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Skillet Sesame Chicken & Broccoli is your new favorite weeknight dinner! With sweet and savory flavors in every bite, this easy stir-fry comes together in just 30 minutes.
A Reader’s Review
Very good. Quick and easy. I add hot pepper flakes to give it some heat.
– Barb
A Total Weeknight Hero
- Impossible to Resist: That sesame glaze is seriously irresistible and the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
- Dinner in a Hurry: Quick enough for weeknights, delicious enough for weekends. This sesame chicken & broccoli can be on your table in a flash!
- One-Pan Wonder: Less mess, more flavor—everything cooks up in a single skillet. We love it served over fluffy white rice to soak up all the delicious sauce!
Sesame Chicken & Broccoli Ingredients
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken thighs work too—just cut all the chicken into pieces that are the same size so they cook evenly.
- Chicken Substitute: Use firm tofu in place of chicken. Cut it into cubes and prepare it the same as you would the chicken.
- Soy Sauce: You can use low sodium soy sauce or regular for this recipe.
- Broth Swap: You can use water or vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.
- Do you like it Spicy? If you want extra heat, add grated or ground ginger to the sauce! One of my readers said that they love to toss in a pinch of red pepper flakes for some added spice!
How to Make Sesame Chicken & Broccoli
This skillet sesame chicken & broccoli is fast and flavorful. Here’s how to bring it all together in no time!
- Cook Broccoli: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, then carefully place the broccoli in the water. Cook for 2-3 minutes. It should be bright green, slightly softened but still crisp. Drain the broccoli and then set aside.
- Coat Chicken: Add the chicken, cornstarch, salt, and pepper to a ziplock bag, then seal and shake to coat the chicken well.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, cornstarch, and garlic paste, then set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the coated chicken to the skillet. Cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring frequently to evenly brown the chicken pieces.
- Add Broccoli: Add the broccoli to the skillet with the chicken and then continue to cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently to cook evenly.
- Add Sauce, Thicken, & Serve: Pour in the sauce, then continue cooking and stirring until it thickens and coats the chicken and broccoli. Remove from heat, then garnish with additional sesame seeds, and serve sesame chicken & broccoli over rice!
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
This is a meal prep dream. It’s easy, delicious, and perfect for keeping lunch simple and protein packed all week.
- In the Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- In the Freezer: Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store in individual portions to make reheating easy!
- To Reheat: Warm in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce. You can also rewarm in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between until it becomes hot.
More Easy Stir-Fry Skillets
If you loved this one, here are a few more easy stir-fry dishes to try next! These are some that I make all the time, and my family requests them on repeat!
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Skillet Sesame Chicken and Broccoli
Quick, flavorful, and made in one skillet, this sesame chicken and broccoli is better than takeout and gets dinner on the table fast.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 chopped boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 ½ inch pieces
- 4 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups broccoli florets, steamed until tender
Sauce
- 6 tablespoons honey
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine 4 chopped boneless skinless chicken breasts and 4 tablespoons corn starch in a large resealable bag and shake to coat.
- Whisk together 6 tablespoons honey, 4 tablespoons ketchup, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder and set aside.
- Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large skillet, then add the coated chicken. Cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until browned.
- Add 2 cups broccoli florets, and pour the sauce over the top. Continue to stir over medium heat for 4-5 minutes longer until chicken is cooked through.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water . Pour the cornstarch mixture into the pan and stir until the sauce thickens. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve.
Notes
Updated April 15, 2025
Nutrition
Calories: 421kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 27gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 1041mgPotassium: 663mgFiber: 2gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 394IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
I’ve made about four of your recipes and can honestly say they came out delicious. By the way, I hate to cook. Thank you for the simplicity.
Very good. Quick and easy. I add Hot pepper flakes to give it some heat.
What would you serve this with? Rice? Potatoes? Stuffing?
I tried making this last night. The sauce is way, way too sweet. It really lacks balance and finesse. I wanted to like it and had all the ingredients at home… it just was kind of disgusting to be honest.
hey girl I would so love this! Yummy!
I just made this. Good, but a little too sweet for me. I would cut back on the sugar next time. I had a hard time finishing, it was so sweet. Maybe should be called honey chicken with Sesame Seeds.