Skinny Sesame Chicken

Skinny Sesame Chicken with a spicy and sweet thick glazed flavored with sesame oil is the perfect diet takeout copycat recipe!

Skinny Sesame Chicken in bowl with rice. 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.

light sesame chicken

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.

bowl of sesame chicken

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!)

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Skinny Sesame Chicken

Skinny Sesame Chicken with a spicy and sweet thick glazed flavored with sesame oil is the perfect diet takeout copycat recipe!
Yield 6 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

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

Serving: 1/6th recipe | Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 8.9g | Protein: 25.3g | Fat: 7.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 423mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 6g
Skinny Sesame Chicken Collage
Sesame Chicken in bowl

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a trained professional chef who has cooked for private clients for over a dozen years. Experienced in handling dietary restrictions, allergies and picky kid eaters, she's well versed in coming up with healthy, yet flavorful recipes.

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Comments

    1. 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.

  1. This was delicious! I sauteed some broccoli after the chicken and served over cauliflower rice. My husband and son both loved it.

        1. 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.

    1. 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!

      1. 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*

        1. 5 stars
          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.

    1. 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!

    1. 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!

    1. 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!

    1. The company that uses “points” has reached out to me claiming points are proprietary and demanded that I stop sharing them with my recipes.

  2. 5 stars
    WOW this is amazing! I couldn’t stop eating it! Tastes almost like I got it at a chinese restaurant without the guilt.

  3. 5 stars
    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!

    1. 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.

  4. 5 stars
    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.

  5. 5 stars
    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.

  6. 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!

  7. 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?

  8. 5 stars
    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

    1. I’m sorry I don’t have point calculators but if you insert the nutritional info in your calculator it should show you.