Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers 3 Ways

Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce hit the spot every single time, especially on a busy weeknight when you need something exciting but fast. It’s the kind of dinner that feels like takeout but comes together quicker right in your own kitchen. I’m Daniel, and when I started Reciqa, it was because I believe home cooking should be joyful, not stressful. I wanted a place to share simple, tasty dishes that bring people together over good food, whether it’s a weeknight meal or a weekend treat.

My goal here has always been to make sure you feel confident making anything I share. This recipe—the crunchy chicken paired with that zesty dipping sauce—is pure comfort food that proves you don’t need deep-frying to get that amazing texture. This introduction section sets the stage for everything we’re about to cook together.

Gathering What You Need for Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

To get those truly amazing results with our Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce, you need to start with good ingredients. Don’t skimp here, especially on the peanut butter—it makes a huge difference in the sauce texture later on! We’re keeping things straightforward, but quality counts when you’re aiming for that perfect crunch and vibrant sauce flavor.

We need about a pound and a half of chicken breasts or tenderloins. You’ll be slicing these into nice, manageable strips, so make sure they are trimmed up nicely. For the coating, we’re using Panko breadcrumbs—they are key for that superior crispiness—mixed right in with raw sesame seeds to give us that beautiful speckled look and nutty flavor.

Components for the Chicken and Coating of the Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

For the chicken itself, you’ll have your 1 1/2 pounds of chicken, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. The coating is simple but powerful: you’ll mix 1/2 cup of Panko breadcrumbs right into 1/2 cup of raw sesame seeds. Remember to keep that neutral oil handy—we need about 6 tablespoons of grapeseed or something similar for pan-frying.

Crafting the Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

This sauce is where the magic happens! You’ll start with 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter. And listen closely: please use regular creamy peanut butter, not the kind where the oil separates out. That natural stuff is grainy, trust me! You’ll also need 1/4 cup of hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil, and your heat source—either 1 tablespoon of sambal or 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Don’t forget the minced garlic, fresh cilantro, and warm water to thin it down just right.

Preparing Your Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce Experts

Getting those perfectly golden, ultra-crispy results for our Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce is all about taking a few simple steps seriously. We want maximum crunch, and that starts before the heat even turns on. First things first, if you have the time—and I always try to squeeze it in—letting that chicken sit out for about 45 minutes to come closer to room temperature helps it cook more evenly. Nobody wants a cold center!

When you trim the chicken breasts or tenderloins, take a moment to cut away any tough silver skin or excess fat. We want clean strips, about an inch thick, so they cook quickly and uniformly in the pan. This attention to trimming is what separates a good fried chicken strip from a great one.

Setting Up the Chicken and Breading Station

Once trimmed and sliced, set up your dredging station. In one shallow dish, mix those Panko breadcrumbs and sesame seeds until they’re buddies. In another, you’ll have your lightly seasoned chicken—and remember my note about salt and pepper? Sprinkle it gently from a bit higher up so you get an even, light coating, not just clumps of seasoning in one spot. Press each chicken strip firmly into the crumb-seed mix; you really need to press down to make sure that coating adheres well. If you skip pressing, those lovely sesame seeds will fall right off in the hot oil!

Achieving Perfect Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Now for the frying, which is the fun part! Heat about 3 tablespoons of your neutral oil in a good nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. You’re waiting for that oil to look shimmery and just start giving off the faintest wisp of smoke—that’s your sign it’s hot enough for the Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce to crisp up fast without getting greasy. Cook them in batches, don’t crowd that pan! Frying too much at once drops the oil temperature, and that leads to soggy chicken. We want about 3 minutes per side until they are gorgeously golden brown all over. Transfer them to paper towels immediately to drain off any extra oil. Wipe out the pan between batches if you see any burned sesame bits sticking—we want clean flavor!

Flavor Foundations: Making the Spicy Peanut Sauce

While the chicken is resting after frying, you absolutely have to whip up the dipping sauce. This is the star flavor that makes our Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce so addictive! It comes together in about five minutes, so it’s perfect for multitasking.

Start by putting your creamy peanut butter, hoisin sauce, and toasted sesame oil into a mixing bowl. Whisk those together first. It’s going to look super thick—like cement, honestly—so don’t panic! Now, slowly stream in about 4 tablespoons of warm water while you keep whisking. You need that warm water to help emulsify the peanut butter and make it smooth and glossy.

Keep adding water, just a splash at a time, until it reaches a perfect dipping consistency. It should coat the back of a spoon but still drip easily. Once you have that texture, whisk in your minced garlic, the cilantro, and your chosen heat—whether that’s the sambal or the red pepper flakes. Taste it! It should be salty, sweet, spicy, and nutty all at once. If it’s too thick, add one more teaspoon of water. That’s it; the sauce is ready to go!

Essential Equipment for Perfect Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

You don’t need a whole arsenal of fancy gear to make amazing Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce, but a few specific tools really make the process smooth. The most crucial piece is a good large nonstick skillet. I stress nonstick because those little sesame seeds love to cling and burn on stainless steel, which ruins the look of your beautiful coating!

You’ll also need a sturdy whisk for getting that peanut sauce nice and creamy without lumps. Have a few shallow dishes ready for your dredging station—one for the Panko/sesame mix and maybe one for just the seasoned chicken before it goes in. Finally, a plate lined with a couple of paper towels is essential for draining the cooked chicken. Having these few things ready means you can focus entirely on getting that perfect golden crunch!

Tips for Success When Making Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

We’ve covered the steps, but let me give you a few of my personal rules for making sure your Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce turn out absolutely perfect every time. First up: the peanut butter rule. You absolutely must use regular, creamy peanut butter. If you grab one of those natural, oily kinds, the sauce will end up grainy and won’t emulsify properly. It’s a texture nightmare, so avoid it!

Next, remember how I talked about seasoning the chicken? Sprinkle that salt and pepper from a little height above the strips. It sounds silly, but it helps distribute it evenly so you don’t get pockets of saltiness. This is a small thing that makes a big difference in overall flavor! If you are interested in learning more about proper seasoning techniques, you can check out resources on how to properly salt meat.

And finally, stick to that nonstick pan during frying. I know some folks prefer cast iron, but with all those sesame seeds, you risk them burning onto the bottom before the chicken is actually cooked through. The nonstick surface lets you manage the heat better and ensures those seeds toast up to a beautiful golden brown right alongside the chicken. Follow these little tricks, and you’ll nail this recipe! For more tips on achieving the perfect crisp, you might find guides on getting food crispy without deep frying helpful.

Common Questions About Your Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

It’s totally normal to have a few questions when you’re trying a new favorite recipe, especially one that involves getting that perfect crunch on our Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce. I get asked all the time about swapping out the cooking method or tweaking the flavor of that amazing peanut dipping sauce. Don’t worry, these chicken tenders are flexible! If you are looking for other chicken recipes, check out my guide on Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe.

Here are a few things I hear most often when people are making this dish for the first time. I hope these little answers help you feel totally confident in the kitchen!

Can I bake or air fry the Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce instead of pan-frying?

Yes, you absolutely can! While I love the fast, intense crisp of pan-frying, baking or air frying is a great option if you’re looking to cut down on oil. For baking, spread the coated chicken strips on a wire rack set over a baking sheet—this lets air circulate underneath so they crisp up better. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 Celsius) for about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. If you use an air fryer, set it to 375 degrees and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. They won’t be *quite* as deeply browned as the pan-fried version, but they’ll still be delicious! If you need more inspiration for air frying, see my recipe for Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes with Dip.

What is the best way to adjust the heat level in the Spicy Peanut Sauce?

Adjusting the heat in the Spicy Peanut Sauce is easy because we gave you two options! The sambal gives you a deeper, more rounded heat, while the red pepper flakes are cleaner and sharper. If you want it milder, just start with half the recommended amount and taste before adding more. If you want it truly fiery—and I sometimes do!—add a dash of cayenne pepper along with your sambal. Remember, the peanut butter does a great job of mellowing things out, so don’t be afraid to experiment a little bit!

Storing and Reheating Leftover Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Even though these Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce are best eaten right out of the skillet, sometimes we make too much—or maybe you just want leftovers for lunch tomorrow! The key here is handling the moisture. The coating will soften quickly once refrigerated, that’s just the nature of breading, but we can manage it.

Store the leftover chicken fingers in an airtight container. Try to avoid packing them too tightly, or they’ll steam each other. The Spicy Peanut Sauce keeps really well too, just make sure the lid is sealed tight. When it comes to reheating, the microwave is your enemy if you want crispiness! Your best bet is to pop them back into a hot oven or an air fryer for a few minutes to bring that crunch back.

Storage Guidelines Table

Item	Storage Duration	Container Type
Chicken Fingers	3-4 days	Airtight Container
Spicy Peanut Sauce	Up to 1 week	Airtight Jar

Sharing Your Experience Making Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

I truly hope you loved making these easy and delicious Crispy Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce! Did they turn out perfectly crunchy? Did you add extra cilantro to the sauce? Let me know how it all went! Drop your ratings and any fun modifications you tried down in the comments below—I love hearing from you all!

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