TGI’s inspired air fryer sesame chicken strips
Flashback to TGI Fridays
Back in the day, my happy place was TGI Fridays. Let’s be real… it still is. It’s the land of potato skins, bottomless refills, and anything that comes with a sticky, sweet glaze. It’s where my obsession with spuds all things chicken began. A bit of nostalgia and a whole lot of flavour—what more could you want? My air fryer sesame chicken strips are a love letter to TGIs.
So naturally, I had to recreate the iconic Jack Daniels glaze, and let me tell you, this version is a proper tribute. Whether you’re throwing a dinner together on a random Tuesday or planning a Friday fakeaway feast, these sticky sesame chicken bites are about to become your new go-to.
A glaze that deserves its own fan club
Now this glaze? It’s a little bit naughty and a whole lot of nice. We’re talking runny honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, white sesame seeds, and of course… a glug of Jack Daniels. That last bit might make your nan raise an eyebrow, but honestly, it just works. The whiskey gives the glaze that smoky depth and grown-up kick. It’s sticky, glossy, and clings to your chicken like it’s never letting go. Dreamy.
Don’t fancy the booze? Swap the Jack for a splash of apple juice or leave it out altogether—still delicious, just slightly more angelic.
Crunchy coating = chicken royalty
We’re not settling for basic here. The chicken is coated in a mega crispy mix of panko breadcrumbs, plain flour, eggs, onion salt, garlic pepper, and even more sesame seeds. That combo gives you that golden crunch on the outside with tender, juicy chicken inside. Chef’s kiss.
Top tip: slice your chicken into smaller bite-size pieces before coating—it means more crunch per bite. And let’s be honest, mini things are always cuter and more satisfying to dunk in sauce.
Why the air fryer is your new best friend
You could fry these the traditional way, but the air fryer honestly makes life easier. It crisps the coating up beautifully, locks in all that juicy goodness, and avoids the faff of deep-frying. Plus, it’s quicker, less messy, and you won’t smell like a chippy for the rest of the day.
Bonus: air frying uses less oil, so you can go wild with the glaze without feeling like you’ve totally overdone it (you haven’t).
Want more like this?
My air fryer sesame chicken strips are perfect for fakeaway night, general snacks, or even shoving between a brioche bun for the ultimate glazed chicken burger. Serve with skinny fries, pickles, and a cold drink (I’ll leave the JD decision up to you). And if you’re into sticky, crispy, air-fried goodness—I’ve got plenty more where this came from. Dive into the air fryer section of my website for more recipes.
TGI’s inspired air fryer sesame chicken strips
By Poppy Cooks
https://www.poppycooks.com/recipes/tgis-inspired-air-fryer-sesame-chicken-strips/
Ingredients
For the chicken strips
- 2 chicken breasts
- 50g plain flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 50g panko breadcrumbs
- 1oz sesame seeds
- 1 tsp onion salt
- 1 tsp garlic pepper
- 2 spring onions, sliced, for garnish
- 1 red chilli, sliced, for garnish
Metric
Imperial
For the sesame honey glaze
- 125g runny honey
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 30g brown sugar
- 20g white sesame seeds
- Knob of ginger, peeled and finely grated or minced
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely grated or minced
- 2 tbsp Jack Daniels (optional)
Metric
Imperial
Instructions
- Cut your chicken into long goujon shapes. Season the flour with the onion salt and garlic pepper, and mix the sesame seeds into the panko breadcrumbs. Lightly dust in the flour, then pass through the beaten eggs and into the sesame breadcrumbs.
- Place the chicken goujons into the basket of your air fryer and spray lightly with oil. Airfry at 200ºc/400ºf for around 20 minutes, turning halfway, until golden brown and cooked through.
- While the chicken cooks, make the glaze. Tip all of the ingredients for the glaze into a small saucepan and bring to a bubble on the stove. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Make sure not to touch it, it's like lava!
- When the chicken strips are cooked through and crispy, pop them in a bowl and pour over some of the sauce to coat. Give it a good toss, then serve with spring onions, chillies and an extra sprinkle of sesame.