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Crispy Sesame Chicken and Fried Rice

Crispy Sesame Chicken and Fried Rice

Crispy Sesame Chicken and Fried Rice is a quick and delicious weeknight dish perfect for busy evenings.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Course main dish
Cuisine American, Asian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 603 kcal

Equipment

  • Large heavy-based pan
  • large deep saucepan
  • small bowl
  • frying pan
  • Air fryer

Ingredients
  

Fried rice

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 75 g frozen vegetables (peas and corn)
  • 2 pcs eggs, whisked
  • 370 g cooked rice
  • 60 ml tamari or all-purpose soy sauce

Chicken

  • 1 pcs egg
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 60 g cornflour (cornstarch)
  • 500 g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, diced chicken breast works well too
  • oil to fry Good-quality olive oil, canola or vegetable oil can be used

Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 60 ml tamari or all-purpose soy sauce
  • 45 g brown sugar lightly packed
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornflour (cornstarch) mixed with ¼ cup (60 ml) water

To serve

  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional
  • 1 pcs spring onion (scallion), finely sliced

Instructions
 

Fried rice

  • Heat the butter in a large heavy-based pan over high heat. Add the frozen vegetables and eggs. Cook until the eggs become firm, moving them around with your spatula until they are set, breaking them up as you go, 1–2 minutes.
  • Add the rice and tamari or soy sauce. Stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes. Set aside.

Chicken

  • Combine the egg, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper and cornflour in a large bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat. The ingredients will form a thick paste around the chicken.
  • Heat the oil in a separate large deep saucepan over medium heat and fry the chicken for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden.
  • Set the chicken aside to drain on a paper towel.

Sauce

  • Combine all the sauce ingredients – except the cornflour mixture – in a small bowl.
  • Heat a large frying pan over medium–low heat and add the sauce. Allow it to simmer for 2–3 minutes or until thickened.
  • Add the cornflour and water mixture. Increase the heat to medium–high and simmer for a further 2–3 minutes until the sauce is glossy. If the sauce is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until the sauce is the consistency of honey.
  • Remove the pan from the heat. Return the chicken to the pan and stir to coat it evenly in the sauce.

Serve

  • Serve the fried rice topped with the chicken, sprinkled with the sesame seeds (if using) and garnished with spring onion.

Air fryer instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 3–5 minutes.
  • Generously spray the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer – you may need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding.
  • Spray the tops of the chicken generously with oil – this is key for getting that golden, crispy finish.
  • Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping or shaking the basket halfway, and respraying with oil to ensure even crisping.
  • While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce on the stovetop as per the recipe instructions.
  • Once cooked, toss the crispy chicken in the sauce and serve with the fried rice.
  • A generous oil spray before and halfway through cooking makes all the difference – it helps the coating puff and crisp just like pan-frying, but without the mess!

Notes

Best cooked and served immediately. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days. Microwave to reheat. The chicken will soften but will still taste amazing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 603kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 35gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 252mgSodium: 2143mgPotassium: 541mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1560IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Crispy Sesame Chicken, easy recipe, fried rice, Quick Dinner, takeout alternative
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