Lighter Honey Sesame Chicken, Paleo, Gluten-free
This lighter honey sesame chicken is a simple yet satisfying skillet recipe that comes together quickly, and is naturally Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Grain-free and YUMMY.
Making from-scratch take-out food is one of our favorite weekday meals to make. This honey sesame chicken breast recipe along with our Coconut Aminos Fried Rice recipe are a match made in heaven.
Seriously. We would prefer making both of those recipes to getting actual takeout any day because they are simple to make, and made with healthier ingredients. Which means, we don’t end up feeling bad after eating them.
Also, this honey sesame chicken is toddler friendly and one of the few chicken recipes that our kids will eat. Bonus points that it is naturally Paleo, Gluten-free, and Dairy-free.
What makes this recipe great
- It is an simple way to make from-scratch take-out. It cooks in less than 20 minutes!
- It is healthier than take out. There is no breading or frying involved. Everything cooks on a skillet.
- This recipe is a crowd pleaser. Toddlers, kids, and adults all love it!
- It is satisfying! There is so much flavor despite only needing a handful of ingredients.
Recipe ingredients
- Chicken– chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces is what works best in this recipe.
- Honey– you can use any kind of honey that you have on hand. We like using raw honey.
- Sesame seeds– these are used throughout the recipe for seasoning.
- Ground ginger– this flavors the chicken easily.
- Onion powder– this also flavors the chicken in a no fuss way.
- Garlic powder– this is an simple way to add flavor.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Additions/ Substitutions
- Instead of honey, you could use maple syrup.
- Instead of ground ginger, you could use fresh ginger.
Step by step instructions
Step 1
Step 1: Cut the chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Put some honey, sesame seeds, ginger, and garlic powder into the skillet.
Step 2
Step 2: Wait while the chicken is cooking!
You’ll need to resist the urge to mix the chicken at the beginning. You have to WAIT until the chicken is cooked through.
Step 3
Step 3: Add a little more honey and sesame to the pan then cook at a higher heat until the sauce caramelizes.
Step 4
Step 4: As soon as the honey caramelizes, remove from heat.
Recipe FAQs
Why is this recipe healthier than other honey sesame chicken recipes?Because it isn’t fried or breaded. It is simply chicken breast added to a pan with honey, sesame, and some spices and cooked until golden.
How do you store this recipe?Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
What sides taste good with this chicken?We like making this honey sesame chicken with our Coconut Aminos Fried Rice recipe or plain white rice. We also like adding it to a big salad, to add flavor.
Prep 5 minutesCook 18 minutesTotal 23 minutesMakes 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
- 5 Tbs honey, divided
- 2 Tbs sesame seeds, divided
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
Method
- Put 1 Tbs of oil into a large skillet / frying pan and heat over medium heat. Add the bite sized chicken breast, 3 Tbs of honey, 1 Tbs sesame seeds, 1 tsp ground ginger, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp onion powder. Mix everything together.
- Let everything sit for about 5-7mins before mixing, mix and then let it sit again, for another 5-7 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink and is completely cooked through .
- Then increase the heat to medium high, add 2 Tbs honey and 1 Tbs sesame seeds and cook until caramelized. This was about 1 ½ minutes without mixing, then 2 1/2 minutes mixing often for us. Sprinkle with some more sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- Instead of honey, you could use maple syrup.
- Instead of ground ginger , you could use fresh ginger.
