Chinese orange chicken is totally irresistible – that SAUCE, it just makes the dish something special. This chicken has the same flavors as the Chinese food classic made in the comfort of your own kitchen. Serve your orange chicken with other Asian food recipes such as veggie fried rice or chicken chow mein for a complete meal. Some of my favorite dishes are the copycat recipes from Chinese restaurants that I get to play around with. This Panda Express orange chicken definitely makes it to the top of the list as one of my favorite meals to make. The kids always come back for seconds. Serve your chicken as part of an Asian style meal along with beef lettuce wraps and egg drop soup.
Orange Chicken Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need chicken thighs, eggs, salt, black pepper, flour, cornstarch, vegetable oil, sesame seeds, green onions, garlic, ginger, orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, orange zest, red pepper flakes, rice vinegar and sesame oil.
How Do You Make Orange Chicken?
Start by placing eggs, salt and pepper in a bowl. Next, mix together flour and cornstarch and heat your oil in a deep pan. Dip each piece of chicken into the eggs, then roll the chicken in the flour mixture. Fry the chicken pieces in batches until they are crispy and brown, then drain the chicken on paper towels. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the orange chicken sauce. Cook some garlic and ginger in a skillet or pan, then add the rest of the sauce ingredients and bring to a simmer. Add some cornstarch to thicken the sauce, then toss the fried chicken in the sauce. Sprinkle sesame seeds and green onions on the chicken, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
This recipe is best when served immediately, as the crispy coating will soften over time as it absorbs the sauce. I recommend serving your chicken with steamed rice, brown rice, noodles, cauliflower rice or even quinoa for a complete meal. If you’re planning to make this recipe in advance, fry the chicken then store it separate in the fridge from the sauce. When you’re ready to eat, reheat the chicken in the oven at 400 degrees F until crispy, then warm up the sauce on the stove and toss everything together. You can also freeze the breaded chicken and sauce separately, then reheat them both later and toss to combine. It’s best to fry the chicken in small batches so that everything will cook evenly. Choose a neutral oil for frying that has a high smoke point. Some great options include vegetable oil, canola oil or peanut oil.
Flavor Variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, you can make some customizations to suit your tastes.
Protein: You can use boneless skinless chicken breast instead of chicken thighs. You could also use thinly sliced beef or shrimp. For a similar flavor without the deep frying, check out my orange shrimp and broccoli and orange beef stir fry recipes. Vegetables: Feel free to toss some cooked veggies in with the chicken and sauce. Some great options include broccoli, green beans, bok choy, cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots or mushrooms. Flavorings: For an extra kick of sweet orange flavor, stir a tablespoon of orange marmalade into the sauce. If you prefer a spicier dish, you can add more red chili flakes or stir in some sriracha. Sensitive to salt? Try using a low-sodium soy sauce.
Whether you prefer this chicken in the slow cooker or oven, either way, it turns out to be one of my favorite dishes every time. It has such a bold, sweet flavor that it’s hard to put the fork down! My kids are always begging for this dish and I’m always happy to serve it!
Orange Chicken Video
