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bite shot of sesame chicken bites stacked on top of eachother
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5 from 1 vote

Crispy Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Bites (62g Protein)

Chicken breast cut into bites, dredged in flour and egg for the crispiest coating, air fried at 400°F, and tossed in a homemade sticky sesame sauce with fresh ginger and honey. 62g of protein per serving, gluten-free with a simple swap, and the takeout dupe I make more than any other.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Chicken
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 544kcal
Author: Bailey Campbell

Ingredients

FOR CHICKEN

  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour can use gluten-free 1:1 all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • Cooking spray

FOR SESAME SAUCE

  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 /2 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water

FOR GARNISH

  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 2 green onions sliced

Instructions

  • Set up your dredging station. In one shallow bowl, beat the 2 eggs. In a second shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
  • Dredge the chicken. Working in batches: dip each piece of chicken in the beaten egg, let any excess drip off, then press it into the seasoned flour on all sides. Make sure every piece is fully coated. Place on a plate or lined baking sheet while you finish the rest.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3–5 minutes.
  • Air fry in batches. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the coated chicken in a single layer — don't crowd or overlap, the pieces need space for the coating to crisp. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray. Cook at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping at the halfway mark. The coating should be golden brown and the chicken cooked through at 165°F internal temp. Repeat with remaining batches.
  • Make the sauce while the chicken cooks. In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic powder, and grated ginger over medium heat. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water together until fully dissolved. Once the sauce mixture starts to simmer, pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring constantly. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy — about 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the sesame oil.
  • Toss and serve. Add all the cooked chicken to a large bowl, pour the sesame sauce over the top, and toss gently until every piece is coated. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice or cauliflower rice.
  • Working in batches, place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they have some space between them.
  • Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.
  • Repeat the process with the remaining chicken pieces until all are cooked.
  • In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, and grated ginger.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
  • Heat the saucepan over medium heat, bringing the mixture to a simmer.
  • Gradually add the cornstarch mixture to the sauce, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.
  • Remove the sauce from heat and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the air-fried chicken pieces with the sesame sauce, tossing gently until each piece is coated.
  • Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds over the coated chicken and toss lightly.
  • Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
  • Transfer the sesame chicken to a serving dish or individual plates.
  • Garnish with sliced green onions and additional toasted sesame seeds for added flavor and presentation.
  • Serve the air fryer sesame chicken alongside steamed rice or noodles, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 544kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 62g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 238mg | Sodium: 1004mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g