Air Fryer Sesame Chicken

Name: Air Fryer Sesame Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 32 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 3/4 cup (90 g) cornstarch; 1/2 tsp kosher salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1 lb (450 g) boneless skinless chicken breast, 1-inch cubes; 1 large egg, beaten; Olive oil spray or mister; 1/2 cup (120 ml) soy sauce; 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil; 1 tsp sesame seeds, plus more to finish; 1 tsp cornstarch; 1 tbsp lime juice; Cooked rice and sliced green onions, to serve

Takeout sesame chicken without the oil bath. Cubes of breast get a light cornstarch coat, a mist of oil and a hot basket until they crisp; the sauce simmers on the stove while they cook. Toss together at the end so the crust stays crunchy and the sesame stays bright. Ready in about half an hour with rice on the side.

32 min total
400°F / 205°C
4 servings
15 min prep

Jump to recipe See steps

Oil mist matters

Cornstarch without a little oil tastes dry and powdery in the air fryer. A quick spray or mist after the chicken is coated is the difference between chalk and crunch. You are not deep-frying. You are giving the starch something to brown against.

Sauce on the stove, not in the basket

Soy, toasted sesame oil, a little cornstarch and lime thicken in a small pan while the chicken finishes. Pour over the hot cubes in a bowl and toss. Putting thin sauce in the basket early softens the coating before it sets.

Swaps that still work

Use gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos if you need them. Tapioca starch can stand in for cornstarch. Serve with jasmine rice, cauliflower rice, or steamed broccoli. This wants a simple side, not another heavy sauce.

Air Fryer Sesame Chicken

Prep 15 min · Cook 17 min · Total 32 min · 4 servings

Air Fryer400°F / 205°C

Basket time16 min

Flip / shakeat 8 min

Tested onCosori 5.8 qt, 1700W

Crowding. One layer of cubes. Overlap and the cornstarch never crisps. Cook in two batches if needed.

Step-by-step instructions

Follow each step in order. Photos show what to look for so the basket finish matches the plate.

To make the chicken

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (205°C) for 5 minutes so the basket is hot when the chicken goes in.
Put the cornstarch in a shallow bowl. Season the chicken cubes with salt and pepper, toss them in the beaten egg until coated, then dredge in cornstarch. Shake off the excess so you get a thin, even coat.
Chicken cubes coated in cornstarch before air frying
Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the basket. Mist generously with oil: this is what turns the coating crisp instead of powdery.
Coated sesame chicken cubes in a single layer in the air fryer
Cook 15-17 minutes at 400°F (205°C), shaking the basket once halfway, until the coating is crisp and the thickest piece reads 165°F (74°C).

To make the sauce

While the chicken cooks, whisk soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, cornstarch and lime juice in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium-high heat 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
Transfer the hot chicken to a large bowl, pour the sauce over and toss to coat. Serve immediately over rice with green onions and extra sesame seeds.
Crispy chicken tossed in sesame sauce in a bowl