Healthy Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken

Crockpot sesame chicken recipe is here! Sticky honey sweet chicken with a kick served on top of a bed of rice will be your favorite slow cooker meal.

Do you love honey sesame chicken at Panda Express? Well this Crockpot sesame chicken recipe has those same great flavors but without the heavy breading. One of our favorite easy crockpot recipes here on The Typical Mom blog. (originally published 10/19, affiliate links present)

NO breading means it's healthier, but just as yummy so you can have a few extra bites without the guilt! Served on top of white or brown rice, it is always a family favorite meal.

For a quicker version you can try air fryer sesame chicken, but sometimes slow and low is best.

Let's talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it's great for bringing to a potluck too.
If you just want to serve a few appetizers you should get this one that sit side by side one another.
I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

I make a lot of chicken recipes. It's kinda' my thing.

It can get boring though night after night unless you have a few amazing sauces you can throw together to jazz that baby up.

This seriously is the best honey Crockpot sesame chicken recipe you will ever try!

A bit similar to our Instant Pot spicy honey chicken, this sauce mixture is homemade and out of this world!

Since it's a slow cooker recipe it will take longer than 30 minutes to prep and cook though.

Crockpot sesame chicken

Chicken breasts

Soy sauce
1. gluten free soy sauce alternative here
1/4 cup Rice wine vinegar
Sesame oil
Honey
Brown sugar

Crushed red pepper flakes and sesame seeds are of course optional add ins.

Garlic powder
Corn starch to thicken the sauce when done
Instant Pot white rice recipe
1. brown rice could be served with it too

There really is very little prep that goes into this, which is why I love it.

What is sesame chicken made of?

Traditionally this dish involves chicken, usually thighs, that are de-boned, battered and deep-fried. We are skipping the last part here which makes it more of a healthy sesame chicken recipe.

It's dressed with a semi-thick sweet sauce made from cornstarch, vinegar, wine or sake, chicken broth and sugar, the last of which is a major contributor to sesame chicken's sweetness.

The main ingredients are the same and if you chose to use thighs that wouldn't be an issue here.

That is preference for sure. I swap out what I use with this as well as our Crockpot cheesy chicken and rice dish depending on what I have on hand really.

Sticky honey chicken in a slow cooker

This is where it's at when you're thinking of what to cook this week. I guarantee it will become a new family favorite in your home too.

Here are the basic steps to follow:

Dice chicken into bite size pieces and put into your slow cooker.
Whisk together all other ingredients other than your cornstarch and sesame seeds and pour that in too.
Cover and cook on low for about 3 hours until each piece is fall apart tender and smothered in sweetness.

Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and set aside. Cover to stay warm.

Pour liquid from Crock pot into a pan so it begins to boil.
In a small bowl I added the cornstarch and some water. Whisked them together until it was smooth, then poured it into the pot and stirred.
- this will thicken your sauce
- cooking time for this is just a few minutes, then remove from heat
Serve chicken over 1/2 cup to 1 cup of rice with steamed broccoli on the side and pour sauce on top.

Sprinkling sesame seeds on top with some chives is a nice added touch.

Is Chinese sesame chicken healthy?

Sesame chicken paired with rice can be a healthy meal. It is a good source of healthy carbohydrates and protein.

Since we eliminated the large amount of oil used to deep-fry the chicken it reduces the fat dramatically, but maintains the same great taste.

What to serve with Crockpot sesame chicken:

Vegetables
Rice or quinoa
Won tons
Soup

Want to make this even faster?? Try our Instant Pot sesame chicken recipe!

What is the healthiest Chinese food?

Kung Pao chicken – this spicy stir-fried dish of chicken, peanuts, a few vegetables and chili peppers is intense, so you'll likely eat less

Beef and Broccoli is always a winner with our family
Broth based soups like egg drop or miso soup
Shrimp dinner choices
Chop suey is something new
Our Instant Pot cashew chicken is a WIN too if you love Asian inspired meals.

Want something spicy? Try our Crockpot buffalo chicken sliders.

Ok let's jump to the recipe below and get to cookin' y'all!!

Crockpot Sesame Chciken

Crockpot sesame chicken recipe is here! Sticky honey sweet chicken with a kick served on top of a bed of rice will be your favorite slow cooker meal.

Servings 6

Calories 415 kcal

4 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
1 c soy sauce
1/4 c rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 c honey
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp garlic powder
3 tbsp cornstarch optional, to thicken sauce

Place chicken in crock pot. Combine remaining ingredients in a small mixing bowl and pour over chicken.
Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.
Use a slotted spoon to remove chicken from pot and set aside in a bowl. Pour liquid from pot into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil.
Whisk together 1/4 c cold water and cornstarch until cornstarch is dissolved and smooth.
As sauce is boiling, slowly stir in cornstarch mixture until sauce is thick.
Pour sauce over chicken. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped chives.
Serve over rice.

Nutrition Facts

Crockpot Sesame Chciken

Amount Per Serving (3 oz)

Calories 415 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 2g 13%

Cholesterol 96mg 32%

Sodium 2345mg 102%

Potassium 685mg 20%

Carbohydrates 48g 16%

Fiber 1g 4%

Sugar 42g 47%

Protein 36g 72%

Vitamin A 95IU 2%

Vitamin C 2mg 2%

Calcium 39mg 4%

Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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