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Sesame-Orange Chicken

Sesame-Orange Chicken

Here's a fun way to add a lot of flavor to breaded chicken breasts - cover them with orange marmalade, sesame oil, soy sauce and honey, and coat them with toasted sesame seeds. With all the jamming I do, we are practically swimming in marmalade this time of year. Who says marmalade is just for buttered toast? It makes an easy and delicious coating for chicken too.

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Sesame-Orange Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

4 small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 to 7 oz. each)
1 navel orange
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup honey
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp grapeseed oil or peanut oil
1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1 teaspoon red chili sauce
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 cups breadcrumbs
3 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 cup sesame seeds

Method

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1 Heat a small skillet on medium high heat. Add the sesame seeds. Toast sesame seeds until fragrant and lightly browned. Do not turn your back on the seeds while cooking, they can easily and quickly burn. Stir often to keep them from burning. You may hear them pop, and some of them may hop out of the pan while cooking. When lightly browned remove from heat and set aside.

2 Mix melted butter in with the bread crumbs. Heat a large skillet on a medium high, add the bread crumbs, stir often until the bread crumbs get toasty brown. Remove from heat, let cool.

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3 Heat the oven to 450°F. Line a roasting pan with foil. Put a flat baking rack on the lined roasting pan.

4 Use a meat pounder to lightly pound the chicken breasts between two pieces of wax paper to even out the thickness of the breasts.

5 Use a microplane grater to grate the zest from the orange. Place the zest in a large bowl. Cut 4 thin round slices from the center of the orange to use with this recipe. Save the rest of the orange for snacking.

6 Add to the large bowl with the zest, the marmalade, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, peanut oil, chili sauce and salt. Mix well. Add the chicken to the sauce, coating every piece. You can at this point make ahead by 24 hours and let the chicken marinate, or you can go ahead with the recipe.

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7 In a large, shallow dish, mix together the toasted sesame seeds and bread crumbs. Working with the chicken one piece at a time, dredge the chicken in the coating, pressing down on the crumbs to make sure they adhere well. Transfer to the backing rack on the lined roasting pan. Dip the orange slices in the leftover marmalade mix and set on the rack.

8 Cook at 450°F until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165°F, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately, topped with the orange slices.

Serves 4.

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Comments

I've never had breaded chicken done this way but it looks and sounds great. I can't wait to try it.

By the way, i tried the Panko-crusted salmon the other night. It was delish!

Thank you so much for this great site and invaluable recipes!

Posted by: thecoffeesnob on March 12, 2007 1:23 AM

This sounds really good. Can you describe exactly what you mean by "red chili sauce"? Thanks.

Posted by: Arcey on March 12, 2007 1:42 AM

Your orange and sesame seeds go nicely together. Looks delicious on the blue plate.

Posted by: Susan from Food Blogga on March 12, 2007 5:11 AM

Can it be? A tasty-looking baked chicken breast recipe! I've been hunting for a non-fried breaded chicken breast recipe (bathing suit season is coming soon). I'll try this tonight!

Posted by: missb on March 12, 2007 5:26 AM

I'am mad about sweet meat and about all sweet sauces to meat (orange or mango sauces) and like always after your posts, I'am going to buy some chicken breats and to try this recipe. Thank you Elise.

Posted by: home cook on March 12, 2007 5:53 AM

Pre-toasting the sesame seeds/bread crumbs for that crunch without frying.....the sweetness of the marmalde/honey marinade.....

Yeah...I'm diggin' this. And I'm thinking my kids will too. Brilliant!

Posted by: jonathan on March 12, 2007 6:20 AM

Just posted about sesame seeds yesterday, too -- this recipe looks absolutely luscious. I love sweet (but not too sweet) and chicken.

Posted by: lydia on March 12, 2007 6:42 AM

You probably know that. In Austria they serve the [famous] Wiener Schnitzel with Lingonberry jam. What I like about your recipe is that it is baked! Love it.
Love your blog.

Posted by: Oscar on March 12, 2007 8:16 AM

This looks lovely! Question though, I always chill my recently breaded item unless I'm using panko to help it stick better, I'm guessing that's not a problem here and that everything is still crispy? Also, would you consider using panko?

I'm always looking for great chicken marinades that I can set up in the morning before work and just pop in the oven when I get home from the gym, so I may try the marinade without the breadcrumbs as well. Yum1

Posted by: Nic on March 12, 2007 9:38 AM

Oooooh, yeah! Any time you put citrus and chicken together it's a good thing. Great photos too!

Nice meeting you yesterday......stop on by the ranch sometime.
D

Posted by: D-man on March 12, 2007 9:48 AM

I think sesame and orange go together classically, but to balance the sweet and bitter flavours of sesame and marmalade and the pungency of chilli the sourness of ginger is just perfect.

Posted by: Trig on March 12, 2007 3:58 PM

Wao, It`s wonderful recipe. look very delicious too. I cook in Japanese type like nudoole(Raamen)and Susi. tyhank you for your sharing.

ama

Posted by: ama on March 13, 2007 2:24 AM

I like this idea of toasting the breadcrumbs, with butter and sesame seeds and then baking it with no other deep frying. Great idea!!

Posted by: Monika on March 13, 2007 5:57 AM

My favortie marinade has orange marmalade in it...you use 1/4 C oil, 2T Marmalade, 2T Soy Sauce, 2T Dijon Mustard...Whisk together, use for roasting chicken or turkey (makes amazing gravy!), or for pork loin...SO yummy!

Posted by: Deanna (domestic chicky) on March 13, 2007 10:08 AM

I just made this tonight. Since I didn't have any other plain breadcrumbs on hand, I used panko. I also used crushed red pepper in place of the chili sauce. It seemed to work, because the marinade was fantastic. I actually ended up cooking it down a little and using it as a sauce for steamed broccoli. Thanks for the recipe! Definitely a keeper.

Posted by: Rose on March 13, 2007 4:50 PM

After looking at this recipe for days, I purchased all the ingredients and made it last night. It was very good. My DH said "I stuck my foot in it!" Question- What else can I use grapeseed and sesame oil in?

Thanks again for a wonderful site full of inspiration.

Posted by: Tammy on March 16, 2007 9:22 AM

Do you use hulled or natural sesame seeds? Can't tell from the photos. Thanks.

Posted by: AJ on March 16, 2007 11:08 AM

This recipe caught my eye the day it ran and I knew I had to make it. I did yesterday and it turned out great. My only comment is that I had enough marinade and breading to easily handle the whole family pack of 7 rather large breast halves, so I cooked them all. It's not a problem as I expect the left overs will be great sliced on a salad tonight and as sandwiches tomorrow.

Thanks for the great site.

Posted by: Dan on March 19, 2007 7:24 AM

I made this recipe tonight. It turned out nicely, the sesame and orange flavors were terrific. The only thing that could be better.. I thought the dish could use an orange sauce to finish it before serving.

Posted by: Chris T on October 8, 2007 6:01 PM

What about adding cardamon to the marinade?

Why not? Let us know how it turns out if you try it. ~Elise

Posted by: crystalia on October 29, 2008 5:35 PM

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