Forget takeout and enjoy this delicious paleo & Whole30 sesame chicken at home with all the healthy ingredients. You can make it on the stovetop or the air fryer!
You all know I love me a really easy and quick recipe that’s healthy and perfect for weeknights. My work days are usually jam packed and spending a long time in the kitchen to make dinner is the last thing I want to to do at the end of the day.
Paleo & Whole30 Sesame Chicken Recipe
This paleo and Whole30 sesame chicken is one of those perfect recipes for those busy days that takes just 30 minutes to make and it tastes so much better than takeout! Chicken pieces are coated in tapioca starch and fried in either the air fryer or the stovetop to make them crispy and delicious.
These chicken pieces are then tossed in a delicious salty, sweet sauce that’s been reduced and thickened to cover the chicken in a sticky and shiny coat. It’s just perfection in a bite!
Making It Whole30-Friendly
If you’ve ever tried sesame chicken at a Chinese restaurant, the sauce is usually sweetened with honey, but to make this recipe Whole30-friendly, I substituted the honey with 2 medjool dates.
While this might not seem like a lot, the coconut aminos also brings out the sweet flavor, especially when it’s cooked down. You’ll be surprised by how much this Whole30 sesame chicken tastes so much like the real thing!
If you are not doing the Whole30, feel free to use about 2-3 tsp of honey instead! Either way, I think you’ll love this quick and easy recipe that’s so tasty with some cauliflower rice (or regular white rice) and your favorite veggies! I love serving this with some steamed broccoli and it’s just the perfect meal every time.
Paleo & Whole30 Sesame Chicken – Stovetop & Air Fryer Method
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp tapioca starch
- 1/4 cup avocado oil for stovetop method
- Toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish
Sauce
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 pitted medjool dates
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 inch fresh ginger
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients for the sauce in a blender, and let it sit while you cook the chicken so the dates can soften.
- Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with sea salt.
- Sprinkle with tapioca starch and toss together until evenly coated.
- STOVE TOP METHOD: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add chicken in a single layer (work in batches if necessary). Cook for 6-7 minutes while turning every few minutes, until cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- AIR FRYER METHOD: Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F. Add the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket (work in batches if necessary). Cook for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through. Set aside.
- Blend the soaked sauce ingredients until smooth.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add the sauce.
- Once the sauce starts bubbling, start stirring while simmering for about 3 minutes until reduced and thickened.
- Add the chicken to the sauce and stir to coat.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with toasted sesame seed and chopped green onions.
- Serve with cauliflower rice or your favorite side.
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This was a hit! So crispy and delicious, all the flavors melded wonderfully! Thanks!
Thank you for including the stovetop directions – we haven’t quite hopped on the air fryer train yet and I want to make these!
This chicken was so delicious!! Thank you for this recipe!! LOVE!
It DOES look perfect. I love how you describe the sauce and the coated chicken, yum! Making!
I made this for my family a couple of days ago. Everyone loved it, even my kids (who are tough critics)! The chicken turned out super tender and the sauce was to die for!
Oh my goodness, yum. Sesame chicken is one of my favorite Chinese take-outs from childhood. I haven’t had it in aaages. Can’t wait to try this version! It sounds so easy!
That sauce! Love everything about it. And this looks so easy! Can’t wait to try it.
I’m all about this chicken! So perfect for anyone even if they’re not following whole30!
I don’t have an air fryer so I’m glad you included stove top directions. Looks amazing. I’m ready to dive in.
This looks amazing! Need to make this ASAP!
So maybe I do need to get an air fryer, this looks so crispy and delicious and I love the idea of not having to actually fry things!
I loved the flavours in this dish! I made it on the stovetop and it turned out perfectly. Loved how quick it was to make!
This sounds awesome! I don’t have an air fryer, but stove top will work for me! My kids have really gotten into trying different Asian food, and we will be trying this for sure 🙂
I would not have thought to make something like this in an air-fryer, and love the idea. I love all of the healthy ingredients in this recipe!
That sauce looks amazing! Can’t wait to try this – I have my air fryer out, so I’ll be making this this week!
Yaaaaaaaas – a healthy version of american takeout! Can’t wait to try!
This was so good and easy to whip up! Definitely going to become a regular on our menu!
So glad you enjoyed it!!