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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!
I love this recipe so much! Have been looking for a way to make this at home and it’s super easy to follow and adjust! I used light brown sugar instead of normal sugar on accident. It tastes way better in my opinion!
Best chicken recipe ever. My wife says that I can make it any time. Wow! Thanks!
I used ginger and garlic paste instead of dried, fresh is ALWYAS better. I increased the sauce by 50% as well. Fresh squeezed orange juice for half the orange juice, this is a keeper!
Hi I was wondering how many servings in this recipe? I’m looking to feed about 10 people, so thinking I need to double or even triple it
Was great not very complexed. But would like it a little more crisper, great sauce.
I would recommend marinating the chicken pieces in 2 egg whites with 2 TBSP of low sodium soy sauce and 1 TBSP of rice vinegar. I only marinate for like 15 minutes, but you can do longer. Then, place the pieces (10 at a time) in cornstarch flavored with salt and pepper at the least (I put a bit of garlic, onion, and ginger powder). Cook the pieces together in peanut oil until golden brown and you’ll definitely have your crunch 🙂
Absolutely Unbelievably Delicious. Feeding a professional athlete who makes a living eating at the best restaurants around the country when he plays in each city & this is the best orange chicken recipe by far! Sauce is impeccable. We used an especially large orange for extra zest. Flour/cornstarch mixture for frying is key for that extra crisp (rather than flour or cornstarch alone). 10/10.
Outstanding!
We have some food intolerances so we substituted:
sugar for honey
soy sauce for coconut aminos
corn starch for arrowroot flour
Kept everything else the same and this is the best orange chicken we’ve ever had. Thank you so much!
My husband says it’s the best recipe ever, and I proudly take it from a super picky eater. Super easy and tasty recipe. Love the fact that I can adjust the heat
oops, forgot the rating. This is it
Substitute tapioca flower for cornstarch to make a shiny glaze and to the dredge also. Crispier. This is the best recipe I’ve had all month.
My husband is so obsessed with this recipe! Even my picky son likes it! I double the recipe & add 2 tsp of sesame oil. Amazing 😍
Very delicious ! I used fresh ginger and garlic. I also made it with cassava flour for a GF option.