Air Fryer Chinese Sesame Chicken – Sweet, Crispy & Family-Approved

So let me tell ya… I’ve been on a full-on air fryer kick lately. Like, I’m talkin’ Air Fryer Everything. If it fits in the basket, it’s gettin’ crisped. And honestly? My latest obsession is these juicy little Air Fried Chicken Bites tossed in the yummiest sticky sesame sauce. My kids legit thought it came from a restaurant — and y’all know that NEVER happens.

We’re calling it Air Fryer Sesame Chicken, but you can also think of it like:
-Easy weeknight Air Fry Chicken Breast recipe
-Your new go-to Air Fryer Sticky Chicken fix
-One of those Air Fryer Chinese Recipes that feels way fancier than it really is

And guess what? It’s fast, it’s picky-eater approved (shocking, I know), and it hits all those sweet, salty, sticky notes we love in takeout. But it’s homemade, and way healthier. Plus, no deep fryer mess. Just clean, crispy Air Fryer Foods from your trusty lil’ countertop buddy.

If you’ve been googling stuff like:

• Sesame Chicken Recipe Air Fryer
• Sticky Chicken Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Recipes Asian-style
• or even just Meat Air Fryer Recipes because you’re tired of frozen nuggets…

GIRL. You’re in the right place.

This one’s also perf if you’re looking for:
-Asian Chicken Recipes Easy
-New Air Fryer Recipes Chicken Breast
-Or a Chicken Sesame Recipe that doesn’t require 1,000 steps

Whether you call it Airfryer Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Chinese, or just “Mom’s magic chicken,” this Sesame Chicken Recipe is gonna be your new go-to. Trust me — my kids actually asked for seconds.

Okay, let’s get to it before someone spills milk again…

Ingredients You’ll Need

Let’s keep it real. I had all this stuff in my pantry already, and you probably do too.

For the chicken:

• 1 pound chicken thighs or breasts (cut into small-ish chunks)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 egg (lightly beaten, not scrambled lol)
• Salt + pepper to taste
• Cooking spray (or just some oil in a mister)

For the sesame sauce:

• 1/4 cup soy sauce (I use low sodium so I don’t feel like I drank ocean water)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (white vinegar also works in a pinch)
• 1 tablespoon ketchup (yes ketchup, trust me)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced (or garlic powder if you’re tired)
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger (I used the kind in a tube)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water (this thickens it)

Optional toppings (aka the fancy stuff):

• Sesame seeds
• Chopped green onions

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Step 1: Prep the Chicken

Cut your chicken into little bite-sized chunks. Not too tiny or they’ll disappear in the air fryer. Toss ’em with a pinch of salt, pepper, and the cornstarch. Then dip them in the beaten egg so they get that crispy outside.

If your hands aren’t a sticky mess by now, did you even cook chicken?

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Step 2: Air Fry Those Bad Boys

Preheat your air fryer to 380°F. If yours doesn’t have a preheat button, just run it for 3-5 minutes empty.

Spray the basket with cooking spray so things don’t stick. Lay your chicken pieces in there in a single layer. Don’t stack ’em or they won’t get crispy — and crispy is the goal here, folks.

Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway. They should look golden and feel crispy when you poke ’em.

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Step 3: Make the Sauce While the Chicken’s Cooking

In a small saucepan, mix the soy sauce, honey, vinegar, ketchup, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Heat it over medium until it starts to bubble a bit. Then stir in your cornstarch + water mix. This’ll thicken the sauce up and make it super glossy and perfect.

My 6-year-old said it “smells like the mall food court” which… honestly? High praise.

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Step 4: Toss the Chicken in the Sauce

Once the chicken is done, throw it in a big bowl and pour that hot, sticky sauce all over. Toss it with a spoon (or your hands if you’re wild) until everything’s coated.

This is the part where you feel like a real chef, even if you’ve still got mystery slime on your shirt from earlier today.

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Step 5: Serve It Up Like a Boss

Sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Throw on some chopped green onions if you’re feelin’ extra. Serve it over rice, noodles, or heck, just eat it off a fork standing over the stove while your kids scream in the background. Been there.

This also makes bomb leftovers. Just microwave it with a splash of water and it’s still delicious the next day.

FAQs About Air Fryer Sesame Chicken (aka “Mom, how’d you make this??”)

Recipe Card: Air Fryer Sesame Chicken

Whew! So there ya have it — my tried, tested, and totally devoured Air Fryer Sesame Chicken. Or as my 4-year-old now calls it, “that sticky chicky I actually like.”

I can’t even tell you how many versions of Sesame Chicken Recipe Air Fryer I’ve tried before this one finally stuck (pun very much intended). Whether you call it Air Fried Sesame Chicken, Air Fryer Sticky Chicken, or just “that sweet stuff mom made,” it’s become a regular at our dinner table — and not just on nights when I forgot to defrost anything.

It’s quick, it’s simple, and honestly? It makes me feel like I kinda have my life together… even when the laundry pile is taller than me.

This one checks all the boxes:
-Air Fry Chicken Breast that’s juicy
-Crispy Air Fried Chicken Bites without deep frying
-A little takeout vibe with Air Fryer Chinese flavor
-Works great if you’re looking for Asian Chicken Breast Recipes or even just Meat Air Fryer Recipes that the fam will actually eat

Whether you’re deep into testing Air Fryer Recipes Asian style like I’ve been lately, or just dipping your toes into New Air Fryer Recipes, this one’s worth bookmarking. And yes — I’ve made this with both Air Fryer Recipes Chicken Breast and Airfryer Chicken Breast (whatever you wanna call it!) and it turns out delicious either way.

So next time you’re scrolling for Easy Sesame Chicken or searching Sticky Chicken Air Fryer at 5pm with hangry kids climbing you like a jungle gym… come back to this one.