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A close-up of a bowl of crispy sesame chicken coated in a sweet glaze, served over rice and garnished with sesame seeds.

Crispy Air Fryer Sesame Chicken

Enjoy your favorite takeout dish at home with this healthier, crispy Air Fryer Sesame Chicken. Tender chicken pieces are air-fried to golden perfection and coated in a sweet and savory homemade sesame sauce.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese-American
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
For the Coating
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg whisked
For the Sesame Sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce low sodium preferred
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
For Garnish
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds toasted
  • 2 tbsp green onions sliced

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Small saucepan
  • Tongs
  • Shallow Dish

Method
 

Prepare the Chicken
  1. Pat the chicken pieces very dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl.
Prepare the Coating
  1. In a separate shallow dish, whisk together the cornstarch and flour.
  2. In another shallow dish, whisk the egg.
  3. Dip each chicken piece first into the whisked egg, letting excess drip off, then dredge thoroughly in the cornstarch-flour mixture, pressing to coat evenly. Place coated chicken on a plate, ensuring pieces aren't touching to prevent sticking.
Air Fry the Chicken
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
  2. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
  3. Place coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd. You will likely need to cook in 2-3 batches. Lightly spray the chicken with cooking oil.
  4. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C). Repeat with remaining chicken.
Make the Sesame Sauce
  1. While the chicken is air frying, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a small saucepan.
  2. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency (about 3-5 minutes). Remove from heat.
Combine and Serve
  1. Once all chicken is cooked, transfer the crispy chicken to a large mixing bowl.
  2. Pour the warm sesame sauce over the chicken and toss gently until all pieces are evenly coated.
  3. Serve immediately, garnished with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Delicious with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables.

Notes

For extra crispy chicken, ensure chicken is patted very dry before seasoning and coating. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches for best results. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the air fryer or microwave.