Chinese Chicken Recipe Air Fryer Sesame Chicken is a Chinese-American takeout classic — crispy chicken is tossed in a glossy soy-sesame sauce that’s sweet, savory, and sticky enough to cling to every piece. This air fryer Asian chicken lightens up the original by cooking the chicken in hot, circulating air instead of deep-frying. Using the air fryer makes it easy to enjoy this restaurant favorite at home.

What makes this air fryer version different from classic sesame chicken?

This version delivers the same sweet, sticky sauce and crunchy exterior as traditional sesame chicken, but uses hot circulating air instead of deep-frying oil, reducing fat and cleanup while maintaining the crave-worthy texture.

This recipe takes a basic Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe and adds a gingery marinade and a savory sesame sauce. Check out my post on How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken for tips and tricks for success, and everything else you need to know.

Is it easy to make this air fryer chicken?

Technique tip: For extra crispness, dry the chicken pieces thoroughly before coating. Moisture on the surface steams the coating and can reduce the golden, crunchy texture.

Making the sesame chicken recipe at home is actually quite easy. Chinese Chicken Recipe Air Fryer Once you know the basic technique for getting crispy chicken pieces using your air fryer, you’ll find it is easy, quick, and doesn’t make a huge mess of your kitchen. The sauce comes together quickly with a handful of ingredients tossed together in a skillet or saucepan. The result is a meal that rivals anything you’d get in a takeout box in terms of flavor but is lighter, healthier, and less expensive.

Also Read: Chicken Katsu Sauce Recipe: Sweet, Savory & Easy to Make

Ingredient Notes

You don’t need a long list of ingredients to make sesame chicken in the air fryer. In fact, the chicken marinade and the sauce share many of the same ingredients, which makes it especially easy to make sure you have the right items.

A dusting of cornstarch creates a light, ultra-crispy coating by forming a brittle shell when exposed to high heat, which keeps the chicken juicy inside. Sesame oil gives the sauce a nutty flavor and aroma. A little goes a long way in building depth of flavor.

What is sesame chicken sauce made of?

Sesame chicken sauce is a glossy, savory-sweet blend of soy sauce (for umami), brown sugar (for caramelized sweetness), rice vinegar (for bright acidity), and cornstarch (to thicken), finished with toasted sesame oil and seeds for signature aroma and texture. Chinese Chicken Recipe Air Fryer This balanced sauce clings to the chicken so each bite is richly flavored.

Tips for making the best air fryer fried chicken

To ensure that the chicken gets crispy in an air fryer, arrange pieces in a single layer with space between them so that hot air can circulate, and spritz with oil to help the cornstarch crisp rather than steam.

For best results, line your air fryer basket with parchment paper. I like to use the rounds of parchment with holes in them.

The longer you marinate your chicken, the better the flavor will be. You can marinate it for as long as overnight. But even if you are only able to marinate it for 15 minutes, it will still be delicious.

The sauce can be mixed ahead of time, but it’s best to cook it just before serving. The cornstarch in the sauce can make it too thick if you cook it ahead of time and then refrigerate it.

Whatever you do, don’t toss the chicken and sauce together until you are ready to eat. Ideally, you want to pull the hot chicken right out of the air fryer and drop it immediately into the hot sauce, stir to coat, and then serve. This way, the chicken coating keeps its addictive crunch.

What to serve with sesame chicken?

Like your favorite teriyaki chicken recipe, this Sesame Chicken is a great weeknight dish because it uses basic pantry ingredients and can be on the table in about 30 minutes. For a quick meal, I like to keep things simple with sides.

I usually serve this Sesame Chicken with white or brown rice, but Coconut Rice would be great, too. A simple vegetable like Cucumber Salad or Stir-Fried Lotus Root rounds out the meal. Something bright and acidic, like Cucumber Kimchi or Pickled Daikon, balances the richness of the sesame sauce nicely.

How do you make deep-fried sesame chicken?

You can definitely deep fry the chicken if you prefer or if you don’t have an air fryer. Maintain the oil temperature around 350ºF (175ºC). If it’s too cool, the chicken absorbs oil and becomes greasy; if too hot,t the exterior browns before the inside finishes.

Heat a pot of neutral, high-smoke-point cooking oil (the oil should be at least 2 or 3 inches deep). The oil should be very hot, but not smoking. If you have a thermometer, it should be around 350ºF. I like to use a Dutch oven because the high sides reduce the spatter and mess, but you can also use a wok or skillet if you like.

What air fryer do you recommend?

I have both the Cosori Pro III air fryer and the Mealthy CrispLid that fits on top of my Instant Pot. I love them both!

The GoWise is a basket-style fryer, and it holds more than the Mealthy version, so it makes it quicker to cook a full meal for my family.

On the other hand, the Mealthy gets hotter, so it can cook a small batch of food quicker.

I love making Air Fryer Fried Chicken and all of its variations, but I also love making Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp, Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp, and Air Fryer Fried Pickles.

More air fryer recipes you’ll love

If you love using your air fryer, you should try my Air Fryer Pork Belly with hoisin glaze, Air Fryer Empanadas, and Air Fryer Carnitas. You can even make amazing snacks and desserts in your air fryer, like Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips, Air Fryer Popcorn, Air Fryer Brownies, and Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies.

Also Read: Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipes: Easy & Cheesy Morning Meal

Conclusion

The chicken is prepared with hot air in this recipe, Chinese Chicken Recipe Air Fryer, which results in a crispy chicken that uses only a very small amount of oil and creates very little mess. The sweet and savory sesame sauce wraps around each piece nicely, thus giving you the traditional flavor in a less fatty and more health-beneficial way. Chinese Chicken Recipe Air Fryer With minimal ingredients and easy steps, this air fryer sesame chicken is a speedy and delicious dinner for busy weeknights.

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