Healthy Sesame Chicken

So you’ll never believe this. But after I shared that broccoli pasta recipe and told you how much my husband detests broccoli, I decided to serve broccoli for dinner. I needed a little variation in our side dish and figured I could smother my husband’s roasted broccoli with cheese. Anyway, I roasted it in our toaster oven, drizzled it with good olive oil, and sprinkled salt on top. AND YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE IT, he actually liked it!! Anyway, I need to work on more ways to get broccoli into our nightly meals and this healthy sesame chicken might just be next…

Healthy Sesame Chicken

So, besides the broccoli, the whole dinner recipe is actually healthy. Many sesame chicken recipes fry the chicken and, in my experience, it’s usually dark meat. This recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts and it’s all baked in the oven. Talk about saving on the fat and calories!

Sesame Seeds

I think sesame seeds are a very underrated seed or seasoning in the cabinet. I think I first bought them to make homemade everything bagel seasoning. Then I obviously had leftovers. I started seeing them garnishing roasted veggie dishes, so I tried it at home. The flavor was subtle, hardly noticeable, but the contrast of color was beautiful! I even topped my roasted bell pepper toasts with them. You can just see how the seeds pull it all together!

Sesame Oil

In college, my best friend introduced me to the idea of homemade Chinese food. The recipes she taught me were all very simple, but oh so delicious with a few easy-to-get ingredients. Besides hoisin sauce, I remember being introduced to sesame oil. I’ve kept it in my cupboard ever since.

My husband’s Low FODMAP diet allows for sesame oil, which we didn’t realize for a few months. We started adding it to veggie dishes and occasionally over rice. It gave our meals that distinctly Chinese flavor without any work! The oil has a wonderful toasted sesame flavor. It really is a great addition to your oil and vinegar selection!

5 from 5 votes

Print

Healthy Sesame Chicken

Craving a flavorful dinner but don't want take out or guilt? This homemade, healthy sesame chicken recipe is everything you need and want. Baked chicken mixes with fresh broccoli and a delicious sauce for restaurant-style Chinese food.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword chicken, dinner, easy dinner

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2, cut into ½-inch cubes
• 5 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cups unsalted chicken stock
• ⅓ cup honey
• 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves grated
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• Additional fine sea salt to taste
• Sesame seeds for garnish
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons soy sauce, ½ teaspoon salt, and the flour. Toss well and let sit for 5 minutes.
3. Spread the chicken out in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Carefully flip each piece and bake for 5 more minutes, or until the chicken is baked through and no longer pink in the middle.
4. While the chicken bakes, fill a large saucepan ¾ full with water. Bring to a boil. Cook the broccoli for 2 to 3 minutes, until bright green. Drain.
5. Add the chicken stock, honey, sesame oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger, chili sauce, cornstarch, and the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce and ½ teaspoon of salt to a large, deep skillet. Whisk well. Turn the heat to medium-high. Continue to whisk as the sauce begins to bubble and thicken, about 5 minutes.
6. Stir the chicken and broccoli into the sauce and cook for 1 more minute. Season with additional salt if desired.
7. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with sesame seeds and cilantro.

Recipe Notes

Save this recipe on Pinterest!

Make this recipe? I'd love to see how it turned out…

PINTEREST: Upload a photo and your review to this Pin!

INSTAGRAM:  Tag me @lucismorsels and use #LMrecipes