Exquisite Baked Honey Sesame Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 2 green onions, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure optimal cooking temperature.
2. Begin by seasoning the chicken breasts with a delicate touch of salt and pepper, adding depth to every bite.
3. Coat each chicken breast generously in cornstarch, ensuring an even and satisfying crunch in every mouthful.
4. Dip the cornstarch-coated chicken breasts into the beaten eggs, providing a luscious binding agent for the next step.
5. Heat the vegetable oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers invitingly. Brown the chicken breasts on both sides until they acquire a golden hue, signifying their readiness for the next stage of culinary transformation.
6. Transfer the beautifully browned chicken breasts to a waiting baking dish, a canvas ready to receive the masterful strokes of flavor to come.
7. In a small mixing bowl, blend together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, sesame oil, and minced garlic, creating a symphony of flavors that will elevate the humble chicken breasts to celestial heights.
8. Pour the harmonious mixture over the awaiting chicken breasts, ensuring every inch is cloaked in the divine essence of the sauce.
9. Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven, allowing the chicken to bake for 40 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure uniform cooking and infusion of flavors.
10. While the chicken basks in the gentle heat of the oven, prepare the final touch: a luscious thickening agent made from cornstarch and water, destined to transform the sauce into a velvety cloak of perfection.
11. Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds and freshly chopped green onions over the chicken, a visual feast that hints at the culinary delights to come.
12. Return the adorned chicken to the warm embrace of the oven for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken to a tantalizing consistency that will cling lovingly to each morsel.
13. As the aroma of honey and sesame fills your kitchen, prepare yourself for a culinary experience like no other, where every bite is a journey of flavor and every moment a celebration of the culinary arts.

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 50 minutes | Total Time: 70 minutes | Calories: 460 kcal per serving | Servings: 4 servings