Air Fryer Sesame Chicken
This easy Air Fryer Sesame Chicken is crispy, sticky, sweet, and ready in under 30 minutes. A healthier twist on takeout with juicy air fried chicken bites tossed in a homemade sesame sauce. Kid-approved, husband-devoured, and picky-eater tested — this one’s a weeknight win!
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs cut into bite-sized chunks
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- Salt + pepper to taste
- Cooking spray
For the sesame sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce low sodium
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water mixed for thickening
Optional toppings:
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
Prep the chicken:
- Toss chicken with salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Dip into beaten egg.
Air fry:
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F. Spray basket with cooking spray. Place chicken in a single layer and air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Make the sauce:
- In a small saucepan, mix all sauce ingredients except cornstarch + water. Simmer on medium. Stir in cornstarch slurry until thickened.
Toss it up:
- Add crispy chicken to a bowl, pour sauce over, and toss to coat.
Serve:
- Top with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve over rice, noodles, or veggies.
Notes
- My picky eater dipped hers in ranch (???) and still ate it. So... you do you.
- Double the sauce if you like it extra sticky. I won’t judge.
- You can totally make this ahead — just air fry the chicken and keep it separate from the sauce until you’re ready to eat.
- Freeze leftovers (if there’s any!) for a future lazy dinner.