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This copycat honey sesame chicken is better than takeout!  

Everybody loves Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken, it is the best! Now you can make this Copycat Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken right at home with just a few simple ingredients!  Tender chicken fries up in a delicious crispy batter and then gets coated in a sticky, sweet sesame hone glaze with just a tiny kick from red pepper flake. Yellow bell pepper and green beans brighten up this dish.  Serve it over rice or lo mein and you got yourself the perfect copycat in less time than it takes to hit the drive thru!

Find out why homemade Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken is often preferred over the restaurant version. This blog post discusses the benefits of cooking this dish at home, including customization options, fresher ingredients, and the satisfaction of knowing exactly what goes into your meal.

Are you tired of settling for mediocre takeout when you crave Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken? Have you ever wondered why the homemade version always seems to taste even better? In this article, we will explore the reasons why making your own Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken can elevate your dining experience. From customization options to the satisfaction of cooking from scratch, get ready to discover how taking the reins in your own kitchen can result in a more satisfying and delicious meal.

When you make Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken at home, you have the opportunity to use fresh ingredients. This can make a big difference in the overall taste and quality of the dish. By using fresh vegetables, protein, and other components, you can enhance the flavors and textures of the dish, creating a more vibrant and satisfying meal. Additionally, using fresh ingredients can also make the dish healthier, as you can control the amount of oil, salt, and other additives that go into your homemade version. The crispy chicken in a sticky sauce with a sprinkle of sesame seeds is an amazing dish!  The savory sauce and sweetness of the honey is the perfect balance in this mouthwatering dish.

Recreating your favorite restaurant dishes in your own kitchen is not only a rewarding experience but also a cost-effective way to enjoy the flavors you love without having to leave the comfort of your home. With a few simple ingredients and some time spent in the kitchen, you can create a homemade version of Panda Express honey sesame chicken that tastes just as good, if not better, than the original. By following a reliable recipe and putting your own spin on the dish, you can tailor it to your preferences and dietary needs. Plus, the satisfaction of enjoying a delicious meal that you made yourself is truly unbeatable. So why not give it a try and make takeout at home tonight? Who knows, you may discover a newfound passion for cooking and never look back at ordering in again.

I love that you can customize this copycat version to your family’s taste, make it spicier, sweeter, add veggies, serve it over rice, brown rice or lo mein noodles, you can even put it over cauliflower rice.  The honey sesame sauce is amazing.  The yellow peppers and string beans add a great crunch.  You can also top this with green onions for a pop.

And let me tell you, just like takeout this makes for some incredible leftovers.  That is the best part of take out right? The leftovers!  This honey sesame chicken is a crowd-pleaser and really family-friendly, even my kids can’t get enough of this dinner.  I love panda express copycat recipes.

I promise your whole family will love this Copycat Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken. 

You will want to make this copycat panda express honey sesame chicken recipe again and again! We do!

You will love this recipe because it is

• Easy and fast.
• Family friendly.
• Better than takeout.
• Full of flavor.
• Popular dish.
• Great copycat recipe.
• Perfect for weeknights.

Gather your ingredients.

Make the batter and dip the chicken.

Fry the chicken.

Cook the veggies.

Make the sauce.

Put it all together.

Serve.

Can I use any protein?

Yes, you could use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs or even pork but cooking times will vary there too.  

What should I serve this with?

I love this over white rice but it is also delicious over lo mein, you could even serve it over mashed potatoes.  It would also be fabulous over some quick ramen noodles. 

Can I make this Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken spicier?

You can add more peppers or sriracha to give this a kick. 

 

Ingredients used

• Chicken tenderloins- You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
• Cornstarch- This helps create the crispy coating. You also need a little
  corn starch to thicken up the sauce mixture.
• Flour- Creates the batter.
• Egg-  Helps create the perfect coating for the chicken. 
• Yellow bell peppers- Yellow if what is usually used but you can switch out to red peppers or green peppers.
• Frozen green beans- I like to use frozen green beans because I always have them on hand but you can use fresh as well.
• Red pepper flakes- Adds just a bit of kick to the dish.
• Garlic-  You can use fresh garlic or jarred minced garlic.
• Sugar- Sugar adds a great sweetness to the dish and helps create that thick glaze.
• Honey-  Of course you need honey in this honey sesame chicken recipe.
• Soy sauce-  You only need a little soy sauce and I like to use a low sodium soy sauce.
• Rice vinegar-  This adds just a pop of tartness. You can also use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar if it is all you have on hand.
• Light oil for frying-  I like to use vegetable oil or canola oil.
• Sesame seeds- The star of the show, you can use white sesame seeds or toasted sesame seeds. 

How to make this Copycat Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken

 

1. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the cornstarch, and flour, egg, 1 cup water and 2 tablespoons oil. 
2. Add the pieces of chicken to the batter and stir. 
3. In large skillet heat your oil over medium high heat. 
4. Add the chicken in batches and fry 5-6 minutes until golden brown.
5. Remove the chicken and place on a paper towel lined plate and repeat until all the chicken is cooked. 
6. In another large skillet add your bell peppers and green beans and cook over medium high heat until the bell peppers just start to soften. 
7. Remove from the pan and set aside.
8. To the skillet add the red pepper flakes, garlic, water, sugar, honey, soy sauce, and vinegar. 
9. Whisk over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble and continue to cook and whisk for 5 minutes or until the sauce reduces a little and becomes thicker. 
10. Combine the 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of cold water and whisk into the bubbling sauce.
11. Cook 5 minutes until the sauce until thickened.
12. Toss the fried chicken pieces and veggies into the sauce. 
13. Garnish with sesame seeds.
14. Serve over rice.
15. Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 3 days.

Want more copycat recipes? Check these out!

• Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken & Dumplings
• Copycat Starbucks S’mores Frappuccino

• Copycat Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers

• Copycat Arbys Beef & Cheddars
• Copycat Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burritos
• Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Copycat Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Everybody loves Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken, it is the best! Now you can make this Copycat Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken right at home with just a few simple ingredients!  Tender chicken fries up in a delicious crispy batter and then gets coated in a sticky, sweet sesame hone glaze with just a tiny kick from red pepper flake. Yellow bell pepper and green beans brighten up this dish.  Serve it over rice or lo mein and you got yourself the perfect copycat in less time than it takes to hit the drive thru!

Print

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken tenderloins, cut into bite size pieces
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cups flour
• 1 egg
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 yellow bell peppers, sliced
• 1 cup frozen green beans
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• Light oil for frying
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the cornstarch, and flour, egg, 1 cup water and 2 tablespoons oil. 

1. Add the chicken to the batter and stir. 
2. In large skillet heat your oil over medium high heat. 
3. Add the chicken in batches and fry 5-6 minutes until golden brown.
4. Remove the chicken and place on a paper towel lined plate and repeat until all the chicken is cooked. 
5. In another large skillet add your bell peppers and green beans and cook over medium high heat until the bell peppers just start to soften. 
6. Remove from the pan and set aside.
7. To the skillet add the red pepper flakes, garlic, water, sugar, honey, soy sauce, and vinegar. 
8. Whisk over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble and continue to cook and whisk for 5 minutes or until the sauce reduces a little and becomes thicker. 
9. Combine the 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of cold water and whisk into the bubbling sauce.
10. Cook 5 minutes until the sauce until thickened.
11. Toss the fried chicken pieces and veggies into the sauce. 
12. Garnish with sesame seeds.
13. Serve over rice.

Notes

• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Garnish with scallions if you like.
• Add more or less red pepper flake depending on how spicy you like it.  
• You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1074Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 239mgSodium: 856mgCarbohydrates: 138gFiber: 4gSugar: 87gProtein: 77g