Sesame Chicken with Pea Pods is a super flavorful 30-minute meal that you are going to love! Love the simple flavor combinations of the chicken and peas paired with my big, bold sauce.

Sesame Chicken With Pea Pods

Ready for another great 30-minute meal?

Quick and easy stir-fry is one of my favorite things to throw together on a weeknight. I toss some rice in the rice cooker or Instant Pot, and by the time the rice is done cooking the main dish is too.

If you have a teriyaki marinade laying around, feel free to use that. If you don’t happen to have a bottle in your cupboard, you can make up a quick marinade by just mixing some sesame oil, canola oil, soy sauce, garlic, honey, and ginger powder. You could actually skip the marinade completely if you want because the sauce itself is flavorful enough.

This Sesame Chicken with Pea Pods is built for busy nights when takeout sounds tempting but home-cooked wins. Juicy chicken, crisp snap peas, and a sticky, savory sauce all come together in one hot pan. It’s loaded with flavor and has that glossy stir-fry finish you want in a good sesame chicken. No deep fryer needed, and it’s faster than delivery. Perfect over rice, noodles, or straight from the pan. This is the kind of quick meal you’ll make on repeat.

If you’ve got a few pantry staples and a pack of chicken, this dish comes together fast. The optional sesame marinade adds an extra boost if you have time to plan ahead, but it’s not required. The sauce thickens up quickly in the pan thanks to a touch of cornstarch, coating every bite. Sugar snap peas keep things bright and crunchy, and you can toss in other quick-cooking veggies if you want to bulk it out. Simple, fast, and full of flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Dish

• Fast Weeknight Dinner – Ready in 30 minutes or less.
• Takeout Style, Made At Home – Sweet, sticky sesame sauce without the deep fryer.
• One Pan Cooking – Easy cleanup and no extra dishes.
• Flexible Ingredients – Swap in other veggies or proteins.
• Family Approved – Big flavor that’s still mild enough for picky eaters.

Sesame Shrimp Stir Fry

Sesame Chicken With Pea Pods Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Chicken Breasts – Boneless and skinless; cut into bite-sized chunks. You can swap in chicken thighs if preferred.
• Sugar Snap Pea Pods – Bright, crunchy, and cook fast. Snow peas work too.
• Soy Vay Toasted Sesame Marinade – Adds depth and sesame flavor. Use if you have it for extra marinade flavor.
• Soy Sauce – Salty, umami base for the sauce. Low-sodium works too.
• Water – Helps balance and stretch the sauce.
• Sesame Oil – A little goes a long way; adds nutty aroma and classic stir-fry taste.
• Honey – Brings sweetness to balance the salt and spice.
• Ginger Powder or Fresh Ginger – Fresh gives a bigger punch, but dried works for speed.
• Garlic – Adds sharp, savory depth.
• Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce so it clings to every bite.

Shrimp Stir Fry

How To Make Sesame Chicken With Pea Pods

This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Prep Chicken: Cut into chunks and marinate in sesame marinade if using (20–30 minutes).
2. Make Sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, water, sesame oil, honey, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch. Set aside.
3. Cook Chicken: Heat oil in a hot wok or pan. Sear chicken for 1–2 minutes, stir, and cook another 2–3 minutes until browned.
4. Add Pea Pods: Stir in pea pods and cook for 1 minute, just until bright green and slightly tender.
5. Add Sauce: Pour in the sauce mixture, stir well, and cook until thick and glossy. Serve hot.

Easy Homemade Stir Fry Recipes

Sesame Chicken and Pea Pods FAQ

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Tips For Successful Stir-Fry

• Get your pan as hot as you can. Just before the oil starts smoking.
• Work in small batches. Big batches cool down the pan too much!
• Wait for the pan to pre-heat in-between batches. Are you seeing a pattern here?
• Prep all of your ingredients, including your sauce, before you start cooking. Once you start to stir-fry it goes really quickly.

My togarashi zucchini would be a great side dish for this if you are looking for some more veggies for this dish!

More Stir-Fry Recipes

• Honey Garlic Ginger Stir Fry
• Sesame Shrimp Stir Fry
• Spicy Chili Garlic Stir Fry Sauce
• Easy Garlic Beef and Broccoli
• Honey Pecan Shrimp
• Mongolian Beef