Are you ready to experience a flavor explosion? These crispy sesame chicken thighs are the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and spicy, delivering a restaurant-quality meal right to your kitchen table. Forget takeout – this recipe is easy, delicious, and guaranteed to become a family favorite.
Why Choose Chicken Thighs?
While chicken breasts are popular, chicken thighs offer a superior result in this recipe. Their higher fat content keeps them incredibly juicy and tender, preventing dryness that often plagues leaner cuts during cooking. This ensures every bite is bursting with flavor.
Ingredients You'll Need:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup sesame oil
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
For the Sesame Sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the cornstarch, flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and ginger powder. Add the chicken pieces and toss until evenly coated.
- Egg Wash: Dip each chicken piece into the beaten eggs, ensuring they're fully coated.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat the sesame oil and vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Carefully add the chicken pieces in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding. Fry for about 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Make the Sauce: In a small saucepan, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens.
- Combine & Serve: Add the fried chicken thighs to the sauce and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately over rice or noodles.
Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken:
- Don't overcrowd the pan: Overcrowding lowers the oil temperature, resulting in soggy chicken. Fry in batches if necessary.
- Double the coating: For extra crispy chicken, you can repeat steps 1 and 2, giving the chicken a double coating.
- Adjust the spice: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a spicy kick.
Serving Suggestions:
These sesame chicken thighs are incredibly versatile. Serve them with:
- Steamed rice
- Noodles (lo mein, chow mein)
- Stir-fried vegetables
- A side salad
SEO Keywords:
sesame chicken thighs, crispy sesame chicken, sesame chicken recipe, easy sesame chicken, chicken thigh recipe, best sesame chicken, juicy chicken thighs, homemade sesame chicken, sesame sauce recipe
This recipe is optimized for search engines by using relevant keywords throughout the text, in a natural and engaging way. The use of headings and subheadings further improves readability and SEO. Remember to share this delicious recipe on social media using relevant hashtags to boost its visibility!
