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This copycat Panda Express orange chicken tastes just like the restaurant version! It’s also simple, flavorful, and delicious.

Orange chicken is one of the most classic Asian recipes! Serve it with Homemade Fried Rice, Egg roll Recipe, and Egg Drop Soup for all of the take-out fixings!

Copycat Panda Express Orange chicken recipe over white rice.

We Love a Tasty Copycat!

We are big fans of this copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken! It’s been one of our favorite fast food meals forever and we love that we can make it at home.

Not only does it taste like the real deal, but it’s quite simple too.

Why you will love it too:

  • Quick and easy. This simple dish is ready in only 15 minutes!
  • Delicious. It tastes just as fabulous as the real deal, if not better.
  • Make a meal. Serve it up with rice or Noodles, Chow Mein, or Fried Rice for a full Asian dinner meal.
Cubes of chicken on a cutting board.

Ingredients

  • boneless skinless chicken thighs – use boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • salt
  • white pepper
  • cornstarch
  • all-purpose flour
  • large egg
  • water
  • vegetable oil
  • frying oil – use an oil with a high smoking point to deep fry the chicken such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.
  • chili flakes
  • fresh garlicminced
  • fresh ginger– minced
  • brown sugar
  • orange juice – bottled or fresh squeezed orange juice from 2 medium oranges. For an extra burst of orange flavor mix in orange zest.
  • vinegar
  • soy sauce  optional
  • sesame oil
Chicken cubes cooking in a pan of oil.

How to make Orange Chicken

  1. CHICKEN. Cube chicken and set aside. Mix salt, pepper, cornstarch, and flour in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Add egg, water, and oil until the consistency is like a batter. Add chicken to the batter and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. FRYING. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 350°F. Add chicken and fry until golden brown (or about 5 minutes). Remove chicken and add to a paper towel-lined plate.
    • Fry the chicken in batches so that each piece gets crisp, overcrowding can result in soggy chicken.
  3. SAUCE. Add oil to a large saucepan (or wok) and cook on medium-high heat. Add red pepper flakes, ginger, and garlic, and cook for about 30 seconds. Add brown sugar and orange juice and stir to combine. Mix in vinegar and soy sauce until combined.
    • In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water. Add to the saucepan and stir. Cook until the sauce thickens.
    • Add chicken and stir to coat. Top with sesame oil and sesame seeds if desired. Serve over rice or noodles.’
A crockpot filled with white rice.

Recipe Tips

  • Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and extra red pepper flakes.
  • Add spice. Add ½ tablespoon of sriracha to the sauce. If that’s still not enough, sprinkle on some red pepper flakes.
  • Thicken the sauce. The sauce will thicken as it cooks. If it isn’t thick enough add a cornstarch slurry.
  • Serve alongside Cauliflower Rice, Garlic Noodles, Fried Rice, Fortune Cookies, or Cream Cheese Rangoons.
  • Sauce for later. Double the amount of orange sauce ingredients, use half over your fried chicken pieces, and store the other half in the fridge for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 2-3 months to use later.
  • STORE. Place leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days or freeze for 3-4 months.
    • Thaw in the fridge before reheating. Reheat leftovers in the oven for about 10 minutes at 400°F or in a pan on the stovetop or microwave.
Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken on plate with rice.

For More Asian Chicken Dishes, Try:

General Tso’s Chicken

20 mins

Recipe Video

5 from 12 votes

Panda Express Orange Chicken Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
This copycat Panda Express orange chicken tastes just like the restaurant version! It's also simple, flavorful, and delicious.
Servings: 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Equipment

  • Deep Fryer

Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • cups water
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 cups vegetable oil for frying

Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • ¼ teaspoon chili flake
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon minced ginger
  • cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • ¼ cup vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce optional
  • 2 tablespoons water optional
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil

Instructions 

  • Cube chicken and set aside.
  • Mix salt, pepper, cornstarch, and flour in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Add egg, water, and 2 tabespoons of oil until the consistency is like a batter. Add chicken to the batter and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Heat oil in deep fryer to 350°F. Add chicken and fry until golden brown (or about 5 minutes). Remove chicken and add to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Make sauce by adding oil to a pot and cooking on medium-high heat. Add red pepper flakes, ginger, and garlic, and cook for about 30 seconds.
  • Add brown sugar and orange juice and stir to combine. Mix in vinegar and soy sauce until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water. Add to the saucepan and stir. Cook until sauce thickens.
  • Add chicken and stir to coat. Top with sesame oil and sesame seeds if desired. Serve over rice or noodles. 

Video

Notes

STORE. Place leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days or freeze for 3-4 months.
  • Thaw in the fridge before reheating. Reheat leftovers in the oven for about 10 minutes at 400°F or in a pan on the stovetop or microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 556kcal, Carbohydrates: 62g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 128mg, Sodium: 1241mg, Potassium: 372mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 90IU, Vitamin C: 4.2mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 3.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Chinese
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

This recipe was first published in 2016 and was updated in 2024.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




47 Comments

  1. This recipe is fantastic and a family favorite but the time to make this is much longer than 15 minutes. It is more labor intensive than I expected.

  2. This recipe sounds quite yummy. FOr those interested fLOUR contains gluten, so this recipe is not gluten free. Also, the real Panda Express recipe uses orange flavoring. Thanks for the recipe!

  3. 5 stars
    Orange chicken is one of our favorite meals to make at home and if it taste like panda even better! So simple and very good. Sure to please the family.

  4. 5 stars
    My girls love panda EXPRESS and ask for it weekly. With this recipe THEY’LL be abLe to have it more often.

  5. 5 stars
    I can’t believe how easy this was to make & how incredibly tasty it was! My family loves Panda Express, so I am happy that we can just make it at home & it taste even better!