Chinese Chicken Recipe Air Fryer: Best Sesame Copycat

Make restaurant-style sesame chicken in your air fryer at 400°F for 12-14 minutes, shaking halfway through. Crispy breaded chicken pieces are tossed in a homemade sticky sesame sauce. The result: crispy, saucy bites that rival your favorite takeout—without the delivery fees or mystery ingredients.

Craving takeout? That orange box of sesame chicken is calling your name, but the delivery fees, the wait time, and the questionable ingredients give you pause. What if you could make restaurant-quality Chinese chicken recipe air fryer style in less time than it takes for delivery?

The air fryer creates impossibly crispy breaded chicken that stays crunchy even after being tossed in that signature sticky-sweet sesame sauce. This copycat recipe captures all the flavors of your favorite Chinese restaurant—the crunch, the glaze, the sesame seeds—but with fresher ingredients and a fraction of the oil.

New to air frying? Our ultimate air fryer guide covers everything from setup to maintenance.

Why does the air fryer work so well for Chinese-style chicken? The rapid hot air circulation creates a super-crispy coating that can stand up to the sauce without getting soggy.

Ready to make takeout obsolete? Let’s dive in.

Why This Chinese Chicken Recipe is a Game Changer

This Chinese chicken recipe air fryer method beats delivery every time:

• Ready in about 25 minutes—faster than most delivery
• No delivery fees—save money every time
• Crispy coating that lasts—stays crunchy even in sauce
• Fresher ingredients—you control the quality
• Less oil—significantly healthier than deep-fried
• Customizable heat level—make it mild or spicy

According to Healthline, air frying uses significantly less oil than traditional deep frying while achieving similar crispy results.

Ingredients List

For the Chicken:

Quantity	Ingredient
1.5 lbs	Chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
½ cup	Cornstarch
¼ cup	All-purpose flour
2	Eggs, beaten
½ tsp	Salt
Cooking spray	As needed

For the Sesame Sauce:

Quantity	Ingredient
⅓ cup	Soy sauce
¼ cup	Honey
2 tbsp	Rice vinegar
1 tbsp	Sesame oil
2 cloves	Garlic, minced
1 tsp	Fresh ginger, minced
1 tbsp	Cornstarch + 2 tbsp water
2 tbsp	Sesame seeds
2	Green onions, sliced

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep and Coat

Pat chicken dry. Dip in beaten egg, then coat in cornstarch-flour mixture. Spray with cooking spray.

Cook

Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Cook chicken in a single layer for 12-14 minutes, shaking halfway. Internal temp should reach 165°F.

Make Sauce

Simmer soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Add cornstarch slurry to thicken. Stir in sesame oil.

Toss and Serve

Toss crispy chicken with sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve over rice.

3 Secrets for Crispy Results

Tip 1: Dry chicken thoroughly before coating. Tip 2: Don’t sauce until ready to serve. Tip 3: Double-coat for extra crunch.

Storage & Reheating

Store chicken and sauce separately up to 3 days. Reheat chicken at 375°F for 4-5 minutes until re-crisped.

Conclusion

This Chinese chicken recipe air fryer version delivers restaurant-quality sesame chicken at home. The crispy coating, sticky sauce, and sesame garnish rival any takeout—without the wait or delivery fees.

Tag us on Instagram with your homemade sesame chicken!