Description
Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli delivers a quick weeknight dinner that brings restaurant-style flavor straight to your kitchen. Tender chicken pieces glazed with sweet honey and nutty sesame sauce make this Asian-inspired dish a total crowd-pleaser your family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1–1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1–2 inch pieces
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 6 cups broccoli florets (about 2 crowns)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 2 whole green onions, diced
Coating and Seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Sauce Components:
- 3 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt for steaming broccoli
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Steam 6 cups broccoli florets in 2-3 inches of water with 1 teaspoon salt for 6 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking.
- Create a smooth sauce by whisking ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons water, 1 ½ tablespoons sesame oil, 3 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon sesame seeds in a small bowl.
- Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Add this mixture to a large plastic bag with 1–1.5 pounds chicken pieces. Seal and shake until chicken is evenly coated.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken pieces in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until golden. Flip and cook until all sides are golden brown and completely cooked through.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium-low. Pour prepared sauce over chicken and toss to coat. Allow sauce to simmer and thicken for 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to a large serving bowl. Gently fold in steamed broccoli and mix thoroughly.
- Sprinkle 2 diced green onions over the dish. Serve hot and enjoy your meal.
Notes
- Steaming broccoli for exactly 6 minutes keeps it perfectly tender-crisp without losing its vibrant green color and nutritional value.
- Shaking chicken in a sealed bag with cornstarch and flour creates an even, light coating that helps achieve golden, crispy edges.
- Cooking chicken in a single layer and not moving it initially allows for a beautiful golden-brown sear that locks in moisture and flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, and use tamari instead of traditional soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg