The 99% Cooking Club

The 99% Cooking Club

Sesame Chicken

Better than takeout and half the cost.

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The Recession Chef
May 20, 2026
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Chinese take-out is arguably one of the most universally liked foods in the U.S. We all have our favorite spots, and one of the benefits of enjoying Chinese take-out was how cost-effective it was. Was being the word to focus on. I went to one of my go-to spots recently, and they wanted $22 for an order of sesame chicken. At the time of making this video, it was $15 for that same order, which I thought even 15 bucks was absurd. But $22 for take-out? No thanks.

So I got to work on making my own version. Something that still scratches that take-out itch, but doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to make. The ketchup is actually what really hits the take-out note, believe it or not.

But the bigger point here? You are capable of making ALL OF THIS SHIT in your kitchen at home. There are very few things out there that are simply too difficult to do a homemade version. Sure, there are levels to cooking. I’m not saying you are versed in cooking a duck à l'orange at home (you probs could, but it is a different level of difficulty). But most of your favorite dishes that you order when you go out, you are more than capable of doing it yourself.

Prices aren’t coming down. Sorry. If anything, they’re gonna continue to go up. But we can adapt. We will not let them beat us, because the 99% never stops moving.

Now let's cook some damn chicken.

Low-to-high U.S. estimate. Prices vary. Learn more here.

Estimated Time: 45 min

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 lbs of chicken cut into bite-sized pieces (breast, thighs, or strips, whatever is cheapest)

  • 1/2 c flour

  • 1/3 c cornstarch

  • olive oil or cooking spray

  • 1/4 c soy sauce

  • 1 tbsp water

  • 1 tbsp honey

  • 1 tbsp sesame oil

  • 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar

  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced

  • 2 tsp corn starch

  • handful of chopped green onion

  • 1 tbsp ketchup

  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds

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