Description
This Healthy Sesame Chicken recipe features tender, sautéed chicken breast pieces tossed in a flavorful, tangy sesame sauce made with coconut aminos, honey, lime, and toasted sesame oil. It’s a quick and easy dish, perfect for a wholesome weeknight meal served alongside green beans and white rice. The recipe uses wholesome ingredients and avocado oil for a nutritious twist on a classic favorite.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
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
Optional for Serving
- 2 cups cooked green beans
- 1 cup cooked white rice
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes to ensure even cooking and bite-sized pieces perfect for the sauce.
- Cook Rice and Green Beans: Prepare the white rice and green beans according to package or preferred cooking methods so they are ready when the chicken is done.
- Sauté Chicken: Heat 1/2 tablespoon of avocado oil in a pan over medium-high heat for about 1 minute. Add the chicken cubes and sauté, turning frequently, until browned on all sides and cooked through, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Prepare 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 evenly combined.
- Cook Sauce: Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set aside. Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the still-hot pan, no need to clean it, and cook over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until it bubbles and thickens slightly. Be careful to avoid burning.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the pan and toss it well to coat in the thickened sauce, allowing the flavors to meld together for a minute or two.
- Serve: Plate the sesame chicken over cooked white rice and green beans. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- Chicken breasts can be substituted with chicken thighs for a juicier result.
- If avocado oil is unavailable, olive oil or refined coconut oil work well as alternatives.
- Green beans can be replaced with broccoli or other preferred vegetables.
- Coconut aminos may be swapped with low sodium soy sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos for similar flavor.
- If fresh garlic or ginger is unavailable, use appropriate amounts of garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon dried ground ginger respectively.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
