When it comes to comfort food, sesame chicken ranks pretty high up there. It’s sweet and tangy with that satisfying crunch from the crispy edges of the chicken and toasted sesame seeds. Like most comfort foods, your average sesame chicken recipe isn’t always allergy-friendly. This sesame chicken recipe is gluten-free and just as good as your go-to Chinese restaurant, made with some of our favorite clean ingredient swaps.

Gluten-Free Sesame Chicken

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Total Time: 35-40 minutes
Serves: 5-6 people
Category: Main Course

Ingredients

Sauce:

• 2/3 cup warm water 

• 4 Medjool dates, pitted

• 1/4 cup coconut aminos

• 3.5 Tbsp rice vinegar

• 2 tsp arrowroot starch 

• 2 Tbsp sesame oil

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Chicken:

• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1" pieces

• 1 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 1/2 tsp onion powder

• 1 Tbsp paprika

• 1 Tbsp sesame oil

• 1 cup arrowroot starch

• 1 cup Cassava flour (e.g., Otto’s Cassava Flour)

• 2 eggs, whisked

• Avocado oil for frying

Garnish:

• 2 Tbsps toasted sesame seeds for garnish

• Thinly sliced scallions for garnish

Directions

In a high speed blender, blend all the sauce ingredients until a smooth mixture forms, scraping down the sides to incorporate all of the dates.

Transfer the sauce to a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk and heat for 2-3 minutes to a boil, then lower the heat to med-low to simmer. Simmer for another 3-4 minutes until the mixture thickens and reduces. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Place the arrowroot in a shallow bowl. Whisk the eggs in a separate shallow bowl and place the cassava flour in a third shallow bowl. Add salt, pepper, and paprika to cassava flour and give it a good mix.

Drizzle chicken with sesame oil and sprinkle with onion powder.

Coat chicken pieces in arrowroot starch, shaking off excess, then coat in whisked egg, and finally coat with the cassava flour mix.

Heat about 1/2 cup of avocado oil in a large deep non-stick skillet. Once sizzling hot, working in batches, cook the chicken pieces. You’ll want to shallow fry the chicken for about 3 minutes until crisp and golden on both sides.

Place cooked chicken on a plate (lined with a paper towel to absorb excess oil) and repeat the process for the remaining chicken. Adjust temperature if needed. You may need to add more oil as you go.

Gently reheat the sesame sauce and toss it with the chicken. Before serving, sprinkle all over with sesame seeds and green onion. Serve with your favorite rice and veggies and enjoy!