Skip the takeout and eat in with this incredibly tasty orange chicken dish! Sweet and spicy pieces of tender chicken in every bite.
We have a recipe for Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken that we’ve loved for years, as well as a recipe for crock pot orange chicken. But this recipe might just be our favorite of them all!
easy orange chicken
Talk about a family favorite chicken dish! My kids are constantly requesting this recipe for dinner. It’s so simple to make and packs a punch with flavor.
Serve it on top of white rice or fried rice and you’ve got a winner! Tastes just like Chinese food you’d get in a restaurant—but even better (AND it’s made at home!)
If you’ve been a long-time fan of Orange Chicken, then we think you’ll love this version.
How to Make Orange Chicken
You’re going to be surprised at how simple this orange chicken is to make!
BREAD CHICKEN. Start by cutting up the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Grab a shallow dish or pie plate and add 2/3 cups of flour, 2/3 cups of cornstarch and the salt. Mix it all together. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs together.
Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture and then coat with the flour mixture. Place the chicken pieces on a plate.
FRY. In a skillet that’s been heated over medium-high heat, pour in 2-3 inches of oil. Use a thermometer to check that the oil reaches 350 °F. You’ll want it to be nice and hot before frying the chicken pieces.
Place several pieces of chicken into the oil. Cook them for 2-3 minutes. Make sure to turn the chicken so all sides become a golden brown. Once cooked, place the chicken on a paper towel to drain. Repeat until all the chicken has been fried.
orange chicken Sauce
This sauce is SO good. It’s sweet and spicy and I could practically drink it.
COMBINE INGREDIENTS. Combine the orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes in a medium saucepan. Cook this mixture for 3 minutes on medium heat.
THICKEN. In a separate bowl mix together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water. Stir this until a paste forms. Add the cornstarch paste to the orange mixture and cook for 5 minutes, or until the mixture thickens. Once it’s thick, remove it from the heat and add the orange zest.
COVER CHICKEN. Toss the chicken in the orange sauce. Garnish it with green onions & orange zest and serve with rice.
Serving and Storing orange chicken
We love serving orange chicken with any of these other Chinese food dishes:
Store your leftover orange chicken in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days! Makes such a yummy lunch or leftover dinner.
For more Asian chicken recipes:
Orange Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Orange Chicken Sauce:
- 1 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- orange zest from 1 orange
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp cold water
Chicken Recipe:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
- 3 eggs
- 2/3 cup cornstarch
- 2/3 cup flour
- oil for frying
- garnish with green onions and orange zest
Instructions
To Make Orange Sauce
- In a medium saucepan combine the orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes. Cook for 3 minutes on medium heat.
- In a separate bowl mix together 2 tbsp cornstarch and 2 tbsp cold water, stir until a paste forms.
- Add the cornstarch paste to the orange mixture and cook for 5 minutes, or until the mixture thickens. Once thick, remove from heat and add the orange zest. Keep warm, stirring occasionally, while making the chicken.
To Make Chicken:
- Use a shallow dish or pie plate and add 2/3 c flour, 2/3 cup cornstarch and salt. Mix.
- In a separate bowl whisk the eggs.
- Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture and then coat with the flour mixture. Place pieces on a plate.
- Pour 2-3 inches of oil in a skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Use a thermometer to check that the oil reaches 350 °F
- Place several pieces of chicken into the oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes turning so all sides become a golden brown. Once cooked place the chicken on a paper towel to drain. Repeat until all the chicken has been fried.
- Toss the chicken in the Orange sauce. If you desire to garnish with green onions & orange zest and serve with rice.
I can’t even tell you how much we love orange chicken. My daughter could eat at Panda Express everyday. Glad i could make it at home & save her some money!! This was so tasty!!
this is Totally better than take out chicken!
Absolutely our go to weeknight meal. Orange chicken is a huge family hit and this recipe is foolproof and delicious!
This totally reminds me of the takeout orange chicken I have loved since I was a kid! Yum!
I love when I can make homemade take out recipe!
I’ve never tried adding cornstarch to my coating BEFORE. it makes a big difference. I love all your recipes that I try. Keep posting!
Love orange chicken. I need to make this for dinner tonight.
Orange chicken is a family favorite and its even better when I can make it at home. Great tasting!
This was so good!!! Kids were Fighting Over the leftovers.
Yay…not about fighting, but I am so glad they liked it! Thank you!