Description
Honey sesame chicken and broccoli brings sweet and savory Chinese-inspired flavors to your dinner table. Quick-marinated chicken nestles alongside crisp broccoli, glazed with a golden sauce that balances rich soy complexity with delicate honey notes you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1–1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1–2 inch pieces
Vegetables:
- 6 cups broccoli florets (about 2 crowns)
- 2 whole green onions, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated
Sauce and Coating Ingredients:
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1.5 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a steamer setup by filling a large pot with water and positioning a steamer basket. Add broccoli and a pinch of salt, then cover and simmer on low heat for 6-7 minutes until crisp-tender.
- Transfer steamed broccoli to a colander and rinse with cold water to halt cooking, then set aside to drain completely.
- Create a flavor-packed sauce by whisking together soy sauce, water, sesame oil, honey, rice vinegar, fresh ginger, garlic, cornstarch, and sesame seeds in a small mixing bowl.
- Season chicken pieces with a blend of cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper inside a sealed plastic bag, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature until it shimmers with heat. Carefully arrange chicken pieces in a single layer without overcrowding.
- Cook chicken for 2-3 minutes per side, rotating to achieve a golden-brown exterior and ensuring complete internal cooking.
- Pour prepared sauce over the perfectly cooked chicken, reducing heat to medium-low and gently tossing to coat evenly.
- Allow sauce to simmer and thicken, stirring continuously to prevent burning and create a glossy, rich coating.
- Incorporate steamed broccoli into the chicken mixture, gently folding to distribute sauce and ingredients uniformly.
- Garnish with freshly chopped green onions and serve immediately while warm for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Steaming broccoli perfectly ensures a vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture without losing essential nutrients.
- Coating chicken with cornstarch and flour creates a light, golden-brown crust that locks in moisture and adds delightful crunch.
- Sesame oil and honey combine to deliver a rich, sweet-savory sauce that elevates the entire dish with complex flavor profiles.
- Always cook chicken until no pink remains in the center to guarantee food safety and prevent potential foodborne illnesses.
- Use medium-low heat when simmering the sauce to allow it to thicken naturally without burning or becoming too sticky.
- Green onions provide a fresh, sharp garnish that brightens the dish and adds a subtle aromatic finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg