Sesame Mustard Chicken

I love the beauty of a quick and easy meal that also satisfies all the cravings of my family. Sesame mustard chicken is perfect for those days when you are running 150 mph all day long and need something fast but tasty. Thaw it the night before and heat up the grill so you can keep the mess out of your kitchen and get food to the table fast.

This flavorful chicken cooks up fast on the grill and pairs beautifully with rice or risotto. You’ll have dinner on the table in mere minutes, which comes in handy when everything goes haywire. We have more fantastic main dish and side dish recipes handy in our Freezer Meals 101 Club if you love being ready to cook on the fly.

Sesame Mustard Chicken Recipe

Ingredients for Sesame Mustard Chicken

• 8-10 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
• 1/2 cup beer
• 3 Tbsp. sesame seeds
• 3 Tbsp. honey melted
• 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 large (gallon) freezer bag or reusable silicone bag

How to Make Sesame Mustard Chicken

Assembly Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag.
2. Squish gently to combine.
3. Remove excess air, seal & freeze.

Cooking Instructions

• Thaw overnight in your refrigerator.
• Bake in the oven, covered, at 375°F for 30-45 minutes, then uncover for another 10 minutes.
• Alternatively, cook in a skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, or cook on a BBQ for 20-25 minutes over medium heat.
• Chicken is fully cooked at 165°F internally when checked with an internal meat thermometer.

What is the purpose of mustard in a marinade?

The mustard in this recipe serves three purposes. First, it adds significant flavor. Dijon mustard is known for its rich, acidic spiciness with a hint of sweetness, a hint of bitterness, and fragrant aroma with floral notes. Made from ground mustard seeds, the spiciness varies depending on the variety of mustard used and how much the ground mustard seed is diluted with other ingredients.

Second, mustard adds an acid to the marinade and helps tenderize the meat. Third, the mustard marinade becomes a sauce, and mustard provides some thickness and body to the sauce.

Why does this recipe use chicken thighs?

The flavor and moisture in the dark meat of the chicken cannot be beaten. Thighs retain moisture and resist drying out so much better than breast meat. Thigh meat is also more tender. In addition, chicken thighs freeze and thaw better, resulting in a better overall experience with the dish. You can use chicken breasts, but we think you will love the dish with chicken thighs if you give them a chance.

How much chicken do I need per person?

Estimate about two thighs per person, and increase the marinade recipe proportionately if you need to serve more than five people. You can make several of these bags at once, in sizes that allow you to scale up depending on who is home for dinner. For instance if your crowd can vary from five to twelve people depending on work schedules and significant others visiting, freeze full recipes and half recipes and then thaw exactly what you need to feed your people.

Sesame Mustard Chicken Recipe Ideas

The more flavorful the mustard the more flavorful the chicken! If you don’t have Dijon mustard on hand, you can substitute honey mustard in place of the honey and the mustard in the recipe.

Boneless chicken thighs work best for this recipe. You can also use boneless chicken breasts and the marinade will help keep them from drying out. Interestingly enough, this marinade will also work with boneless pork chops.

Any type of beer will work for this recipe. If you don’t have a beer, try using white wine instead. You will still have a beautiful marinade and sauce.

I love the crunch from the sesame seeds, but they are optional if you prefer to make this dish without them. Toasting the sesame seeds will deepen the flavor if you have time.

Diced green onions are a nice touch on the plate and add a little contrasting flavor. You could also top this dish with a bright, mustard-based cole slaw for contrast and acidity to cut the richness of the meat.

How do I store Sesame Mustard Chicken?

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two or three days. Microwave for a minute or so to reheat, making sure it reaches 165ºF. Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to three months. Freeze individual servings to reheat at work or school in the microwave.

How do I reheat leftover Sesame Mustard Chicken?

To make reheating in the microwave easy, I like to slice the meat and layer it with sauce on the bottom and add rice on top. This allows the rice to be steamed as the meat and sauce heat through, and nothing gets soggy. You can also reheat this dish in a skillet. Refrigerated leftovers will take two to three minutes to reheat in individual portions. Frozen portions will take a little bit longer and vary depending on the microwave.

What to Serve with Sesame Mustard Chicken

This delicious meat dish can be served over rice or with mashed potatoes. Oven-roasted broccoli, green beans, asparagus, or a sesame Asian salad would each be a great side dish to accompany your meal. Add crusty bread or flatbread to your meal to round it out.

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Sesame Mustard Chicken

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Servings: 4

Calories: 371 kcal

Ingredients

• 8-10 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
• 1/2 cup beer
• 3 tbsp sesame seeds
• 3 tbsp honey melted
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Assembly Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag.

2. Squish gently to combine.

3. Remove excess air, seal & freeze.

Cooking Instructions

1. Thaw.

2. Bake in the oven, covered, at 375° for 30-45 minutes and then uncover for another 10 minutes.

3. Alternatively, cook in a skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, or cook on a BBQ for 20-25 minutes over medium heat.

4. Chicken is fully cooked at 165° internally when checked with a meat thermometer.