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Home » Chicken Recipes » Keto Sesame Chicken

Keto Sesame Chicken

A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.
by Vered DeLeeuwUpdated Aug 5, 2024
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5 from 4 votes

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This keto sesame chicken features succulent chicken pieces coated in a delicious sweet-and-savory sauce. This easy weeknight recipe is ready in under 30 minutes. The chicken comes out juicy and flavorful!

Keto sesame chicken is topped with chopped scallions.

Most stir-fry recipes are easy (this Korean beef recipe is a good example). After prepping the veggies and mixing the sauce, the cooking itself is a matter of minutes. This recipe is even easier because there's hardly any prep work. You simply mix the sauce, cook the chicken, then add the sauce and cook until it thickens. The result is juicy and flavorful!

Ingredients

Like most stir-fry recipes, the list of ingredients may seem daunting. But it's quick to gather, and the cooking itself happens fast. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

For the sauce:

The ingredients needed for making the sauce for keto sesame chicken.
  • Soy sauce: I use reduced-sodium sauce.
  • Unsweetened ketchup: The Primal Kitchen brand is good.
  • Honey: I use sugar-free honey.
  • Rice vinegar: White wine vinegar works, too.
  • Cornstarch: It helps thicken the sauce and doesn't add many carbs per serving. However, do feel free to use a keto alternative such as konjac flour (use the package directions for converting).
  • Aromatics: Minced garlic and grated ginger. The jarred versions are fine, but for the best flavor, mince the garlic and grate the ginger yourself.

For the chicken:

The ingredients needed for making keto sesame chicken.
  • Avocado oil for cooking: I like using this versatile, neutral-flavored oil in stir-fry recipes.
  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: I cut them into 1-inch pieces.
  • Kosher salt and black pepper: I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Topping:

Toppings for keto sesame chicken.
  • Toasted sesame oil: This is a must. It adds TONS of flavor to this dish. I usually use the 365 by Whole Foods Market brand.
  • Sesame seeds: Used mostly for garnish.
  • Sliced green onions: Again, used mostly for garnish, so if you don't have them on hand, it's fine to skip them.

Variations

  • Sometimes, I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. They work well in this recipe and are, in fact, juicier than chicken breast.
  • Use ghee or refined coconut oil instead of avocado oil.
  • To add a hint of spice, mix ½ teaspoon of crushed red peppers into the sauce. Or use a full teaspoon if you like your food very spicy.

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

Whisk together the sauce ingredients, then set the sauce aside.

The sauce was mixed in a bowl.

Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, and cook them in avocado oil until cooked through.

Sauteing the chicken in a skillet.

Give the sauce one more stir and add it to the pan. Reduce the heat and keep cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens and the chicken is well-coated.

The sauce was added to the chicken.

Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Drizzle it with sesame oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, then serve.

Keto sesame chicken is served with chopsticks.

Expert Tip

Instead of mixing the garlic and ginger into the sauce, you can add them to the skillet when the chicken is fully cooked and saute them for 30 seconds. This will help them release their flavor and aroma into the dish.

Recipe FAQs

Can I add a vegetable?

Yes. While nontraditional, you could cook the chicken, remove it from the pan and keep it warm, then add more oil and very briefly cook vegetable pieces such as broccoli florets. Make sure they remain tender-crisp. Add the chicken back, then proceed with adding the sauce.

Can I make this recipe in the oven?

Yes, but you'll still have to cook the chicken in a skillet, so oven-baking will add an extra step and more dishes to wash.

But if you'd like, you can briefly saute the chicken, then place it in a rimmed baking dish, coat it with the sauce, and bake until cooked through - start with 30 minutes at 350°F, stirring midway through baking.

Can I use chicken thighs in this recipe?

Yes. As mentioned above, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They're fattier, juicier, and arguably tastier than chicken breast!

Serving Suggestions

Keto sesame chicken is great all on its own with a simple side of a vegetable such as sauteed green beans, sauteed spinach, or steamed asparagus.

It's also good when served over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles (omit the parmesan). If you can handle shirataki, shirataki sesame noodles are another good option.

Sometimes, I line our plates with raw baby spinach leaves, ladle the chicken on top, and then the spinach gets lightly cooked by the sauce. Perfect!

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to four days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can also freeze individual portions for up to three months.

Keto sesame chicken served on a white plate.

More Keto Stir-Fry Recipes

  • Beef and broccoli is served in a white bowl with chopsticks.
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Recipe Card

Keto sesame chicken is topped with chopped scallions.
5 from 4 votes
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Keto Sesame Chicken

This 30-minute keto sesame chicken recipe features succulent chicken pieces coated in a delicious sweet-and-savory sauce.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time25 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 336kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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Ingredients

For the sauce

  • ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce - or a gluten-free alternative
  • ¼ cup unsweetened ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon sugar-free honey
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon garlic - minced
  • 1 teaspoon ginger root - minced

For the chicken

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 ½ pound boneless skinless chicken breasts - cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt - or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Topping

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons green onions - thinly sliced

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients (soy sauce, unsweetened ketchup, honey, rice vinegar, cornstarch, garlic, and ginger). Set aside.
    The sauce was mixed in a bowl.
  • Cook the chicken: In a large frying pan, heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Sauté them on all sides in the hot oil until cooked through, about 7 minutes.
    Sauteing the chicken in a skillet.
  • Give the sauce one more stir and add it to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Keep cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens and the chicken is well coated, about 2 more minutes.
    The sauce was added to the chicken.
  • Transfer the chicken to a serving platter (lined with cauliflower rice if you wish). Drizzle it with sesame oil and sprinkle it with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately.
    Keto sesame chicken is served with chopsticks.

Notes

  • As an alternative to mixing the garlic and ginger into the sauce, you can add them to the skillet when the chicken is fully cooked and saute them for 30 seconds. This will help them release their flavor and aroma into the dish.
  • The cornstarch helps thicken the sauce and doesn't add many carbs per serving. However, feel free to use a keto alternative such as konjac flour (use the package directions for converting).
  • You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. They work well in this recipe and are, in fact, juicier than chicken breast.
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to four days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can also freeze individual portions for up to three months.

Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 0.25 recipe | Calories: 336 kcal | Carbohydrates: 6 g | Protein: 38 g | Fat: 16 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Sodium: 1072 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 1 g

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Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.

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A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.

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Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.

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