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    Home ยป Diet ยป 30 Min Meals ยป Healthy Sesame Chicken (Paleo & Low Carb)

    Healthy Sesame Chicken (Paleo & Low Carb)

    Published: Jan 15, 2020 ยท Modified: Jan 25, 2022 by Monica Stevens Le ยท 8 Comments

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    close up of sesame chicken garnished with sesame seeds
    healthy sesame chicken in a white bowl with a silver spoon inside
    healthy sesame chicken in a white ceramic bowl

    This healthy sesame chicken recipe is made in just one pan and filled with incredible umami, flavor, and overall deliciousness. It's made with succulent chicken thighs, perfect for meal planning, and it's completely gluten free, paleo, and low carb.

    sesame chicken on a plate with cauliflower rice and green onions on the side

    What's inside of this recipe?

    There is just a short list of items you'll need to make this recipe. The sauce comes together very quickly and is the star of the dish.

    I do recommend using fresh ginger, but you can absolutely use already crushed ginger from a jar. That will save you some time in the prep department.

    Here's what you will need:

    • Chicken thighs
    • Avocado oil
    • Seasonings & salt/pepper
    • Garlic
    • Ginger
    • Sesame oil
    • Arrowroot flour
    • Tomato paste
    • Coconut sugar
    • Rice vinegar
    • Sesame seeds
    • Red chili pepper flakes
    sesame chicken in a large stainless steel frying pan

    Why is healthy sesame chicken so delicious?

    This recipe is prepped so quickly and takes very little time to cook, too. It's one of my new favorite, and it will be made on repeat in our kitchen from now on.

    • The flavors are reminiscent of your favorite Chinese takeout menu item!
    • The whole dish can be made and prepped in under 30 minutes.
    • It's full of flavor and plenty of umami without any junk or fillers being added.
    • The dish can be served with your favorite rice or cauliflower rice.
    • It is gluten free, dairy free, paleo, and low carb.
    sesame chicken in a bowl with a spoon inside and sesame seeds on top

    I've recently been making a ton of Asian-inspired dishes that are filled with fragrant aromatics, i.e. ginger and garlic.

    They make any dish more flavorful and just better all around. I think that's the key to most Asian dishes actually.

    Nothing beats umami-packed flavor and a powerful punch that is given to you via a delicious sauce. This dish has both, so you are going to absolutely love it.

    Can I prep anything ahead of time?

    You can combine the sauce ingredients and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight.

    You can also cut up the chicken into cubes, which takes up the majority of your prep time. That'll save you time once you are ready to cook as well!

    sesame chicken with a spoon inside a bowl and rice on the side

    If you are looking for a Whole30 rendition of healthy sesame chicken, I'd recommend checking out this Chinese Sesame Chicken recipe

    Chih-Yu really knows what she is doing with Asian, paleo recipes, and this one in particular looks delicious! ๐Ÿ™‚

    What can I serve this sesame chicken with?

    If you are wanting to keep this recipe paleo, absolutely serve it alongside or on top of cauliflower rice.

    If not, here are some other ideas:

    • White rice or brown rice
    • Quinoa
    • Rice noodles
    • Vegetable noodles, i.e. zucchini
    • Mashed potatoes (believe it or not!)

    How long will it keep in the refrigerator?

    You can store it for up to 5-7 days in an airtight container. I recommend storing it separate from the rice.

    Can I use another cut of chicken?

    Feel free to use breast, but it won't be as succulent or juicy. Stick to thighs if possible!

    close up of healthy sesame chicken with sesame seeds

    How to make healthy sesame chicken

    Heat a large sauté over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons of avocado oil and let it heat up for 1 minute. Meanwhile, prepare the chicken.

    Combine cubed chicken thighs with salt, pepper, ginger, arrowroot, and 1 tablespoon of oil. I like to lay it flat on a cutting board and sprinkle the oil first and mix. Then I evenly distribute the powders and seasonings and mix well to evenly combine.

    Add chicken in an even layer to the sauté pan and cook for 5-6 minutes, flipping when it is golden brown. I like to cook in 2 batches, making sure I do not overcrowd the pan so chicken can crisp up. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate.

    Prepare the sauce: mix the coconut aminos, coconut sugar, tomato paste, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and ginger together in a bowl until well combined. Set aside. Make the arrowroot slurry by combing the arrowroot flour and water together in a small bowl. Set aside.

    Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of sesame oil to the pan along with red chili pepper flakes and garlic. Cook for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pan frequently and stirring. Pour in 1/2 of the sauce to the pan and continue cooking for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pan frequently.

    Add the chicken back into the pan and toss to combine. Add the remainder of the sauce into the pan. Slowly drizzle in the arrowroot slurry and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

    Serve with cooked cauliflower rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

    healthy sesame chicken on a plate with cauliflower rice

    More healthy and paleo chicken recipes you'll love:

    One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken

    Easy Paleo Cashew Chicken

    Instant Pot Paleo Chicken Tikka Masala

    Paleo Chicken Salad Wraps with Sun Dried Tomatoes

    One Pan Honey Balsamic Chicken

    sesame chicken in a bowl with a spoon inside and sesame seeds on top

    Healthy Sesame Chicken (Paleo & Low Carb)

    This healthy sesame chicken recipe is made in just one pan and filled with incredible umami, flavor, and overall deliciousness. It's made with succulent chicken thighs, perfect for meal planning, and it's completely gluten free, paleo, and low carb. 
    5 from 13 votes
    Tried this recipe?Mention @themovementmenu or tag #movementmenu!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Servings 6
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Keyword: Healthy Sesame Chicken, Low Carb Sesame Chicken, Paleo Sesame Chicken
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 345kcal
    Author: Monica Stevens Le

    Ingredients

    Chicken

    • 3 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 1 1/2 pounds boneless & skinless chicken thighs cut into 1" cubes or chunks
    • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
    • 1 teaspoon arrowroot flour
    • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
    • 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic cloves about 6-8 cloves

    Sauce

    • 1/2 cup coconut aminos
    • 5 tablespoons coconut sugar
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 3 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
    • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
    • 1 tablespoon arrowroot flour
    • 2 tablespoons filtered water

    Instructions

    • Heat a large sauté over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons of avocado oil and let it heat up for 1 minute. Meanwhile, prepare the chicken.
    • Combine cubed chicken thighs with salt, pepper, ginger, arrowroot, and 1 tablespoon of oil. I like to lay it flat on a cutting board and sprinkle the oil first and mix. Then I evenly distribute the powders and seasonings and mix well to evenly combine. Add chicken in an even layer to the sauté pan and cook for 5-6 minutes, flipping when it is golden brown. I like to cook in 2 batches, making sure I do not overcrowd the pan so chicken can crisp up. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate.
    • Prepare the sauce by mixing the coconut aminos, coconut sugar, tomato paste, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and ginger together in a bowl until well combined. Set aside. Make the arrowroot slurry by combing the arrowroot flour and water together in a small bowl. Set aside.
    • Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of sesame oil to the pan along with red chili pepper flakes and garlic. Cook for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pan frequently and stirring. Add 1/2 of the sauce to the pan and continue cooking for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pan frequently.
    • Add the chicken back into the pan and toss to combine. Add the remainder of the sauce into the pan. Slowly drizzle in the arrowroot slurry and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
    • Serve with cooked cauliflower rice and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

    Notes

    • You can use chicken breast in place of thighs, but the chicken will not turn out as juicy and succulent.
    • You can store it for up to 5-7 days in an airtight container. I recommend storing it separate from the rice.
    • Serve with cauliflower rice, regular white/brown rice or your favorite rice noodles or veggie noodles.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 1374mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Calcium: 34mg
    Monica Stevens Le
    Monica Stevens Le

    Hi! I’m Monica – recipe developer, matcha addict and lover of all things chocolate, kombucha and any & all puns. I am also the blogger, real food lover, & bonafide hustler behind the blog ‘The Movement Menu.’ I’m so excited to welcome you to my happy space, where my appreciation of creative recipes and healthy & mindful eats come together to inspire you to live a healthy, balanced life.

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    Comments

    1. Christene says

      January 16, 2023 at 7:01 pm

      As always delicious!! So easy to assemble and cook! So much flavor! Thankyou for great easy recipes!!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Debra Balka says

      November 11, 2020 at 9:58 pm

      Wow! I loved this recipe! It was really excellent and Iโ€™d definitely make it again. I didnโ€™t have coconut aminos or any toasted sesame oil. I used a combination of balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and some onion powder in lieu of it (I googled substitute for coconut aminos and couldnโ€™t decide which one to go with lol). I subbed some tahini and regular sesame oil for the toasted sesame oil. Whatever I did worked great. Served on rice next to thick organic roasted asparagus. Yummmm! Thank you!5 stars

      Reply
      • Monica Stevens Le says

        November 12, 2020 at 10:19 am

        Wow, I love that all of these subs worked- how fabulous. So happy you enjoyed it, and cannot wait to hear about what you make next!

        Reply
    3. Sarah says

      June 02, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      Where do I add the garlic? Maybe there a typo where it says to add ginger with the red pepper flakes?

      Reply
    4. Emalee says

      February 04, 2020 at 9:16 pm

      So easy and the flavors were AMAZING! Iโ€™ll be making this again for sure!5 stars

      Reply
    5. Nicole says

      January 17, 2020 at 5:12 pm

      Made this tonight for my family and they loved it. We love Chinese. It was a bit hit. Thanks for sharing the recipe. So glad there are alternatives for the food we love to eat.5 stars

      Reply
      • Monica Stevens Le says

        January 20, 2020 at 10:29 am

        That makes me SO, so happy. You'll have to try the beef and broccoli next ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. Anna Stavrou says

      January 16, 2020 at 8:38 pm

      This was absolutely amazing! Perfect sauce with juicy and tender chicken. Added broccoli, and it was fantastic. Been so long since Iโ€™ve had a gluten free (let alone grain free) take-out fake-out this good!5 stars

      Reply

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    Monica

    Hi! Iโ€™m Monica!

    I am a recipe developer, matcha addict and lover of all things delicious, green and any & all puns. I am also the blogger, real food cook, & bonafide hustler behind the scenes. Read Moreโ€ฆ

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