Orange Chicken

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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:

• Cream Cheese Wontons
• Baked Cream Cheese Rangoons
• Egg Drop Soup
• Homemade Fried Rice

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:

• Sesame Chicken
• Honey Chicken
• Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Orange Chicken and Asparagus 

Orange Chicken Recipe

Print Save Recipe Rate

5 from 9 votes

Skip the takeout and eat in with this incredibly tasty orange chicken dish! Sweet and spicy pieces of tender chicken in every bite.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Prep Time 12 minutes

Total Time 37 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 485 kcal

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

1. In a medium saucepan combine the orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes. Cook for 3 minutes on medium heat.

2. In a separate bowl mix together 2 tbsp cornstarch and 2 tbsp cold water, stir until a paste forms. 

3. 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:

1. Use a shallow dish or pie plate and add 2/3 c flour, 2/3 cup cornstarch and salt. Mix.

2. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs.

3. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture and then coat with the flour mixture. Place pieces on a plate.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Toss the chicken in the Orange sauce. If you desire to garnish with green onions & orange zest and serve with rice. 

Nutrition Facts

Orange Chicken Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 485 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 178mg59%

Sodium 882mg38%

Potassium 752mg21%

Carbohydrates 66g22%

Sugar 38g42%

Protein 37g74%

Vitamin A 335IU7%

Vitamin C 32.9mg40%

Calcium 31mg3%

Iron 2.1mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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