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Chinese Orange Chicken made with crispy fried chicken covered in an authentic orange sauce. The ultimate Chinese Orange Chicken Recipe which is way better than take-out.
My kids are always begging me to take them to grab Chinese food. They are obsessed with orange chicken but I am never really sure what’s in it….especially if they get it from a drive-thru. I wanted to create a version at home, made from scratch, with all-natural ingredients. It still has the same incredible flavor they love. It’s definitely a win-win in our home.
It is wintertime in Arizona which means that the citrus is ripe for the picking. I am surrounded by neighbors who have a plethora of fresh oranges and lemons hanging from their trees. This is the perfect time of year to whip up orange and lemon dishes especially this Chinese Orange Chicken.
This Chinese Orange Chicken is made with boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces, dredged, and then fried until golden and crispy. The orange sauce is divine! It is a sweet orange sauce made with orange juice, vinegar, garlic, sugar, soy sauce, ginger, red chili flakes, and orange zest. It is both sweet and spicy and full of flavor.
How to make Chinese Orange Chicken at home:
- Start with boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs. Cut into bite-size pieces. Dredge the chicken in whisked eggs and cornstarch/flour mixture until nice and coated. Get these chicken pieces ready for the oil.
- To make your homemade orange sauce, place orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and red chili flakes in a small pot and cook over medium-high heat. Add cornstarch and water and cook until thickened. Stir in orange zest.
- Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. When frying foods, it is so helpful to use a thermometer. Let the oil heat up to 350 degrees. Once the oil is ready, in batches, cook chicken for about 2 minutes until light golden brown. Repeat with remaining chicken.
- Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Toss fried chicken with the sweet orange sauce. Top with grated orange zest and green onions. Serve immediately.
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Chinese Orange Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 Eggs whisked
- 1/3 cup Cornstarch
- 1/3 cup Flour
- Salt
- Oil for frying
Orange Chicken Sauce:
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar or White Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce use tamari for a gluten-free dish
- 1/4 teaspoon Ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder or 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
- Orange Zest from 1 orange
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
Garnish:
- Green Onions
- Orange Zest
Instructions
- To make orange sauce:
- In a medium pot, add orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and red chili flakes. Heat for 3 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons of water to form a paste. Add to orange sauce and whisk together. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken. Once the sauce is thickened, remove from heat and add orange zest.
- To make chicken:
- Place flour and cornstarch in a shallow dish or pie plate. Add a generous pinch of salt. Stir.
- Whisk eggs in shallow dish.
- Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture and then flour mixture. Place on plate.
- Heat 2 -3 inches of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Using a thermometer, watch for it to reach 350 degrees.
- Working in batches, cook several chicken pieces at a time. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes, turning often until golden brown. Place chicken on a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat.
- Toss chicken with orange sauce. You may reserve some of the sauce to place on rice. Serve it with a sprinkling of green onion and orange zest, if so desired.
Video
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Orange Chicken is going to make you forget take-out. Let me know how it turns out by reaching out on instagram at @modern_honey. Have a great night, my friends!
Your orange chicken recipe sounds divine.
When you ask for ginger are you referring to powdered ginger or fresh ginger?
I grated fresh ginger and it turned out great.
I used a teaspoon or two of garlic and ginger paste because that’s what I had on hand. Worked out great.
Most excellent! Actually, I first made the orange sauce and was extremely impressed. However, I then used the sauce to make Orange Shrimp.
There can’t be a better recipe on the Net….
Amazing!
We don’t have Panda Express in the Land down Under. Whatever they are selling in restaurants under the name of “Orange Chicken” is most certainly NOT orange chicken. Tried this recipe. Using much less sugar, but otherwise the pretty much the same. Done it few times now. Everyone really loves it!
Thank you!
the best recipe ever!!!
Soooo good!!
I used the air fryer for the chicken!
So no oil needed
6 minutes on each side
@ 360
Thanks for the information on using your air fryer. When people are asking this question there’s been no reply. I’ve made this before but got severely burned by the splatter of the chicken in the oil but the meal itself with superb. Trying to find another way a cooking the chicken without filling my house up with the smell of well. My question is did the chicken come out nice and crispy? Look forward to hearing from your response.
It was excellent…will make again.
This orange chicken is absolutely fantastic! Will definitely make again!!!
I didn’t change the recipe at all. It turned out wonderful and tasted great. It was quick to make too.
This is the best orange chicken recipe ever! A family favorite. I do make a little more sauce for it.
I’m so glad I stumbled across this orange chicken recipe! My husband loved it, and there was enough for both of us with a little extra for lunch tomorrow. Served it on a bed of Jasmine rice with a side of broccoli. I will definitely be making this for our two boys when they are home from college (but planning to double the recipe, at least). We used to go to the mall food court for orange chicken, but this was healthier, simple to throw together, and had a nice tangy orange flavor (plus a little kick from the pepper flakes). Our new family favorite, and special enough for company. Thank you!
I just made this too tonight 2-19-2022. It was really good. But I only made 2 chicken breasts pieces and I made stir fried broccoli pieces with more garlic and onion slices and chicken bouillon and broth. I had to basically triple the amount of orange sauce and ingredients. I added the chicken and thickened broth at the end and 7 chile peppers de árbol at the end. So good! But the sauce definitely needs to be tripled or quadrupled!