Nigerian Sesame Chicken
This chicken builds boneless skinless chicken breast and sesame seeds into a weeknight-friendly meal you can have ready in about 70 minutes. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 7 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (2)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
π Unit converter
How to make it
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks and pat them dry, then season with the salt, paprika, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, tossing to coat evenly.
- Beat the egg in a bowl, add the chicken, and turn to coat, then sprinkle over the cornstarch and toss until each piece is well coated with a dry, clingy layer.
- Press the sesame seeds onto the coated chicken so they stick to the surface for an even, nutty crust.
- Heat the oil in a deep, heavy pan to about 175 C (350 F); a pinch of cornstarch dropped in should sizzle immediately.
- Fry the chicken in batches without crowding the pan, turning occasionally, until deep golden and crisp and the internal temperature reaches 74 C (165 F), about 5 to 6 minutes per batch.
- Lift the chicken onto a wire rack or paper towels to drain while you finish the remaining batches.
- Warm the soy sauce and honey together in a small pan until just bubbling, then toss the fried chicken in the glaze and scatter with extra sesame seeds before serving hot with rice.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet Β· Pan
Ingredient substitutions
- Cornstarch
- 2 tbsp flour per 1 tbsp cornstarch (as thickener)
- Soy Sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) Β· coconut aminos
- Honey
- maple syrup Β· agave
Tips & common questions
How long does Nigerian Sesame Chicken take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish β an estimate based on the 7 steps and 12 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of cornstarch?
Try 2 tbsp flour per 1 tbsp cornstarch (as thickener). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes β use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Nigerian Sesame Chicken is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Chicken and sesame.jpg by Wilses, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top β how we source recipes.