Panda Express Sesame Chicken Recipe Copycat

If you are a fan of Panda Express Sesame Chicken, you’re in luck. You don't need to leave your own home or wait in those long lines any longer to get your fix. This dish is perfectly balanced in sweetness and savoriness, with a rich nutty flavor from the toasted sesame oil. It's a great choice to pair with rice or noodles.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Asian

Keyword: 30 minute meal, Asian Recipe, copycat, easy meals, healthy recipe, restaurant recipe

Servings: Servings

Calories: 510kcal

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Kitchen Essentials

Pasta Bowl

Sandwich Maker

Apron

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

1 Pound Chicken Boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces

Dry Batter

¾ Cup Cornstarch
½ Cup All Purpose Flour
½ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper

Wet Batter

2 Eggs Beaten

For the Honey Sesame Sauce

1/4 Cup Honey
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Ketchup
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
¼ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
2 Teaspoons Garlic Minced
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
1 Tablespoon Water

Vegetables and Finishing

1 Yellow Bell Pepper Sliced Thin
1 Cup Green Beans cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
1 Tablespoon White Sesame Seeds toasted

Instructions

Honey sesame sauce. Make this sauce before you fry the chicken pieces. Once fried, just toss in the sauce. It is a quick make, just like the restaurant version.
In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch into the cold water, set aside.
Add the Honey, Soy Sauce, Ketchup, Sesame Oil, Rice Vinegar, Brown Sugar, Pepper Flakes, and Garlic ingredients to a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
Once the mixture is boiling, add the cornstarch and water slurry and whisk to combine. Cook a few minutes until the sauce thickens. It should coat the back of a spoon. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Prepare the Chicken. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
Make the wet batter. Add the eggs to a large bowl and mix with a fork or small whisk to combine. Next, add the chicken pieces and stir to coat each piece of chicken with the egg mixture.
Mix the dry batter. Using a large bowl or a plastic storage bag, add the Cornstarch, All Purpose Flour, Salt, and Black Pepper. Seal and shake the plastic bag to combine. If using the bowl, stir to combine.
Add the diced chicken with the egg coating on it to the flour mixture in the bowl or plastic bag. Mix to coat all the chicken pieces.
In a deep frying pan, heat the vegetable oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the oil has reached temperature, add the chicken pieces one at a time. Fry in batches for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cook through. Remove chicken from the oil and allow the excess oil to drain off on a wire rack.
Add the cooked chicken to the honey sesame sauce. Toss to coat with the sauce/glaze. Sprinkle on toasted sesame seeds.
Make the Vegetables. The vegetables can be steamed in the microwave or stir-fried. To stir-fry the veggies, add sesame oil to a pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add in the bell peppers and green beans. Cook for 3-5 minutes until crisp tender.
Toss the chicken in the sauce/glaze along with the veggies and sesame seeds.
Serve with rice, cauliflower rice, or noodles.

Notes

Storage of Leftovers
For the crispiest chicken, it's recommended to cook the recipe on the same day and serve it immediately after coating it with the sauce.

Nutrition