Description
This Healthy Sesame Chicken recipe features tender chicken breast cubes sautéed and coated in a flavorful sauce made with coconut aminos, honey, toasted sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and lime. Served over white rice and green beans, it’s a balanced and delicious meal that brings together savory, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Chicken and Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 cups cooked green beans
- 1 cup cooked white rice
Sauce
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lime zest (zest of one lime)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (juice of one lime)
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prep the chicken and sides: Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Prepare the white rice and green beans by cooking them according to package instructions or your preferred method, then set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Heat 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil in a pan over medium-high heat for about 1 minute. Add the cubed chicken and sauté until browned on all sides and cooked through, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
- Prepare the sauce: While the chicken cooks, whisk together the coconut aminos, honey, toasted sesame oil, ground ginger, minced garlic, rice vinegar, black pepper, lime zest, and lime juice in a bowl until well combined.
- Remove chicken from pan: Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the sauce: Pour the sauce mixture into the same hot pan—no need to clean it first—and cook over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. The sauce will begin to bubble and thicken. Be careful not to let it burn by continuously stirring.
- Combine chicken with sauce: Add the cooked chicken back into the pan and stir well to coat all pieces evenly with the thickened sauce.
- Serve: Spoon the sesame chicken over the cooked white rice and green beans. Garnish with 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds before serving for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- Using avocado oil helps raise the smoke point, perfect for sautéing chicken without burning.
- Coconut aminos is a great soy-sauce alternative for a lower sodium and gluten-free option.
- To make this recipe lower in carbs, substitute the white rice with cauliflower rice.
- Ensure to continuously stir the sauce while thickening to prevent it from burning or sticking to the pan.
- Leftover sesame chicken keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
