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When you learn how to make Orange Chicken, you’ll want to skip the takeout and eat in because this recipe is so easy and so delicious!
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 homemade version might just be our favorite of them all!
We Love Easy Takeout At Home!
This is one of our favorite Asian dinner recipes!
My kids are constantly requesting this orange chicken recipe for dinner. Serve it on top of white rice or Fried Rice and you’ve got a winner!
Why we love this Orange Chicken :
- Easy! You’re going to be surprised at how simple it is to make!
- Delicious. This sauce has a sweet and spicy orange flavor and I could practically drink it.
- Made at home. It tastes just like Chinese food from a restaurant—but even better (AND it’s made at home!)
Ingredients
- orange juice – from a bottle or the juice from 6 medium fresh oranges
- sugar
- rice vinegar or white vinegar
- soy sauce – regular or low-sodium
- ground ginger
- minced garlic
- red chili flakes
- cornstarch
- cold water
- orange zest – Use this How to Zest a Lemon post to zest the orange peel.
- boneless skinless chicken breasts – while you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs they tend to be fattier and not ideal for chicken cubes.
- large eggs
- all-purpose flour – or use a gluten-free flour.
- oil for frying – use oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, or olive oil suitable for higher cooking temperatures.
- garnish – green onions, orange zest, extra red pepper flakes, sesame seeds
How to Make Chinese Orange Chicken
- 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 make a cornstarch slurry.
- 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.
- PREP. Use a shallow dish or pie plate and add ⅔ c flour, ⅔ cup cornstarch, and salt. Mix. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs.
- DREDGE. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture and then coat with the flour mixture. Place pieces on a plate.
- COOK. Pour 2-3 inches of oil into a skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Use a thermometer to check that the oil reaches 350 °F
- Place several chicken pieces into the oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes turning so all sides become a golden brown. Drain and repeat with the next batch.
- COAT. Toss the chicken in the Orange sauce. Garnish with green onions & orange zest and serve with rice.
Recipe Tips
- Thicken the sauce. The orange chicken sauce should thicken as it cools. For an even thicker sauce, increase the amount of cornstarch and cold water in Step 2.
- Make extra! 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.
- Serving suggestions. Whip up your favorite side, or try Chinese food dishes like Cream Cheese Wontons, Baked Cream Cheese Rangoons, Egg Drop Soup, Homemade Fried Rice, Cauliflower Rice, or this Chow Mein Recipe.
- STORE leftover easy orange chicken recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days! Reheat it for a yummy lunch or leftover dinner.
For More Asian Chicken Dishes, Try:
Orange Chicken Recipe
Skip the takeout and eat in with this incredibly tasty sweet and spicy orange chicken recipe. It's on the table in no time!
Ingredients
Orange Chicken Sauce:
- 1½ cups orange juice
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- orange zest from 1 orange
Chicken Recipe:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
- 3 eggs
- ⅔ cup cornstarch
- ⅔ cup all-purpose 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 2 tbsp cornstarch and 2 tbsp cold water, and 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 ⅔ c flour, ⅔ 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 into 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.
Video
Notes
STORE leftover easy orange chicken recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days! Reheat it for a yummy lunch or leftover dinner.
Nutrition
Calories: 485kcal, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 37g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 178mg, Sodium: 882mg, Potassium: 752mg, Sugar: 38g, Vitamin A: 335IU, Vitamin C: 32.9mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 2.1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Another absolutely delicious recipe 🙂 Such a treat & the sauce was so tasty! Take out could not even come close in comparison. Love your recipes, they are always scrumptious, easy to prepare & usually with ingredients I have on hand. Videos on your site are always a wonderful helpful addition too. We tried your Oreo Dirt Cake for Easter Dinner, my parents loved it and of course so did I. lol. 2 more to add to meal rotations. Thanks again Kristyn & family for sharing your lovely recipes & talents in the kitchen 🙂
Awe, thanks so much for your kind words! That makes my day! I’m so happy you like the recipes and that your parents liked the Oreo Dirt Cake for Easter dessert, You are so sweet. Thank you! 🙂
This was so good!!! Kids were Fighting Over the leftovers.
Yay…not about fighting, but I am so glad they liked it! Thank you!
Orange chicken is a family favorite and its even better when I can make it at home. Great tasting!
Love orange chicken. I need to make this for dinner tonight.
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!
I love when I can make homemade take out recipe!
This totally reminds me of the takeout orange chicken I have loved since I was a kid! Yum!
Absolutely yummy and easy dinner. I’ll be making this recipe again
Absolutely our go to weeknight meal. Orange chicken is a huge family hit and this recipe is foolproof and delicious!
this is Totally better than take out chicken!
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!!