Air Fryer Sticky Sesame Chicken Recipe

When takeout sounds tempting but you don’t feel like spending much time in the kitchen, this air fryer sticky sesame chicken is exactly the kind of recipe to have on hand. The chicken cooks quickly in the air fryer until golden on the outside, then gets tossed in a homemade sesame sauce that is sweet, savory, garlicky, and wonderfully sticky.

The best part is that you don’t need to deep-fry the chicken. A light coating of cornstarch helps the bite-sized pieces develop a golden exterior in the air fryer, while the homemade sauce gives them that glossy finish you would expect from your favorite takeout.

Serve the sticky sesame chicken over steamed rice with vegetables on the side for an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in about 20 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Sticky Sesame Chicken

This recipe has everything you want from a quick homemade takeout-style dinner.

The air fryer does most of the work. The chicken cooks in about 10 to 12 minutes, with just one shake halfway through cooking.

The chicken gets golden and flavorful. Cornstarch creates a light coating around the chicken that works especially well in the air fryer.

The sauce is homemade. Soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil come together for a balanced sweet and savory flavor.

It is faster than traditional fried chicken. There is no need to heat a pot of oil or stand over a skillet frying individual pieces.

It works well for a complete meal. Spoon the chicken over rice and add steamed broccoli, green beans, carrots, or your favorite vegetables.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Air Fryer Chicken

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons (16 g) cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

The cornstarch is important because it gives the chicken a light coating that can turn golden in the air fryer without requiring a traditional breading mixture.

For the Sticky Sesame Sauce

• ¼ cup (60 ml) soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) honey
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) hoisin sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) water

You’ll also need:

• Sesame seeds, for garnish
• Chopped green onions, for garnish
• Oil spray, for the air fryer basket

How to Make Air Fryer Sticky Sesame Chicken

1. Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (205°C). Once hot, lightly spray the basket with oil.

Preheating helps the chicken begin cooking immediately and encourages the cornstarch coating to become golden.

2. Coat the Chicken

Place the bite-sized chicken pieces in a bowl. Add the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

Toss everything together until the chicken is evenly coated.

Try to cut the chicken into pieces that are roughly similar in size. This helps them cook more evenly in the air fryer.

3. Air Fry the Chicken

Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding the basket because the pieces need room for the hot air to circulate.

Air fry at 400°F (205°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking.

The chicken should be golden on the outside and cooked through in the center.

For food safety, chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest piece.

4. Make the Sticky Sesame Sauce

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce.

Add the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil to a large pan over medium heat.

Whisk the ingredients together and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

In a small bowl, stir together 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 2 teaspoons water to make a slurry.

Pour the slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring. Continue cooking for about 1 minute, or until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.

Remove the pan from the heat.

5. Toss the Chicken With the Sauce

Once the chicken is finished cooking, transfer it directly to the pan with the sticky sesame sauce.

Toss the chicken until every piece is coated in the thick, glossy sauce.

Because the sauce is already thickened, you only need to toss the chicken until it is evenly covered. This also helps keep the air-fried coating from becoming overly soggy.

6. Garnish and Serve

Transfer the sticky sesame chicken to a serving bowl or plate.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

Serve immediately over steamed white or jasmine rice, or pair it with your favorite vegetables.

How Long to Cook Sticky Sesame Chicken in an Air Fryer

For bite-sized boneless chicken breast pieces, 10 to 12 minutes at 400°F (205°C) is a good starting point.

Shake the basket around the halfway point so the pieces cook and brown more evenly.

The exact cooking time can vary depending on the size of your chicken pieces and the air fryer you use. The safest way to check is with an instant-read thermometer; the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) internally.

How to Get the Chicken Golden in the Air Fryer

There are a few simple things that make a difference.

First, cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces. Very large pieces will take longer to cook, while very small pieces can dry out before they develop much color.

Second, coat the chicken evenly with cornstarch. You want a thin coating rather than thick clumps.

Finally, don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. If the chicken is packed tightly together, it can release moisture and steam instead of developing a golden exterior.

If your air fryer basket is small, cook the chicken in batches rather than piling everything in at once.

Can You Make the Chicken Ahead of Time?

You can prepare the chicken and sauce separately ahead of time, although this dish is best immediately after the chicken is tossed with the sauce.

If making it ahead for meal prep, keep the air-fried chicken and sauce separate until you’re ready to eat. Reheating the chicken separately helps preserve more of its texture before adding the sauce.

What to Serve With Sticky Sesame Chicken

Rice is the easiest pairing and turns this recipe into a filling meal. Jasmine rice, white rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice can work well.

For vegetables, try:

• Steamed broccoli
• Green beans
• Stir-fried bell peppers
• Carrots
• Snap peas
• Edamame
• Roasted Brussels sprouts

You can also add cucumber or shredded cabbage for a fresh contrast to the warm, sticky chicken.

Easy Variations

Add a Little Heat

If you like spicy sesame chicken, add a little sriracha, crushed red pepper flakes, or chili garlic sauce to the sauce.

Add More Sesame Flavor

For a stronger sesame flavor, sprinkle additional sesame seeds over the finished chicken. A small amount of toasted sesame seeds can add both flavor and texture.

Use Chicken Thighs

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breast. They tend to be more forgiving and stay juicy, although the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the pieces.

Add Vegetables

You can turn this into a more complete air fryer dinner by serving the chicken with cooked broccoli, peppers, carrots, or edamame.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Sticky Sesame Chicken

Don’t skip the cornstarch. It helps create the light coating that gives the chicken its golden exterior.

Keep the chicken in a single layer. Overcrowding prevents proper air circulation and can leave the chicken less golden.

Shake halfway through cooking. This helps expose more sides of the chicken to the hot air.

Make the sauce while the chicken cooks. Since the sauce comes together quickly, preparing it at the same time keeps the entire recipe fast.

Don’t overcook the chicken. Bite-sized chicken breast can cook quickly. Check the internal temperature rather than relying only on the clock.

Add the sauce at the end. Tossing the chicken with the sauce after air frying gives you the best combination of a golden coating and sticky sauce.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make sticky sesame chicken in an air fryer?

Yes. The chicken can be coated with cornstarch and cooked directly in the air fryer at 400°F (205°C). The homemade sesame sauce is prepared separately on the stovetop and then tossed with the cooked chicken.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?

Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a good substitute for chicken breast. Cut them into similar bite-sized pieces and cook until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internally.

Why use cornstarch on the chicken?

Cornstarch gives the chicken a light coating that helps it brown and develop a more appealing texture in the air fryer. It also helps the sauce cling to the chicken once everything is tossed together.

How do I make the sesame sauce thicker?

The cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce as it simmers. If the sauce still seems too thin, allow it to simmer briefly while stirring. Keep in mind that it will continue to coat the chicken once tossed together.

Can I make this recipe spicy?

Absolutely. Add sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or red pepper flakes to the sauce for a spicy version.

What kind of rice goes with sticky sesame chicken?

Jasmine rice is an excellent choice, but regular white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice can also work well.

Final Thoughts

This air fryer sticky sesame chicken is a great answer to the takeout craving when you want something quick and homemade. The chicken gets golden in the air fryer, while the soy-honey sauce turns it into a glossy, flavorful dinner with very little effort.

Serve it over rice, add some vegetables, and you have an easy weeknight meal that comes together in around 20 minutes.