Skinny Sesame Chicken with a spicy and sweet thick glazed flavored with sesame oil is the perfect diet takeout copycat recipe!
Skinny Sesame Chicken
Sesame Chicken doesn’t need to be a dish you fondly remember anymore and you don’t have to start using any sugar substitutes to make it work. With a few easy swaps this Chinese Food Takeout favorite is much healthier!
Typical Sesame Chicken is fried and crispy much like an orange chicken or a general tsao’s chicken. The versions I have on Dinner, then Dessert (my non diet focused recipe blog) are fried in a batter with a sticky and sweet glaze.
In this recipe, we skip the batter, skip the deep frying and cut back on the honey.
Most people who start a diet go in guns blazing, trying to minimize fats and calories. Once you find your stride in the plan you’ll see there isn’t really a way to feel satiated trying to game the system in the long term. You settle into using honey and oil again, you don’t worry about a tablespoon of cornstarch or sugar.
This recipe is not the lightest sesame chicken I could made, but it certainly is the most delicious updated version I tested. In fact if you’re open to a few more points, I suggest doubling the honey.
Sesame chicken is so sweet naturally it will taste more like the original. I didn’t include the extra honey because I don’t like that extra sweet flavor anymore since cutting out so much sugar.
How to make Skinny Sesame Chicken:
Tools Used in the making of this Skinny Sesame Chicken:
Cast Iron Skillet: This is my most used pan in my kitchen, heavy, keeps heat well and gives the BEST sear ever.
Soy Sauce: Only ever use this brand, always in the lower sodium variety.
Honey: I use this brand because it is guaranteed to be real honey and it is the best price per pound (but buy it in the store!)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast boneless and skinless (cut into 1" chunks)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 cup fat free chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons lite soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon room temperature water
- 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add the canola oil to a heavy skillet on high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook until browned and crisp.
- Remove the chicken, add in the sesame oil and heat.
- Add in the garlic, ginger and crushed red peppers and cook for 10-15 seconds.
- Add in the chicken broth, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar and corn starch slurry.
- Cook until thickened and reduced before adding in the chicken and combining.
- Garnish with sesame seeds.
Video
Nutrition
So glad I don’t have to miss out on this delicious meal anymore but continue to stay on track. Thank you!!
Such a great takeout style meal that is crave-worthy!
I love this healthier version of takeout favorite!
That glaze looks incredible! I can’t believe this is a skinny recipe! 🙂
I wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t made it!
Love anything with skinny in the title.
So sticky! This is my favorite dish!
This is calling my name! Looks SO good!
Are your recepies gluten free? I would love to make the Sesame Chicken, but not sure if I can.
My recipes are not usually gluten free, but this one is easily adaptable to be gluten free if you replace the soy sauce with tamari.
I made this and thought it was delicious and not hard to pull together. Thank you so much.
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for coming back to let us know!
Looks so good!!! How many cups or ounces(weight) is a serving?
Roughly six ounces, depending how much the sauce cooks down.
ok thanks so much! I really want to try this!
This was delicious! I sauteed some broccoli after the chicken and served over cauliflower rice. My husband and son both loved it.
So glad it was a hit with your family, Meegan!
One of the best Weight Watcher friendly recipes I have tried in three months!
So glad you enjoyed it!
What are the WW points?
Hi Lin, I wish I could offer that data but WW sent a letter requiring the removal of that info. They were not supportive of sites sharing points information.
How many points in a serving on weight watchers
The company that uses “points” has reached out to me claiming points are proprietary and demanded that I stop sharing them with my recipes. Sorry!
Whaaaat?? That’s so silly!! They should know that sites like yours only stand to make their program more successful and easier to follow = more revenue. That is so silly. I’m major bummed as I love your website and love your points calculations. BOOO WW! So sorry they’re clamping down on you for that *eyeroll*
Absolutely scrumptious! Quick and easy to make too.
If the nutritional information is correct, it calculates out to 5 points on the green plan, if that helps anyone.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi many freestyle points is This
The company that uses “points” has reached out to me claiming points are proprietary and demanded that I stop sharing them with my recipes. Sorry!
I’m new to WW, how many points without the added honey?
The company that uses “points” has reached out to me claiming points are proprietary and demanded that I stop sharing them with my recipes. You might have some luck using a recipe creator that calculates each ingredient individually. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Do you know if there is wwpoints for this
The company that uses “points” has reached out to me claiming points are proprietary and demanded that I stop sharing them with my recipes. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Where is the point count, please?
The company that uses “points” has reached out to me claiming points are proprietary and demanded that I stop sharing them with my recipes.
Could I use ginger powder in place of fresh? If so, how much?
WOW this is amazing! I couldn’t stop eating it! Tastes almost like I got it at a chinese restaurant without the guilt.
Happy to hear you enjoyed! Love saving the calories without sacrificing the flavors!
This is so tasty! I used a lot of chicken (my fault), so there wasn’t quite as much sauce as I would have liked, but it was still delicious (next time I’ll double the sauce). I served it over rice and my husband and I thought it was great. It had good flavor and just enough kick. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! I sometimes add more chicken to cut down on sauce calories too.
Can I replace rice vinegar with something else
In a pinch you can use apple cider but the flavors will be different. There is a unique sweetness and softness to rice wine vinegar.
I’m on WW and it’s their loss for not allowing you to publish points. I went to WW 20 years ago and after retiring I needed a boost to get back on track. Once I lose my 15 pounds I will be looking at your sight not theirs. DELICIOUS recipe! Can’t wait to try more.
This looks and sounds delicious. I really want to try it out. How many green points?
Green points?
This is really good. I love a recipe that is so easy and fast. From prep to eating was one hour. I followed the recipe exactly. No need to change a thing. Thank you for the recipe.
Made this and it’s really good although the sauce isn’t quite as thick as the pictures. Added in a bunch of broccoli the last few minutes for veggies and next time will add carrots and celery. Served over brown rice. Delish!
It sounds delicious, but doesn’t using canola mean frying it?
Could I not cook the breasts in the oven, then cut it up and add to the pan in step 6?
Sure you could!
How many points is it for one serving of the chicken? Im on the Blue plan and want to try this recipe.
Thank you for you time
Cherie
I’m sorry I don’t have point calculators but if you insert the nutritional info in your calculator it should show you.
This recipe is fantastic, will be adding it to our regular meal plan
Just figured it out it is 5 pts per serving.
OMG!!!!! Delish
This was really impressive! Thank you for the delicious recipe
I just made this tonight and it was delicious and very easy to make. I added cooked green beans to the chicken too.
Great idea to add the beans Barbara!
This was for dinner tonight and will be for many more in the near future. Easy and delicious – great combo.
Glad you enjoyed the chicken and thank you Becky, for the five star review.
This was amazing! Everyone in my family loved it. I tossed in some steamed broccoli at the very end.
Great idea to add steamed broccoli Amy and thanks for the five star review.