I have spent hours in the kitchen making different types of chicken dishes in my lifetime. But this is better than the Panda Express orange chicken recipe, beats any other quick chicken dinner.
Over the years, I have perfected this sweet and tangy chicken recipe, so much so that my family and my kids keep asking me to make it for dinner.
It’s a crispy chicken dish coated in a sticky, sweet, and tangy orange chicken sauce. And it is actually inspired by a Chinese signature dish, which people usually order as takeout.
Today, I will share this recipe with you, along with some other information about this sticky orange chicken.
Why You’ll Love This Orange Chicken Recipe
- Golden and crispy chicken pieces.
- Bold, sweet, and tangy flavor profile.
- Quick and easy recipe, ready within 30 minutes.
- Better than takeout.
- Spice level customizable.
What Is Orange Chicken?
This easy orange chicken is a crispy fried chicken dish coated in a flavorful orange sauce that gives it a sweet and tangy taste.
This orange chicken is inspired by Chinese cuisine and is especially popular in Chinese-American restaurants. It is loved for its slightly sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy flavor. This is also what makes it different from sweet and sour chicken, which has a lighter and more sour taste, while orange chicken has a richer, more citrusy flavor.
Ingredients for Orange Chicken Recipe
- Chicken: You should be using chicken breast pieces, and cut them into cubes.
- All-Purpose Flour & Cornstarch: Using flour is essential to give the chicken its golden brown color and crispy texture. It also helps maintain crispiness when the chicken is properly coated with cornstarch. You need to make a cornstarch slurry by adding a little water to the cornstarch for the sauce.
- Salt & Black Pepper: You can’t make anything without a bit of salt If you want a little spicy kick in your Chinese takeout chicken, you have to use black pepper.
- Egg: You can use one large egg for this recipe.
- Oil: Any kind of cooking oil would work when you need to fry the chicken. You can also use olive oil or vegetable oil.
- Garlic & Ginger: Using garlic will give the chicken more fragrance and flavor. Minced ginger will also help with flavor and fragrance.
- Chili Flakes: This will give the chicken more spiciness.
- Orange Juice: You can’t make homemade orange chicken without orange juice.
- Soy Sauce: This is a very important ingredient for making the orange sauce.
- White Vinegar: It’s also necessary to use white vinegar to make the sauce.
- Brown Sugar: This will balance the tanginess of the orange juice.
- Orange Zest: For added orangy flavor.
- Sesame Seeds & Spring Onion: This will go as a garnish and make the dish look more appealing. Using spring onion to top the chicken will make for another nice garnish.
How To Make Orange Chicken Recipe
- Prepare the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk egg, cornstarch, flour, salt, black pepper, and a little water to make a smooth batter. Then add the chicken and coat well in the batter, and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat oil in a pan on a medium-high heat. Fry the chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes or until golden and crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: Heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a pan on a medium heat and add garlic, ginger, and chili flakes. Sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.
- Add the Sauce Ingredients: Add orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and orange zest. Let it boil and simmer for a few minutes until slightly reduced.
- Thicken the Sauce: Add the cornstarch slurry and simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Combine and Serve: Add the fried chicken to the sauce, toss well to coat. Serve hot with rice.
Tips for Perfect Orange Chicken Recipe
- To get crispy orange chicken, make sure to coat the chicken evenly with cornstarch and all-purpose flour before frying. This helps create a light and crispy coating.
- Always fry in properly heated oil and avoid overcrowding the pan. This helps the chicken stay crispy.
- Don’t add the chicken to the sauce too early. Toss it in the sauce just before serving to keep it crispy.
- You can balance the sweet and tangy flavors of the orange glaze chicken by adding orange juice, orange zest, and brown sugar.
- Fresh orange juice gives a brighter and more natural flavor compared to bottled juice.
Storage & Reheating
- You can store the leftover orange chicken in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To reheat the chicken while maintaining its crispiness, you can put it in the air fryer for 5 to 8 minutes at 350°F to 380°F.
- You can freeze the chicken for about a month in an airtight and freezer-friendly container.
What to Serve with Orange Chicken
- Orange chicken with rice is one of the most popular dishes, meaning you can serve the chicken with steamed rice.
- You can also try the chicken with fried rice if that’s what you prefer.
- Try the crispy orange chicken with noodles. It makes a world of difference.
- You can serve this chicken with stir-fried veggies if you want a healthier option.
Variations to Try
- Baked Orange Chicken: If you don’t want to fry the chicken in a pan, you can also bake it in the oven. It will give you crispier results.
- Air Fryer Version: Using an air fryer to make this homemade orange chicken will result in the crispiest chicken ever.
- Spicy Orange Chicken: You could add more black pepper and chili flakes, or even use paprika to make a spicier version.
- Healthier Low-Sugar Version: Use honey instead of brown sugar to make the orange sauce for a healthier low-sugar version of this delicious chicken dinner.
Orange Chicken – Crispy, Sweet & Better Than Takeout
If you want to learn how to make this better than Panda Express orange chicken, you need to check out this recipe, which is ready in 30 minutes.
Servings4 Servings
Ingredients
For Chicken Marinate:
- ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
- ½ cup Corn Starch
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 large Egg
- 1-2 tbsp Water
- 2 large Chicken Breasts ( cubed )
For Orange Sauce:
- 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 1 & ½ tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Minced Ginger
- ¼ tsp Chili Flakes
- 1 cup Fresh Orange Juice
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp White Vinegar
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- Cornstarch Slurry (1 tbsp Cornstarch + 2 tbsp Water)
- 1 tbsp Orange Zest
For Garnish:
- Sesame Seeds
- Spring Onion
Equipments
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken for Frying
- Take 2 large chicken breast pieces or thighs and cut them into cubes.
- Add all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, one large egg, and water into a large mixing bowl, and whisk it properly to give it a good mix.
- Toss the chicken into the bowl of flour mixture and coat the pieces properly.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
Fry the Chicken
- Place a pan on the stovetop on medium-high heat.
- Heat cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat for deep frying.
- Fry the chicken pieces for about 3 to 4 minutes until they turn golden brown.
Make Orange Sauce
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet or a pan over medium-high heat for a few minutes. Add minced garlic, minced ginger, and chili flakes. Sauté until fragrant.
- Then, add fresh orange juice, soy sauce, white vinegar, and brown sugar. Bring it to a boil, and then let it simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes until the amount is slightly reduced.
- Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 2 tablespoons of water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, then pour it into the orange sauce mixture.
- Add a tablespoon of orange zest to the mix.
- Cook the sauce until it thickens.
Finish Cooking the Chicken and Serve
- Add the chicken cubes to the orange sauce.
- Toss the chicken in the sauce for about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Plate the garlic orange chicken and garnish with sesame seeds and spring onion.
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Recipe FAQs
Is orange chicken sweet or spicy?
Orange chicken is both slightly sweet and slightly spicy with a bit of tanginess.
Can I make orange chicken without frying?
Yes, you can make orange chicken without frying by baking it in the oven or air frying it.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breast?
Yes, you can use chicken thighs instead of breast. They are juicier and more flavorful, and work really well for this recipe—just make sure to cook them until fully done.
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