Jamie Oliver Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Balls are made with chicken breast, peanut butter, sesame seeds, chilli, ginger, and vermicelli noodles. This recipe creates a crunchy, protein-packed dish with Asian-inspired flavors and fresh vegetables. It takes about 25 minutes to prepare and serves 2.
Jamie Oliver Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Balls Ingredients
- 1 fresh red chilli
- ½ a bunch of coriander (15g)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2cm piece of ginger
- 2 x 150g skinless chicken breasts
- 1 heaped tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp low-salt soy sauce
- 3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 nests of vermicelli rice noodles (90g total)
- 1 small carrot
- ¼ of a cucumber
- 2 limes
- 2 spring onions
- 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
- Sea salt and black pepper
How To Make Jamie Oliver Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Balls
- Make Chicken Mix: Blitz chilli, coriander stalks, garlic, and ginger in a food processor. Add chicken, peanut butter, and soy; pulse until combined with some texture.
- Form Balls: With wet hands, shape into 10 balls. Roll in sesame seeds and coat well.
- Air Fry: Place in air fryer and cook at 200ºC for 10 minutes, shaking halfway.
- Prep Noodles and Veg: Soak vermicelli noodles in boiling water, then drain. Toss with matchsticked carrot and cucumber, juice of ½ lime, and season.
- Finish Chicken Balls: Drizzle balls with lime juice and sweet chilli sauce, season, and add to bowls.
- Assemble Bowls: Top noodles with chicken balls, spring onions, coriander leaves, and extra chilli sauce if desired. Serve with lime wedges.
Recipe Tips
- Wet Hands Help: Keep hands damp when shaping balls to prevent sticking.
- Use a Food Processor: Chop ingredients evenly and bind the mix well.
- Toast Sesame Seeds: If using untoasted, lightly toast for extra crunch.
- Fresh Veg: Slice carrots and cucumber finely for balance.
- Spice Control: Remove chilli seeds if you prefer less heat.
What To Serve With Sesame Chicken Balls
These flavorful chicken balls are great with rice noodles as in the recipe, but also pair well with stir-fried greens, a fresh Asian slaw, or steamed jasmine rice. A sparkling lime soda or iced green tea makes a refreshing drink match.
How To Store Sesame Chicken Balls
Refrigerate:
Store cooked chicken balls and noodle salad separately for up to 2 days. Reheat chicken in air fryer or oven.
Freeze:
Chicken balls can be frozen raw (without sesame coating). Thaw and roll in seeds before cooking.
Sesame Chicken Balls Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 547
- Total Fat: 15.9g
- Saturated Fat: 3.4g
- Carbohydrates: 55.4g
- Sugar: 14.1g
- Protein: 45.6g
- Sodium: 1.6g
- Fibre: 3.9g
FAQs
Can I make these without peanut butter?
Yes, use tahini or almond butter as a substitute.
Can I use pre-cooked chicken?
No, raw chicken is needed to bind the mixture properly.
How do I make it gluten-free?
Ensure soy sauce is gluten-free and use rice noodles.
Are the chicken balls spicy?
Mildly—adjust chilli and sauce amounts for your heat level.
Can I use ground chicken?
Yes, ground chicken works well if you don’t have a processor.
Jamie Oliver Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Balls
Course: DinnerCuisine: Asian-InspiredDifficulty: Easy2
15
minutes10
minutes547
kcalJuicy, spiced chicken balls with a sesame crust served over lime-tossed vermicelli noodles and fresh vegetables for a vibrant, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
1 red chilli
15g coriander (stalks & leaves separated)
2 garlic cloves
2cm ginger
2 x 150g chicken breasts
1 heaped tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp low-salt soy sauce
3 tbsp sesame seeds
90g vermicelli noodles (2 nests)
1 small carrot
¼ cucumber
2 limes
2 spring onions
2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
Salt and black pepper
Directions
- Blitz chilli, garlic, ginger, and coriander stalks; pulse in chicken, peanut butter, soy.
- Shape into 10 balls and roll in sesame seeds.
- Air fry at 200°C for 10 minutes, shaking halfway.
- Rehydrate noodles; toss with carrot, cucumber, and lime juice.
- Drizzle chicken balls with lime and chilli sauce; season.
- Assemble bowls with noodles, balls, spring onions, and coriander.
- Serve with extra sauce and lime wedges.
Notes
- Wet hands prevent sticking while shaping.
- Raw chicken mixture must retain texture—not over-processed.
- Use toasted sesame seeds for more flavor.
- Store chicken and salad separately for best freshness.