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Crockpot Sesame Chicken Recipe

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4.87 from 29 votes
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This Crockpot Sesame Chicken is a more flavorful, health-i-fied version of a take-out classic! One of my go-to throw and go, quick and easy recipes!

Crockpot sesame chicken in bowl

Asian inspired recipes are my JAM. You might also love these recipes: chicken cauliflower fried rice, slow cooker lo mein, slow cooker thai chicken soup, asian sloppy joes.

Crockpot Sesame Chicken <– latest obsession right here.

This recipe combines my two true loves in life:

  1. My crockpot
  2. Asian food

People often ask me what my favorite kitchen tools are and I always have the same response:

  1. My garlic press <– this one always surprises everyone, but I freaking LOVE it. Garlic is SO sticky.
  2. My slow cooker

People also often ask me what my favorite foods are and I, again, always have the same response:

  1. Mexican food. Chips, salsa, and margaritas are life.
  2. Indian food. Paneer tikka masala anyone? I NEED to master it, so I can share a recipe with you!
  3. Asian food. All of it, but especially . . .

Sesame chicken!

Piece of chicken being picked up with chopsticks

While I do love the classic take out sesame chicken, I honestly loved this Crockpot Sesame Chicken Recipe more.

Sesame chicken can get SO soggy and it’s probably not the healthiest choice…

How bad is sesame chicken for you?

It depends. If you’re ordering it from a restaurant, chances are, it’s probably not great for you, but I mean, YOLO, right?!

That being said, today’s sesame chicken is not bad for you at all! This is DEFINITELY a healthier version of a classic, especially since you can serve it with brown or cauliflower rice!

Plus, I ditched the breading, so it’s instantly healthier. I promise you, you won’t miss it.

What is chinese sesame chicken made out of?

  • Chicken breasts
  • Broth
  • Seasoned rice vinegar
  • Soy sauce
  • Honey (just a touch)
  • Ketchup
  • Garlic
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Ginger
  • Black pepper
  • Cornstarch
  • Sesame seeds

This crockpot sesame chicken recipe is *almost* as easy as take out, because you literally just throw everything into the crockpot.

You’re going to start by whisking together the sauce ingredients: chicken broth, seasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce (or tamari if you’re gluten free), a touch of honey, a teeny bit of ketchup, garlic, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, and black pepper.

Pour half into your crockpot, place the chicken in, and top with the rest of the sauce.

Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2.

Then, you’ll remove the chicken, whisk some cornstarch into the sauce, and place the chicken back in.

Cook for an additional 30 minutes – 1 hour.

Bowl of crockpot sesame chicken with rice side viewRemove the chicken, cut into chunks, then stir back into the sauce, and . . .

dinner

is

served!

You can serve this over white rice, brown rice, your grain of choice, OR I’ve been really into Green Giant Riced Cauliflower Medley (not sponsored, I’m just legit obsessed) lately for a healthier, low carb option.

Honestly, though, I’d eat this straight outta the slow cooker, because this Crockpot Sesame Chicken is literally a flavor bomb.

What is the difference between general tso’s chicken and sesame chicken?

I get this question a lot, because people want to know, if they like General Tso’s, will they also like sesame chicken?

The answer is YES!

They are different though, as General Tso’s is often a little less sweet, but is much spicier and can be served with broccoli and carrots.

Are orange chicken and sesame chicken the same thing?

This is another question I get quite often.

The answer is no. 🙂

Here’s my favorite orange chicken recipe if you’re looking for a great, easy, delicious new recipe! While they are also similar, the biggest difference is the prominent orange flavor in orange chicken.

Today, though, this sesame chicken is a little sweet, a little spicy, full of tender chicken, ultra easy, super healthy . . .

Bowl of sesame chicken with rice aboveThe PERFECT dinner.

– Jennifer

This Crockpot Sesame Chicken is a more flavorful, health-i-fied version of a take-out classic! One of my go-to throw and go, quick and easy recipes! showmetheyummy.com

Crockpot Sesame Chicken Recipe

4.87 from 29 votes
This Crockpot Sesame Chicken is a more flavorful, health-i-fied version of a take-out classic! One of my go-to throw and go, quick and easy recipes!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Yield: 4 people
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Equipment for this recipe

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric
  • 2 pounds chicken breasts uncooked boneless skinless
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce or gluten free alternative
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup I used an all natural, free of sugar variety - NOTE: there's a mistake in the video, it says sriracha, but it's ketchup 🙂
  • 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • Sesame seeds, cilantro, and red pepper flakes optional for topping
  • Rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for serving

Recipe Video

Instructions

  • Grease your crockpot with cooking spray.
  • Whisk together sauce ingredients: broth, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, ketchup, garlic, red pepper flakes, ginger, and pepper. 
  • Pour half the sauce into crockpot.
  • Place chicken into crockpot.
  • Pour the rest of the sauce over the chicken.
  • Place the lid on and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours.
  • Remove chicken from crockpot and set aside.
  • Whisk the cornstarch into the sauce until well combined.
  • Place chicken back into crockpot and cover.
  • Cook for an additional 30 mins on HIGH (if you cooked on HIGH before) or 1 hour on HIGH (if you cooked on low before).
  • Remove chicken, cut into chunks, then stir back into sauce.
  • Serve with your choice of rice and additional toppings and enjoy!
  • Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!
Rate This Recipe
STORING
Room Temp:N/A
Refrigerator:3-4 Days
Freezer:2-3 Months
Reheat:Microwave until heated through
*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions

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Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Crockpot Sesame Chicken Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 327 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 145mg48%
Sodium 1327mg58%
Potassium 928mg27%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 50g100%
Vitamin A 160IU3%
Vitamin C 7.3mg9%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Keywords: chicken breast, crockpot, healthy
Enjoy this recipe?
Tag @showmetheyummy on Instagram and hashtag it #showmetheyummy
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Chinese

 

Reader Interactions

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  2. Cassandra

    United States

    5 stars My husband loved, added onions , celery and red pepper to crock pot, also added more honey. Sautéed broccoli, yellow squash and zucchini squash separately and added at the end.
    Reply

  3. ElJay

    Pacifica, California

    Has anyone tried this with coconut aminos rather than soy sauce? Wondering how that holds up in the slow cooker?
    Reply

  10. Senaoj

    Victoria, British Columbia

    5 stars Delicious!! Served it with Rice noodles sauted in Sesame oil and green onions, sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds!! Everyone loved it!!
    Reply

  14. Kelly

    Colchester, Vermont

    5 stars This has become a family favorite! I cube the chicken when I stir in the cornstarch. I also add a little bit more honey as we like it slightly sweeter. It’s greatover jasmine rice!
    Reply

  15. Emily

    West Lafayette, Indiana

    I eat gluten free and use cornstarch all the time. Anyone having trouble with the sauce: mix/whisk the cornstarch thoroughly with COLD water or chicken broth before mixing into the sauce. You need a “slurry,” which is a smooth, wet paste. Cornstarch clumps when added by itself to hot/warm liquids and doesn’t thicken sauces the way it should. (It also doesn’t freeze well, in case you’re wondering.)
    Reply

  16. Melanie

    Littleton, Colorado

    4 stars My sauce didn’t come out looking anything like the picture. I followed the recipe step by step, double checking everything. Still tastes good… but definitely not the same.
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Glad you enjoyed Melanie! Can you explain a little more? I could help you troubleshoot what happened!

    • Kelly

      Colchester, Vermont

      Mine doesn’t look as dark as the picture, It does look very different but I chalk it up to variations in brands of ingredients. Mine ends up more tan than brown. I tend to cook it on high, that may be another reason.

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      It’s probably just a difference in your chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, or ketchup! Mine could have been darker in color. I’m sure the taste will be just fine 🙂

  19. Melanie

    United States

    5 stars This was SO good! My daughter has celiac disease so we used tamari instead of soy sauce. Super yummy and easy! Thank you!!!!!
    Reply

  20. Robin

    Pine Mountain Valley, Georgia

    How much is a serving? Example. 1 cup or 1/2 cup. I understand how many servings are for the whole recipe but I wanted to know what an individual serving was.
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Hi Robin! I’m not sure, because I didn’t measure it out. I’d suggest eye balling the 4 servings and then placing a portion into a measuring cup! I hope that helps! 🙂

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      You’re technically not supposed to cook frozen raw meats in the crockpot for food safety concerns, but that being said, if you choose to cook them frozen, you’d probably need an additional hour or two? I can’t guarantee the results, because I haven’t tried it!

  24. Lindsey

    Arlington, Washington

    4 stars This was good. The chicken was too soft to cut so it ended up looking like pulled bbq chicken. Kids liked it and I had seconds. Will make this again.
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Glad everyone liked it! Your crockpot may run hotter than mine, so just cook it less next time. 🙂

  25. Sarah

    Rockford, Illinois

    Followed the recipe exactly but once I mixed the corn starch in it seems very thick not at all like in the video. Help!
    Reply

    • Trevor @ Show Me the Yummy

      Hi Sarah! Sounds like not enough liquid/too much corn starch. You can thin it out with more liquid!

  26. Mrs

    La Junta, Colorado

    Hi! Want to try making this for supper, but don’t have time to crockpot! Do I dare try making it in a deep skillet? Any suggestions to conversion times…?
    Reply

  27. Peter

    Rockville, Maryland

    4 stars Please specify which ingredients are for the sauce and which are not. You do not specify early on that the cornstarch should NOT be whisked in until after the initial 4 hour cooking.
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      It’s always best to read a recipe all the way through before making it, but I went ahead and updated the directions. Thanks!

  28. Becky

    Ada, Oklahoma

    Hi there! Do you think I could replace the honey with molasses? I have made this several times before and my family loves it! I am out of honey though! Thanks!
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Hi Becky! I’d use brown sugar instead! Even agave (but use half as much). Not sure how the molasses would taste. So glad you love the recipe!

  29. Terri

    Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

    5 stars Please help. I added the cornstarch with all the sauce ingredients because I was in a hurry and now it’s cooking. Will the cornstarch be ok if it’s blended well and cooking for the 2-4 hours? Thank you,
    Reply

  30. Terri

    Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

    I am terrible at following recipes and included the corn starch with all the sauce ingredients. It’s in the cockpot now with ALL ingredients. What will the corn starch do if it simmers for the 2-4 hours. Can I salvage this without having to buy more sauce ingredients?
    Reply

  31. April

    United States

    Can I ask how you personally cook this as far as low for 4 hrs or on high for 2 hours?? My husband seems to think nothing will taste as good if it’s cooked on high. Have you tried both and prefer one over the other? Thanks
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      I honestly can’t tell the difference 🙂 Although most people prefer low and slow on the slow cooker!

  32. Pam

    Houston, Texas

    5 stars Just made the crockpot sesame chicken! Delicious and so easy. looking forward to trying more recipes! FYI……. My son played for the Durham Bulls last season.
    Reply

  33. Paul

    Yikes the sodium is so high. I thought this was a healthy option. I got on the wrong site. But I guess I’ll try it since I already mixed the ingredients together.
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      This is a healthy option. 🙂 Personally, we don’t watch sodium. Either way, you can lessen the sodium by using chicken broth and soy sauce with less sodium. Also, the nutritional value is just an estimate, because products by different brands can vary greatly. Hope that helps!

    • Anna

      Worcester, Massachusetts

      5 stars Wow, so snarky. The recipe is a healthy option and using no salt added chicken broth and low sodium soy sauce it brings the recipe to around 550mg sodium (according to another recipe calculator). This is way better than getting take out. I’m also surprised you did not notice the sodium count of the ingredients if this is a concern for you (as it is for me), I shop my ingredients carefully. But since you already had it mixed I guess you’ll know for next time. I also think the calculator that is shown is a little screwed up.

  34. Lindsay

    Hi Jennifer, This recipe looks delicious and I really want to try it for my work meal prep! Do you happen to know what the cooking time would be if I used an instapot? Thanks!
    Reply

  35. Mary

    5 stars Just found your site.. and I’m in your neck of the woods (Cary)! We are in the midst of a kitchen reno so quick, easy and one pot is key. Everyone loved this. Great flavor with a bit of heat.
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Hi Natali! I haven’t, but I have an instant pot orange chicken recipe that is very similar! Let me know if you try that or if you want help converting this for the instant pot. It’s on my list, I just haven’t done it yet!

  37. Diana

    5 stars I am really excited to try this recipe! I have a pretty low tolerance for spice, so I was wondering how spicy this recipe is? Do you have any suggestions for making it less spicy? Does the spice offer a lot of the flavor? Thanks!
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Just omit the red pepper flakes and maybe ever the black pepper and you’ll be fine! 🙂

  39. Heather

    Hello there! I’m making this dish for my family tonight and was wondering if you could tell me how many calories are in a serving? Thanks 😊
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Hi Heather! Just added nutritional information to the recipe box 🙂

  40. Ryan

    Are the cooking times right? Usually you see chicken in a Crock-Pot being cooked at high for four hours, or on low for 8 hours.
    Reply

  42. Madelaine

    I know you said the siracha was an error.. but would this recipe work with it instead of ketchup? Not a huge fan of cooking with ketchup…. looking to try this for tonight’s supper. ..
    Reply

  44. Jeana

    For the sauce mixture are the ingredients for that up to the corn starch? It says to add in corn starch afterwards so I’m just wanting to double check. What is rice vinegar? THANKS
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Yep! Look for seasoned rice vinegar by the soy sauce at the grocery store 🙂

  45. Dani

    5 stars Came out just like the picture, so easy! Crockpots truly are a godsend! I bought some minute rice (quinoa + brown rice) bowls and I plan on topping that with the chicken. Thanks so much for an easy meal, I’ll be making this again!
    Reply

  46. Dover5

    This sauce did not taste like the typical sesame chicken sauce that we get at restaurants. It wasn’t sweet like the restaurant sauce. Is there another variation in the sauce that would be sweet?
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Just add more honey or brown sugar. I wanted this to be healthy, so I kept the sugar to a bare minimum 🙂

  48. Elyse

    I can’t figure out what I did wrong. The sauce never thickened up and definitely didn’t look like a glaze like in the photos.
    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Hi Elyse! A few things…too much liquid, not enough cornstarch, was your cornstarch fresh, your crockpot may not run as hot as mine. Was your lid on? Those would be my initial thoughts 🙂

    • Elyse

      I may need to add more cornstarch, but it wasn’t definitely fresh! Lid on and on the highest setting. Will have to try again! The sauce tasted good, but it wasn’t glazed or thick! I’ll have to give it another try 🙂

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Definitely! You might just need more time in your crockpot 🙂 A lot of crockpots vary in temperature!

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Totally fine! 🙂 With the lid on, you don’t lose much moisture. 🙂 I hope you love it!

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Hi Diane! Probably at the beginning, but not totally sure, because I haven’t tested it 🙂 You could also cook them separately!

  54. Debbie

    Can you please confirm step #10? You say to cook it for 30 minutes more on high if it was cooked on high before and 1 hour on high if it was cooked on low before. On that last part, do you mean 1 hour on “low” if cooked on low before or is “high” correct?
    Reply

  55. Peggy

    I have been using a slow cooker for over 40 years. I actually used the same slow cooker I bought in 1973 for $19.99 until last year! They don’t make ’em like they used to! I am going to try this in my new slow cooker, it looks delicious!
    Reply
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