Make your own homemade Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken with this easy copycat recipe. Chunks of juicy chicken are battered and fried until crispy, then tossed with vegetables in a sweet, tangy sauce. Add some rice and dinner is ready!
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One of my go-to dishes at Panda Express is the Honey Sesame Chicken. We rarely get a chance to eat there, so I decided to make a homemade, copycat version.
This recipe is just as sweet and flavorful as the original. It’s so close to the original and you can make it anytime you’re craving this popular dish without having to jump in your car.
Bites of chicken are coated in a simple batter and fried crisp. The dish is finished off with fresh, stir-fried veggies and a sweet, tangy sauce. Serve it over a side of rice (I love it with this Coconut Rice) and dinner is complete!
I hope you love this take on the original as much as I do!
Why This Recipe Works
This is a delicious copycat recipe of a take out favorite. It has the same amazing texture and flavor as the original.
Homemade takeout recipes are almost always healthier – you know exactly what’s going into your meal.
If needed, this recipe can be made gluten free simply by using gluten free flour and gluten free soy sauce.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce: use gluten free soy sauce, if needed.
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar: can substitute apple cider vinegar.
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- salt
- pepper
Chicken
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour: you can substitute gluten free all purpose flour, if needed.
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast (diced into 1-inch pieces)
- canola or vegetable oil (for frying)
Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
- 1 pound green string beans (trimmed)
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.
Prep!
Cut the chicken into bite size pieces.
Trim the green beans and thinly slice the pepper.
Create!
In small mixing bowl whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, salt and pepper for the chicken.
In a separate bowl, mix together the cornstarch and flour.
Dredge the chicken pieces into the egg mixture, followed by the cornstarch mixture to evenly coating each piece. Set on a plate.
Heat enough oil in a large pot or skillet to be able to cover the pieces of chicken.
Add the coated chicken to the hot oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown, cooked through, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest portions.
Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to remove the excess oil.
For the vegetables, heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Add the green beans and yellow bell pepper slices. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.
Pour the sauce mixture into the hot skillet with the vegetables and let simmer for 1 to 2 minutes or until the sauce slightly thickens.
Add the cooked chicken to the pan and toss to coat evenly in the sauce.
Present!
Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately with rice, if desired.
Tips and Techniques
- To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free all purpose flour and gluten free soy sauce.
- You can substitute brown sugar or maple syrup for the honey, if preferred.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3 to 4 days.
FAQ’s
Can You Free Honey Sesame Chicken?
Yes, you can freeze this honey sesame chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Just be aware that when reheated, the chicken won’t be as crisp as when it’s made fresh.
More Chicken Takeout Recipes
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If you try this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would please leave a comment and star rating. Thanks!
Honey Sesame Chicken (Panda Express Copycat)
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce (can use gluten free soy sauce)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- salt
- pepper
Chicken
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour (can use gluten free flour)
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast (diced into 1-inch pieces)
- canola or vegetable oil (for frying)
Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
- 1 pound green string beans (trimmed)
- 1 yellow bell pepper (thinly sliced)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- In small mixing bowl whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce and set aside.1/3 cup sweet chili sauce, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, salt, pepper
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, mix together the cornstarch and flour.1 large egg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 cup cornstarch, 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- Dredge the chicken pieces into the egg mixture, followed by the cornstarch mixture to evenly coating each piece. Set on a plate.1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- Heat enough oil in a large pot or skillet to be able to cover the pieces of chicken.canola or vegetable oil
- Add the coated chicken to the hot oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown, cooked through, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest portions.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to remove the excess oil.
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Add the green beans and yellow bell pepper slices. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil, 1 pound green string beans, 1 yellow bell pepper
- Pour the sauce mixture into the hot skillet with the vegetables and let simmer for 1 to 2 minutes or until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Add the cooked chicken to the pan and toss to coat evenly in the sauce.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately with rice, if desired.1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Notes
Tips and Techniques
- To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free all purpose flour and gluten free soy sauce.
- You can substitute brown sugar or maple syrup for the honey, if preferred.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3 to 4 days.
Lauren Vavala Harris says
Made this for the first time in awhile and it came as perfect, as written! It really is so much better than take out.
Meloney says
I made this recipe and the sauce completely destroyed my chicken! the end product just tasted like chicken in ketchup. I had to turn it into BBQ chicken. I honestly would not recommend .
Lauren Vavala Harris says
I’m not sure what went wrong that the sauce destroyed the chicken. This is the first negative review on the website or Pinterest for this particular recipe so I have nothing to really go on here to help, sorry. Hopefully your BBQ version was enjoyable for you.
Enriqueta E Lemoine says
You nailed it with this recipe! This is better than Panda, but by far! And so easy to make.
Moop Brown says
This recipe looks just like (if not better) than the original and seems like a tasty weeknight recipe that everyone will enjoy.
silvia says
This is one of my kid’s favorite dishes and now I can make it at home with your recipe. It was so delicious and easy to prepare.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
I’ve never been to Panda Express and honestly, I don’t ever have to thanks to this recipe! Man was it amazing! That sauce is just incredible!
Katie Crenshaw says
This was an easy and delicious meal. It turned out perfect. The chicken was flavorful.
Erin says
My kid was fighting all of us for more of this sesame chicken! We didn’t give in and ate some ourselves. 😉 It was SO good! Thanks!
Carrie Robinson says
Oh man! I am definitely skipping ordering in takeout from now on! 🙂 My family loved this.
Marta says
I was so glad to find this honey sesame chicken. Your recipe tastes so much more flavorful and is so easy to make. I’ll be making this more often, for sure!
Kathryn says
We loved this chicken for dinner! It was delicious served with steamed rice and made great leftovers for lunch the next day. Making this again next week!
Gloria says
I don’t even remember the last time we had takeout. No need when you can make delicious dinners like this at home. My family loves Asian, and this honey sesame chicken was a hit for dinner tonight.