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Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli

Featured in: Tasty Evening Meals

This healthier takeout-style dish features lightly breaded chicken and steamed broccoli tossed in a homemade honey sesame sauce with ginger and garlic.

Tags: #quick-recipes #chicken #rice

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Clare Greco
Updated on Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:56:56 GMT
Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli
Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli | recipesbyclare.com
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Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli combines golden chicken pieces, six cups of tender-crisp broccoli, and a glossy soy-honey sauce. Ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil keep the sweetness balanced while cornstarch gives the sauce its quick skillet finish.

This recipe makes 4 portions in 30 minutes, divided evenly between 15 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. Steam the broccoli first, then cook the chicken and sauce in one skillet.

Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli Ingredients

Chicken breast, broccoli, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, cornstarch, flour, green onions, and olive oil
Chicken breast, broccoli, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, cornstarch, flour, green onions, and olive oil | Recipes by Clare
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For the sauce, measure ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons water, 1½ tablespoons sesame oil, 3 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 grated or minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, and 2 teaspoons cornstarch.

For the chicken and vegetables, use 1 to 1½ pounds chicken breast cut into 1-to-2-inch pieces, 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot, 2 tablespoons flour, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 6 cups broccoli florets from about 2 crowns, 2 whole green onions diced, and 1 teaspoon salt for steaming.

If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like pizza-pasta-bake.

How to Make Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli

Four stages showing broccoli steamed, chicken coated, chicken browned, and honey sesame sauce folded with broccoli
Four stages showing broccoli steamed, chicken coated, chicken browned, and honey sesame sauce folded with broccoli | Recipes by Clare
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  1. Bring 2 to 3 inches of water and 1 teaspoon salt to a simmer. Add broccoli, cover, reduce heat, and steam 6 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  2. Whisk every sauce ingredient until the cornstarch dissolves.
  3. Seal chicken with 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot, flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper in a bag; shake to coat.
  4. Heat olive oil over medium. Add chicken in one layer, cook undisturbed 2 to 3 minutes, flip, and finish until golden with no pink inside.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low, add sauce, and stir 1 to 2 minutes until thick.
  6. Fold in broccoli and diced green onions, then serve.

For food-safety guidance while cooking, use the USDA safe minimum temperature chart.

Cut and Steam the Broccoli

Whisk the Sauce Before Heating the Skillet

Coat the Chicken Evenly

Brown Without Moving for Two to Three Minutes

Thicken the Sauce on Medium-Low

Fold In Broccoli and Green Onions

Honey sesame chicken with bright broccoli and green onion
Honey sesame chicken with bright broccoli and green onion | recipesbyclare.com
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Divide Into Four Balanced Portions

Useful Doneness Cues

Storage and Reheating

Conclusion

Steam 6 cups broccoli in 2 to 3 inches of salted simmering water, covered on low for 6 minutes, then drain and cold-rinse. Whisk the sauce. Coat chicken with starch, flour, salt, and pepper; brown in olive oil over medium, starting with 2 to 3 undisturbed minutes. Add sauce on medium-low for 1 to 2 minutes, then fold in broccoli and 2 green onions.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How long should the broccoli steam?

Steam it covered over low heat for 6 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water.

→ Can arrowroot replace the chicken-coating cornstarch?

Yes. Use 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot in the chicken coating.

→ How long does the sauce take to thicken?

Cook it with the chicken over medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes.

→ How many portions does the recipe make?

The recipe makes 4 portions.

4.50 from 156 votes

Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli

Preparation Time:
15 Minutes
Cook Time:
15 Minutes
Total Cooking Time:
30 Minutes
Number of Servings:
4
Honey Sesame Chicken and Broccoli
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Crispy chicken and tender broccoli coated in a sweet and savory honey sesame sauce, ready in 30 minutes.

Ingredients You'll Need

  • Honey Sesame Sauce

  • Chicken and Vegetables

How to Make It

1.

1. Steam the Broccoli: Fill a large pot with 2-3 inches of water and add the broccoli florets with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cover and bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and steam for 6 minutes until the broccoli is tender-crisp. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process - this keeps it bright green and perfectly tender.

2.

2. Make the Honey Sesame Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, sesame oil, honey, rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, cornstarch, and sesame seeds until smooth. This sauce is going to be absolutely delicious - the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and nutty!

3.

3. Coat the Chicken: Place the chicken pieces in a large plastic bag. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper. Add this mixture to the bag with the chicken, seal it up, and shake until every piece is evenly coated. This light coating will give you the perfect golden crust.

4.

4. Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken pieces in a single layer - don't overcrowd! Let them cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until golden, then flip and cook until all sides are golden brown and the chicken is cooked through with no pink in the center.

5.

5. Add the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low and pour the prepared sauce over the golden chicken. Toss to coat and let the sauce simmer until it thickens beautifully - this should take just a minute or two. The aroma will be incredible!

6.

6. Combine and Serve: If your skillet is large enough, gently fold the steamed broccoli into the saucy chicken. If not, transfer everything to a large serving bowl and toss together. Sprinkle with diced green onions and serve immediately while hot. Every bite is pure comfort food perfection!

Extra Information

  1. For Whole30 compliance, substitute coconut aminos for soy sauce and arrowroot for cornstarch
  2. Don't overcrowd the chicken in the pan - cook in batches if needed for even browning
  3. Rinsing steamed broccoli with cold water stops the cooking and preserves the bright color
  4. The cornstarch in the sauce will thicken it to the perfect consistency

Essential Tools

  • Large pot with lid
  • 12-inch cast iron skillet
  • Colander strainer
  • Mixing bowls
  • Large plastic bag
  • Whisk

Allergy Warnings

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains soy (soy sauce)
  • Contains gluten (all-purpose flour)
  • Contains sesame (sesame oil, sesame seeds)

Nutrition Details (Per Portion)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 443
  • Total Fat: 17 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 30 g
  • Protein: 40 g