4 Ways to Make Sesame Chicken Healthier | Livestrong.com (2024)

4 Ways to Make Sesame Chicken Healthier | Livestrong.com (1)

Lower the calories in sesame chicken by serving it with white rice or brown rice instead of fried rice.

Image Credit: Magrig/iStock/GettyImages

Sesame chicken is a common option in Chinese restaurants, and you can even make your own at home. Typically, it's served with sides like fried rice, which add to the fat and calories in sesame chicken.

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Sesame chicken isn't actually a traditional Chinese dish so much as it is a dish you'll find in American and Canadian Chinese restaurants. Unlike traditional Chinese stir-fry dishes, sesame chicken can be high in calories, carbs and sugar thanks to the breading and sauce.

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What's in Sesame Chicken?

To make sesame chicken, the chicken is typically marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil and salt before being deep-fried.

The chicken is then topped and served in a sauce made with honey, ketchup, ginger, garlic and sesame oil. Usually, you can order it with white or brown rice, but fried rice is another popular option.

The calories and nutritional value in this meal will vary based on exactly what's used in the recipe, but it's possible to enjoy the dish as a nutritious addition to your diet, especially if you prepare it at home.

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Sesame Chicken Nutrition

Restaurant sesame chicken will have varying nutrition information based on what ingredients are used and how it's made.

According to the USDA, an average serving of nine pieces of sesame chicken will give you:

  • ​Calories​:‌ 554
  • ​‌Total fat​:‌ 27 g
    • ​Saturated fat​:‌ 5 g
    • ​Trans fat​:‌ 0 g
  • ​Cholesterol​:‌ 112 mg
  • ​Sodium​:‌ 911 mg
  • ​Total carbs​:‌ 51 g
    • ​Dietary fiber​:‌ 1 g
    • ​Sugar​:‌ 30 g
  • ​Protein​:‌ 27 g

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Sesame Chicken Calories and Macros

A serving of nine pieces of sesame chicken has 554 calories. This is not including additions such as fried rice or white rice.

There are 27 grams of fat in sesame chicken, and 5 grams of that is saturated fat. That's 35 percent of your recommended daily value (DV) for fat and 23 percent of your DV for saturated fat.

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Sesame chicken is made with breading, which makes the dish high in carbs. You'll get about 51 grams of carbs per serving of sesame chicken, with only 1 gram of fiber, or 5 percent of your DV and a rather high 30 grams of sugar, which is 30 percent of your DV.

You will get a decent amount of protein from a serving of Sesame Chicken, 27 grams to be exact. That's about 54 percent of your DV for the muscle-building nutrient.

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Cholesterol and Sodium

Sesame chicken can be high in both cholesterol and sodium, which may be a concern for some people.

Having too much sodium in your diet is linked to heart health issues, and it's recommended that you limit sodium to a minimum of 2,300 milligrams per day (or closer to 1,500 milligrams) to keep your heart disease risk low, according to the American Heart Association.

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Sesame Chicken With Fried Rice

Eating sesame chicken with fried rice will add to the calories, fat and carbs in your meal. Making your own at home can help you control the nutrition in sesame chicken with fried rice, but ordering it from a restaurant means you don't know exactly what's in it.

According to the USDA, a 1-cup serving of Chinese Restaurant Fried Rice gives you an additional:

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  • ​Calories​:‌ 238
  • ​‌Total fat​:‌ 4 g
    • ​Saturated fat​:‌ 1 g
    • ​Trans fat​:‌ 0 g
  • ​Cholesterol​:‌ 25 mg
  • ​Sodium​:‌ 530 mg
  • ​Total carbs​:‌ 45 g
    • ​Dietary fiber​:‌ 2 g
    • ​Sugar​:‌ 1 g
  • ​Protein​:‌ 6 g

As you can see, adding fried rice to your sesame chicken meal will increase the calories by 238 bringing your total to 792 calories.

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The fat would increase to 31 grams and sodium to 1,441 milligrams, which is almost the full daily amount recommended by the American Heart Association.

You'll get more protein, too, upping the value to 33 grams in your meal.

How to Make Sesame Chicken Healthy

Sesame chicken paired with fried rice can be a nutritious meal if it's prepared with certain things in mind. It offers energy-supporting carbs and muscle-building protein.

1. Add Veggies

When vegetables such as peas and carrots are added to the meal it will provide fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Loading the dish with veggies like broccoli may also help bulk up the meal without adding a ton of extra calories and fat.

2. Don't Fry the Chicken

Usually, the oil used to deep-fry the chicken and prepare the sauce contributes a lot of fat to the dish. Roasting the chicken in the oven instead of frying it in oil will lower the total fat in your dish without compromising the protein.

3. Use Low-Sodium Sauce

The soy sauce used in the marinade and sauce is also high in sodium. Choose low-sodium soy sauce or swap it completely for coconut aminos.

4. Serve It With Another Type of Rice

If you typically eat sesame chicken with fried rice, swap the fried rice with white or brown rice instead, which will make the dish lighter and lower the calories and fat.

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4 Ways to Make Sesame Chicken Healthier | Livestrong.com (2024)

FAQs

How to prepare chicken in a healthy way? ›

Choosing healthy, lower heat cooking methods, including poaching, steaming, boiling, or roasting at moderate temperatures, may help minimize these risks while preserving the chicken's nutritional value. National Library of Medicine. Daily fried chicken serving linked to 13% higher risk of death.

Is sesame chicken healthy for you? ›

Healthy Sesame Chicken is a delicious, healthy dinner! Packed with protein, low in carbs, and gluten free – it's simple to make & better than takeout!

Is sesame sauce healthy? ›

Studies show sesamol, a natural chemical found in sesame seeds and sesame oil, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits. Other studies suggest it also has strong anti-cancer effects.

How is chicken healthier? ›

Chicken is high in health-promoting nutrients, including protein, several B vitamins, selenium, and choline. These compounds may benefit muscle growth, weight management, and brain health.

Why is sesame healthy? ›

They have antioxidant, cholesterol reduction, blood lipid regulation, liver and kidney protection, cardiovascular system protection, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and other effects, which have great benefits to human health. In addition, the aqueous extract of sesame has been shown to be safe for animals.

What is sesame chicken made of? ›

The dish involves chicken (usually thigh) pieces that are de-boned, battered and Chinese deep-fried, then dressed with a translucent, reddish-brown, semi-thick, somewhat sweet sauce made from corn starch, vinegar, wine or sake, chicken broth and sugar, the last of which is a major contributor to sesame chicken's ...

Does sesame chicken taste good? ›

Sesame chicken was one of the top dishes at my parents restaurant alongside other Chinese classics like General Tso's chicken, lemon chicken and orange chicken. It has a nutty sesame aroma, sticky sauce and crunchy chicken that all go together nicely.

How do you make chicken feel better? ›

Nursing a sick chicken back to health

Once indoors you will need to make sure your chicken has plenty of liquid. If really weak you may need to help her to drink. If she will eat, it is good to get her eating something. Mushy easy to swallow food is best, something like porridge or bread soaked in water for example.

What makes a good chicken? ›

Fresh chicken should have a pinkish color. Avoid cosmetic damages, such as bruising or tears in the skin, which can affect the chicken's quality and freshness. Chicken should also be plump; when you press against it, the meat should be somewhat resilient, resuming its shape after a few seconds.

How healthy is sesame chicken? ›

A serving of nine pieces of sesame chicken has 554 calories. This is not including additions such as fried rice or white rice. There are 27 grams of fat in sesame chicken, and 5 grams of that is saturated fat. That's 35 percent of your recommended daily value (DV) for fat and 23 percent of your DV for saturated fat.

Is sesame healthy fat? ›

Sesame seeds are a good source of healthy fats, protein, B vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and other beneficial plant compounds. Regularly eating substantial portions of these seeds — not just an occasional sprinkling on a burger bun — may aid blood sugar control, combat arthritis pain, and lower cholesterol.

Is sesame good for fat loss? ›

Turns out, sesame seeds also help burn belly fat and lose weight. These tiny powerhouses are high in nutrients including protein, fibre, iron, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.

Is it healthier to steam or bake chicken? ›

Steam Cooking with Meat and Poultry

In fact, Harvard Medical School recommends steaming as a cooking method for a healthy diet. Preparing meat at extremely high temperatures can increase disease risk due to the formation of compounds, but so can cooking for long periods using methods that cause nutrient loss.

What's the healthiest way to fry chicken? ›

Use Cooking Spray

One of the best ways to make fried chicken healthier is by eliminating cooking oils. Instead, use cooking spray, which has about 9 calories for every 1 second of spraying. Another perk to using cooking spray over cooking oil is that your kitchen will stay a lot cleaner!

What is the most efficient way to meal prep chicken? ›

FMC Tip: If you want to know how to meal prep chicken without it getting dry, the secret is cooking the chicken pieces whole. When you dice the chicken before cooking you lose a lot of the juices in the process. So keep the pieces whole until after the cooking and resting periods, then chop away!

How should chicken be properly prepared? ›

Simply cook the meat to a safe inner temperature of 165 F. For baking chicken, first, preheat the oven to 400-degrees. Lightly coat the breasts in olive oil with whatever herbs you like and then cook for about 20 to 25 minutes.

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