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AIR FRYER SESAME CHICKEN centered hero view, clean and uncluttered
Thomas Baker

Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Recipe Easy Delicious

Enjoy a quick and tasty dinner with this Air Fryer Sesame Chicken recipe. Crispy chicken pieces are air fried to perfection and coated in a luscious, sticky soy and sesame sauce that brings authentic Asian flavors right to your table in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 455
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 6 large skinless chicken thigh fillets (this is about 750g/1.65lbs untrimmed or 600g/1.3lbs once trimmed)
  • 3 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch in USA)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 3 tbsp oil
  • 1.5 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder (or use 2 minced cloves garlic)
  • 1.5 tbsp Chinese rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 4 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 3 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • sesame seeds
  • chopped spring onions (scallions)
  • boiled or egg fried rice

Method
 

  1. Trim excess fat from the chicken thigh fillets and chop them into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
  2. Combine the cornflour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a mixing bowl.
  3. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss until each piece is evenly coated with the cornflour mixture.
  4. Pour the oil over the coated chicken and stir well to make sure all pieces are sticky and well covered.
  5. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket and cook at 190C/375F for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking the basket at least 3 times during cooking to prevent sticking. Cook in batches if your air fryer is small.
  6. While the chicken cooks, combine all the sauce ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and stir together. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring every minute, until the sauce is hot and slightly thickened.
  7. Transfer the cooked chicken from the air fryer to a bowl or pan and toss with the warm sauce to coat thoroughly.
  8. Sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped spring onions over the chicken and serve immediately with boiled or egg fried rice.

Notes

  • If you prefer, warm the sauce ingredients together in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it bubbles and thickens, about 3-4 minutes. You can also prepare the sauce in advance by mixing all ingredients, covering, and refrigerating for up to one day before reheating. For added nutrition and texture, add chopped vegetables like peppers, mange tout, babycorn, or mushrooms to the air fryer during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, making sure the chicken is fully cooked before serving. The sauce quantity is generous for extra coating and drizzling; reduce by one-third if you prefer just enough for coating.