Chicken & Poultry Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Sesame Chicken with Honey Dip
Crunchy oven-baked sesame chicken bites served with a sweet honey-mustard dip.
Contains common allergens
In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.
Good to know
- Ready in under 30 minutes
Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: 30-minute meals
Instructions
6 steps- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment or lightly grease it.
- 2
In a small bowl, mix the 1/2 cup mayonnaise, dry mustard, and minced onion. In a separate dish, combine the bread crumbs and sesame seeds.
- 3
Coat each piece of chicken first in the mayonnaise mixture, then roll in the crumb-and-sesame mixture to coat. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
- 4
Bake for about 12 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly browned.
- 5
While the chicken bakes, make the dip by stirring together the 1 cup mayonnaise and honey until smooth.
- 6
Serve the chicken hot with the honey dip on the side.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
72/100
Good fit for most families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving1025
Calories
46 g
Protein
20 g
Carbs
86 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
Sesame chicken is a Chinese-American restaurant creation, a sweeter cousin of the savory dishes found in southern China, built for North American palates that love crispy, glazed chicken. This home version pairs sesame-crusted chicken with a separate honey dip rather than tossing everything in a sticky sauce, which keeps the coating crunchy. It is finger food that reads as a treat for kids and adults alike.
Listahan note
This version serves the honey on the side as a dip so the sesame crust stays crisp instead of softening under sauce. It is sized for sharing as a fun, hands-on dinner.
Technique cues
- Toast the sesame seeds in the coating only lightly; they will finish toasting as the chicken fries and can turn bitter if pushed too far first.
- Keep the oil between 350F and 360F so the crust browns at the same rate the chicken cooks through.
- Rest the fried pieces on a rack rather than paper towel so steam escapes and the bottoms stay crunchy.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Set up the dredge, warm the honey dip, and heat the oil at the same time so the chicken goes straight from coated to frying.
- Make-ahead
- Cut and dredge the chicken an hour ahead and keep it on a tray in the fridge, then fry to order.
- Leftover move
- Reheat leftover pieces in a hot oven and slice over a rice bowl with extra honey drizzle.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Let the frying oil cool fully in the pot, then strain it back into a jar so the pan wipes clean and the oil can be reused.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
boneless chicken thighs or breast
protein for frying
Purpose: Bite-size pieces fry quickly and give a high crust-to-meat ratio.
Handling: Cut into even chunks so they cook at the same rate.
Adaptation: Cauliflower florets make a vegetarian version with the same crunchy appeal.
sesame seeds
signature crust
Purpose: They give the dish its nutty aroma and the speckled, crunchy coating.
Handling: Mix into the dredge so they cling evenly to each piece.
Adaptation: A mix of white and black sesame looks striking; hulled sunflower seeds work for a sesame allergy.
cornstarch and flour blend
crisp coating
Purpose: Cornstarch keeps the crust light and shatteringly crisp where flour alone would be heavy.
Handling: Whisk together and dredge just before frying so the coating does not go gummy.
Adaptation: All cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend keeps it gluten-free.
honey
sweet dip
Purpose: A warm honey dip lets each person control how sweet their bite is.
Handling: Warm gently with a splash of water and rice vinegar so it pours and clings.
Adaptation: Maple syrup or a honey-free agave version works for those avoiding honey.
rice vinegar
balancing acid
Purpose: A little acid in the dip cuts the sweetness so it does not cloy.
Handling: Stir into the warm honey to loosen and brighten it.
Adaptation: A squeeze of lemon or a splash of cider vinegar does the same job.
Technique notes
- Double-dredge the chicken for an extra-craggy crust that holds more crunch.
- Fry in small batches so the oil temperature does not crash and turn the coating greasy.
- Sprinkle a final pinch of toasted sesame and flaky salt the moment the chicken comes out of the oil so it sticks.
Ingredient swaps
- Gluten-free direction
- Use all cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend and confirm the soy or seasonings are gluten-free.
- Sesame-free direction
- Replace sesame seeds with finely crushed cornflakes or sunflower seeds for the crunch.
- Oven-baked direction
- Bake the coated pieces on an oiled rack at 425F, flipping once, for a lighter result.
Serve alongside
- Steamed jasmine rice
- Stir-fried bok choy with garlic
- Quick pickled cucumber ribbons
- Iced green tea
- Sparkling water with yuzu
- Cold ginger ale
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Refrigerate fried chicken up to three days and keep the honey dip separate. Re-crisp the chicken in a 400F oven or air fryer rather than the microwave, which leaves it soft. The fried pieces freeze for a month; reheat from frozen in a hot oven.
Equipment
- Heavy pot or Dutch oven for frying
- Frying thermometer
- Wire cooling rack
- Spider or slotted spoon
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