Sesame Chicken Recipe

Healthy Sesame Chicken Recipe Ingredients

There are only a few ingredients in the sauce/this dish, and it only needs about 25 minutes to come together over the stove in total.

To make this recipe you’ll need:

You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded substitutions box.

Even though the ingredients are minimal, the sauce is still that delish, thick, sticky sauce that you know and love from your favorite takeout place.. but it has super clean + delicious ingredients!

How to Make Sesame Chicken

Making healthy sesame chicken is super easy!

Get all your ingredients out and whisk together your marinade.
Brown the chicken and set it aside.
Add your marinade to the same pan and bring to high heat.
Cook until sauce is thickened and pulls away from the pan.
Add chicken back to the pan, toss in sauce + serve with green beans/rice!

Time Saving Tips for Homemade Sesame Chicken

Have everything on the counter-This will make it super simple to grab everything you need while you’re cooking.
Get precooked rice! All you have to do is tear the bag open and microwave.. doesn’t get much simpler than that!
Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce + put everything away while the chicken cooks.

I think you’re going to love this easy meal, and I know it’s going to make you think twice about calling your favorite takeout place on Friday night when you’re tired and don’t feel like cooking! Here’s the recipe.

Sesame Seed Chicken FAQ

Can I make sesame chicken without soy sauce?

You can make sesame chicken without soy sauce. Use a soy sauce substitute like liquid aminos or cooonut aminos!

Substitutions for Sesame Seed Chicken

This recipe is pretty versatile. Here are a few ways you can customize it!

Chicken: You can sub chicken breasts with boneless chicken thighs or chicken tender.

Rice: You can serve this over any type of cooked rice or grain. Quinoa is great with this or you can do cauliflower rice. This would go great with our Fried Cauliflower Rice!

Avocado Oil: If you don’t have avocado oil you can use olive oil or coconut oil.

Green Beans: You can sub in green beans with broccoli or any other veggies you like.

Coconut Aminos – If you don’t have coconut aminos you can use low sodium soy sauce.

Honey: You can substitute honey with maple syrup.

Toasted Sesame Oil: This is essential to the recipe. It adds that rich sesame flavor! Sesame oil and toasted sesame oil are not the same. Toasted sesame oil has much more flavor.

Fresh Ginger: If you want to use fresh ginger you can use 1 teaspoon, grated.

Rice Wine Vinegar: If you don’t have rice wine vinegar, omit it.

Paleo: to make paleo sub rice for cauliflower rice. We love our cauliflower fried rice!

Storing & Serving Healthy Sesame Chicken

Storing:I keep this healthy sesame chicken in the refrigerator for up to 4 days

Reheating:You can reheat this healthy sesame chicken in a pan or in the microwave.

Freezing:We have not tried freezing this healthy sesame chicken but I think it would work!

Other delicious healthy takeout recipes:

Need more ideas for dinner? Check out these 40+ Healthy Dinner Recipes. Click here to grab our free healthy 30 minute dinners cookbook.

Healthy Chicken Pad Thai
Chicken Stir Fry
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Healthy Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Cashew Chicken
Ground Beef Stir Fry
Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Ginger Garlic Chicken
Healthy Fried Rice
Shrimp Stir Fry

Healthy Sesame Chicken

Recipe by: The Clean Eating Couple

4.83 from 41 votes

Healthy Sesame Chicken is a delicious, healthy dinner! Packed with protein, low in carbs, and gluten free – it’s simple to make & better than takeout!

WW Freestyle Points 9

Prep Time : 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time : 20 minutes minutes

Total Time : 25 minutes minutes

Serves : 2 people

(hover over # to adjust)

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Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup cooked white rice
1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
2 cups green beans

For the Sauce:

1/4 cup coconut aminos
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon garlic cloves minced
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon lime zest (zest of one lime)
1 tablespoon lime juice (juice of one lime)
1 tablespoons sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

In a pan, heat toasted avocado oil. Sauté chicken until browned on all sides, approximately 10-15 minutes.
While chicken is cooking, whisk together the sauce.
Once chicken is cooked, remove from the pan + set aside. Pour sauce mixture into the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes until it starts to bubble, stirring consistently. The will thicken quickly, but be careful to watch that it doesn’t burn.
While sauce is thickening, steam green beans per direction on package.
Add cooked chicken back into the pan and coat in sauce.
Serve overcooked rice and green beans!

Video

Notes

Substitutions for this Healthy Sesame Chicken Recipe:

Chicken – You can sub chicken breasts with chicken thighs.
Avocado Oil – If you don’t have avocado oil you can use olive oil or refined coconut oil
Green Beans– You can sub in green beans with broccoli or any other veggies you like
Coconut Aminos – If you don’t have coconut aminos you can use low sodium soy sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos.
Fresh Ginger – If you don’t have fresh ginger you can use 1/2 teaspoon of dried ground ginger.

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Sesame Chicken

Amount Per Serving (12 oz chicken, veggies + rice)

Calories 553Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 7g

Cholesterol 145mg48%

Sodium 736mg32%

Potassium 1105mg32%

Carbohydrates 45g15%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 52g104%

Vitamin A 827IU17%

Vitamin C 16mg19%

Calcium 62mg6%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. This is an estimate and can vary pending your ingredients

Tried this recipe?Share it! Make sure to tag @thecleaneatingcouple or use #thecleaneatingcouple!