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?

This Orange Chicken recipe is sweet and a little sour and perfect for a Chinese food at home night.

How to Make Homemade Orange Chicken

MAKE THE CHICKEN:

1. Start by prepping your chicken. Mix together your egg, cornstarch, water, flour and salt in a large bowl.
2. Add your chicken and stir it to coat the chicken with the batter.
3. 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 SAUCE:

1. While you are cooking the chicken, make the sauce by combining all of the ingredients (except the cornstarch and water) in a pot.
2. Let the sauce cook until it boils, then add in the cornstarch and water. Let it cook until it is thickened.

COMBINE IT ALL TOGETHER:

1. Pour the sauce over the chicken in a large bowl and stir to coat the chicken with the sauce.
2. If desired, you can top it with sliced green onions and serve over 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 breasts, though, if that is what you have or like.
• If you want to cut back on calories, you can skip the frying. Just 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.

Looking for more free recipes?

Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.

Orange Chicken

---

• Author: Deborah Harroun
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Stove Top
• Cuisine: Asian

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

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!

---

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• Vegetable oil, for frying (or another neutral flavored oil)
• 3/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon mirin
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• Green onions, for serving, optional

---

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the egg, 1/2 cup cornstarch, water, flour and salt. Mix until combined. Add the chicken and stir until the chicken is completely coated.
2. Preheat the oven to 200ºF. Place a cooling rack on a baking sheet and set aside.
3. Pour about 2 inches of vegetable oil into a heavy skillet. Heat over medium-high heat.
4. Once the oil is hot, add about 1/4 of the chicken to the hot oil in a single layer.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes, then turn the chicken to cook on the second side. Fry until the chicken is cooked through. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to the baking sheet and place in the oven to keep it warm while you cook the rest of the chicken.
5. Working in batches, cook the remaining chicken.
6. While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce.
7. In a saucepan, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, mirin, rice vinegar, ginger, sesame oil and red pepper flakes. Set over medium heat.
8. In a small bowl, whisk the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water together.
9. When the sauce comes to a boil, whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Continue to cook until the sauce has thickened, then lower the heat to keep warm until the chicken is cooked.
10. When all of the chicken is cooked, place it in a large bowl. Pour the sauce over the top and stir to coat.
11. Serve topped with green onions, if desired.

Recipe Notes:

Adapted from Easy Chinese Recipes: Family Favorites from Dim Sum to Kung Pao

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.

The nutritional value for the frying oil is based on a retention of 1/4 cup oil. Cooking time and temperature can cause this number to change.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
• Calories: 434
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 1422 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 39 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 32 g
• Cholesterol: 171 mg

Keywords: Orange chicken, orange chicken recipe, how to make orange chicken, orange chicken sauce, homemade orange chicken, easy orange chicken recipe