Orange Chicken

Better than take-out, this Orange Chicken Recipe is easy to make at home. It is full of flavor and will have you wanting more!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Serve this up with some Kung Pao Chicken and Easy Egg Rolls for the perfect make your own take out night!

On the rare occasion that we go out to that certain fast food Chinese food restaurant, my kids only ask for one thing. The orange chicken. There is something about that deep fried, super sweet dish that draws us all in every time. And I’m guessing many of you are the same, since it’s their most popular dish.

But why go out when you can make it yourself at home, where you know exactly what you are putting into it? And I may be biased, but I think it tastes better than the Panda Express orange chicken!

This Orange Chicken recipe is nice and crispy and is coated with the perfect orange sauce that is sweet and a little sour and perfect for a Chinese food at home night.

Ingredients

Egg, Cornstarch, Flour, Salt: These are all used for the breading for the chicken. This breading is really easy because you just mix it all together, then coat the chicken in the mixture.

Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are my favorite for this recipe.

Oil: You want a neutral oil for frying the chicken. I like to use vegetable oil or avocado oil.

Orange Juice: This is the base of your orange sauce.

Soy Sauce: I always use low sodium soy sauce so that it is not overly salty.

Sugar: The orange sauce is both sweet and sour, so don’t skip the sugar!

Mirin: This is pretty easy to find at most grocery stores. And if you make Chinese food at home often, this is a good ingredient to have on hand.

Rice Vinegar: This is also a great ingredient to have on hand for Chinese food at home, but if you don’t have it, you can sub in white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

Ginger: Fresh is best, but you can use about 3/4 teaspoon of ground ginger instead.

Sesame Oil: This gives a lot of flavor! You can still make the recipe without it, but it will be missing that sesame flavor.

Red Pepper Flakes: To add a little heat.

Cornstarch: The cornstarch will thicken the sauce at the end.

How to Make Homemade Orange Chicken

MAKE THE CHICKEN:

Start by prepping your chicken. Mix together your egg, cornstarch, water, flour and salt in a large bowl.

Add your chicken and stir it to coat the chicken pieces with the batter.

Heat your oil in a cast iron pan (or a large skillet). You’ll cook the chicken in batches, cooking it until it is crispy on both sides and cooked through.

MAKE THE ORANGE SAUCE:

While you are cooking the chicken, make the sauce by combining all of the ingredients (except the cornstarch and water) in a pot.

Let the sauce cook until it boils, then add in the cornstarch slurry. Let it cook until it is thickened.

COMBINE IT ALL TOGETHER:

Pour the sauce over the chicken in a large bowl and stir to coat the chicken with the sauce.

If desired, you can top it with sliced green onions and serve over white rice.

Tips and Tricks

• I like to use freshly squeezed orange juice, but you can always pick up a bottle, as well.
• I like to use chicken thighs because they are easier to cook and have more flavor. Feel free to sub in chicken breast, though, if that is what you have or like.
• If you want to cut back on calories, you can skip the frying. Skip the breading and saute your chicken until cooked, and add the sauce.
• 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes gives this a bit of a punch of heat. Feel free to cut back if you are serving kids, or add a little more if you really like some heat.
• Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated later. They won’t stay as crispy, but it’s still good!

More Chinese Recipes

Sweet and Sour Chicken – one of the most popular recipes here on Taste and Tell – for good reason!
Steak Stir Fry Recipe with Peppers – I love that this one is a little healthier, yet still full of flavor!
Beef and Broccoli – a classic Chinese take out recipe.
General Tso Chicken – another sweet and spicy favorite.
Pressure Cooker Cashew Chicken – I love that this one is made in the Instant Pot – perfect for a weeknight.