Asian-inspired marinade with sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce does the heavy lifting in this delicious Sesame Chicken, while grilling enhances the flavor.
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Quick Summary:
Feeds: Makes 16 servings - great for planned leftovers
Taste: Rich sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger combine for a distinctly Asian flavor
Effort: Very low effort
Time: 5 minutes prep, 15-20 minutes cook, marinate as long as you prefer
Make ahead: Great for prepping ahead
The marinade is perfect for marinating vegetables as well, so this is an easy way to prep chicken and vegetables with the same marinade (marinate separately) and grill them all together. Be sure to also try my Grilled Beef Kabobs, which also has a soy garlic marinade that can be used for veggies.
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What you need to make Grilled Sesame Chicken
In addition to the chicken, you will also need the following for the marinade:
- Soy sauce
- Garlic
- Vegetable oil
- Rice wine vinegar
- White wine vinegar
- Dry mustard
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Ground ginger - you can use fresh grated ginger if you have it on hand
- Black pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Grilled Sesame Chicken
Combine the marinade ingredients and mix well. Pour the marinade over the chicken in a container or baggie and seal.
The chicken can be frozen in the marinade for up to six months. Freeze the extra marinade for basting separately.
Grill sesame chicken for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
You can also use the marinade with vegetables to grill with the chicken for an easy meal. Here I've used red and orange bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and onions. Grill on skewers for easier turning.
✨ Pro Tip ✨
An instant read meat thermometer is a must-have for perfectly cooked chicken. My go-to is the Thermopop by Thermoworks. It has revolutionized my cooking-I use it for everything from frying oil temps to the internal temp of meats, casseroles, and soups.
Storage and freezing
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To freeze, store in an airtight freezer container for up to 6 months. You can freeze before or after grilling. This is a great recipe for prepping chicken to use for skillet meals, salads, soups, and casseroles
Recipe
Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup light olive oil
- ¼ cup white cooking wine
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 4 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted
Instructions
- Place 4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts in large bowl. If desired, cut the breasts into smaller portions first.
- Mince 3 teaspoons garlic.
- Mix ½ cup light olive oil, ¼ cup white cooking wine, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, ½ cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, ½ teaspoon pepper, 3 teaspoons garlic, and 4 teaspoons sesame seeds together in a small bowl. Reserve ½ cup marinade for basting.
- Pour remaining marinade into bowl with chicken. Cover and marinate several hours or overnight in refrigerator. Remove chicken from bowl; discard marinade.
- Grill chicken over medium heat, about 25-30 minutes or until juices run clear or a meat thermometer reads 165ºF, turning frequently and basting with reserved marinade.
Notes
- This recipe makes enough to save half of the cooked chicken for another meal (if using it this week, refrigerate; if not, freeze). You can also freeze the raw chicken in the marinade to grill later.
- If you don't want to grill the chicken, it can be baked at 350°F until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- You can buy pre-toasted sesame seeds at Asian markets or you can lightly toast your own.
Nutrition per serving
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