Orange Chicken Recipe (2024)

byBeth Le Manach

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Learn how to make Orange Chicken at home! This is a quick and easy version of the kind of orange chicken you get at restaurants, but way better than takeout!

It’s SO easy and SO good! Kids go nuts for this one, so if you have picky eaters, tired of all your usual chicken recipes, try this one on them and watch them ask for seconds!

Orange Chicken Recipe (1)

Make it a Menu

  • Kick things off with some Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp or Homemade Potstickers
  • Serve this recipe alongside my Easy Shrimp Stir Fry to create a larger meal with some variety
  • For dessert try my Coconut Pound Cake with Syrupy Mangoes

Orange Chicken Recipe (2)

Watch My Video Demo of This Recipe Below!

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Step#1: Prep the Chicken

  • For this recipe, it’s best to use chicken tenderloins. They will be easier to cut into bite-sized pieces and they are more tender too!
  • This will keep your chicken moist and juicy under the heat of the cooking.
  • Another thing that locks in the juiciness is dusting the chicken with cornstarch before frying.
  • The cornstarch protects the chicken as it cooks and also will help to thicken the sauce too.

Orange Chicken Recipe (3)

The Benefits of a Wok

  • A few years ago I treated myself to a wok pan and I must say it makes serving this for a crowd a lot easier!
  • It always amazes me how much food a wok pan can hold!
  • I also think it cooks the food faster too. It makes this recipe much easier to put together quickly as well.

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Step#2: Cook The Chicken in Batches

  • The best part of orange chicken is its crunchy exterior, for this reason, it’s best to cook the chicken in batches.
  • It helps to add more oil in between batches to keep the crispy exteriors going.
  • It’s not necessary that it’s cooked all the way through at this stage, it will continue cooking once it’s tossed with the sauce.
  • It’s more important to get a nice sear on it and then set it aside.

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Step#3: Making the Orange Chicken Sauce

  • The orange chicken sauce comes together in a snap and is so delicious and flavorful.
  • To give it even more flavor and orange punch, swap the honey for orange marmalade. It adds so much orange flavor!
  • In a small bowl, you’ll combine, soy sauce, chili paste, honey (or even better orange marmalade!) garlic, rice wine vinegar, orange zest, and orange juice, some toasted sesame oil just whisk this sauce up and then add it to the chicken once it’s cooked.

Orange Chicken Recipe (6)

Step#4: Combine the Chicken with the Sauce

  • Once your sauce is all ready to go, add the chicken back in your wok, and add the sauce.
  • Continue to cook the chicken until the interior is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

Orange Chicken Recipe (7)

Creating a Syrupy Consistency to the Sauce

  • Keep cooking until the sauce has reduced and is coating the chicken in a thick syrup.
  • This will create the best consistency for your sauce. The secret ingredient here is the cornstarch used to coat the chicken before browning.
  • Once it combines with the liquid and reaches a high temperature it will react and will thicken.

Orange Chicken Recipe (8)

Step#5: Garnish and Serve

  • I like to slice the green onions on the diagonal to create a pretty fresh garnish on top along with some sesame seeds and a slice of mandarin orange.
  • Serve with your favorite rice or quinoa!

Orange Chicken Recipe (9)

More Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas!

  • One-Pot Chicken and Potatoes
  • Rosemary Lemon Sheet Pan Chicken with veggies
  • Pasta with Sausage and Baby Broccoli
  • Italian Sausage with Peppers

Please let me know if you make this recipe

by leaving a rating and review below!

Orange Chicken Recipe (10)

Orange Chicken Recipe

Yield: serves 4-6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This orange chicken recipe is quick and easy and delicious! A great alternative to take-out!

Ingredients

For Chicken

  • 2lbs (900g) Chicken Tenders
  • 1/3 cup (35 g) cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil

For the sauce:

  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) honey or 1 tbsp (15 ml) of Orange marmalade
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) Sambal Chili Paste
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) rice wine vinegar
  • 1 1⁄2 tsp (7.5 ml) orange zest
  • 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) orange juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) ginger, minced
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) water

Garnish:

  • 1 Scallion, sliced on the diagonal
  • Sesame seeds
  • Sliced mandarin orange wheel

Instructions

  1. Slice chicken into bite sized pieces and toss in the corn starch.
  2. Then prepare the sauce. In a small bowl combine all ingredients and stir.
  3. Then in a wok or large pan heat the oil until shimmering. Place in chicken in batches browning on all sides, and cooking through.
  4. Add sauce over chicken and simmer until sauce thickens.
  5. Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, scallions and garnish with a sliced mandarin orange wheel.
  6. Serve with white rice and enjoy!

Notes

Be sure to use the cornstarch and not flour to coat the chicken. The cornstarch thickens the sauce quicker and easier!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 225Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 385mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 4g

Orange Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the orange chicken sauce made of? ›

How to make the orange chicken sauce. The orange sauce is made from a mixture of the orange juice and zest, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and rice vinegar. This is bubbled up in the wok until slightly thickened. The chicken is then added back in, and tossed in the sauce until fully coated.

How to thicken up orange chicken sauce? ›

To thicken the sauce, pour it into a small saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to make a cornstarch slurry. Once the sauce starts to bubble in the pan on the stovetop, add the cornstarch slurry and stir to combine.

What is Panda Express orange chicken made of? ›

Ingredients: dark meat chicken, water, sugar, distilled vinegar, modified food starch, corn starch, potato starch, contains less than 2% of: wheat, orange extract, caramel color, salt, garlic, phosphoric acid, rice wine, sesame oil.

What is the difference between General Tso and orange chicken? ›

What is the difference between orange chicken and General Tso? Orange chicken is crispy fried with a fruity, sweet, and tangy sauce that's caramelized into a glaze. General Tso is stir-fried in a sweet, sour, and spicy umami sauce.

What is the Chinese version of orange chicken? ›

In Chinese, this dish is known as "陳皮雞", literally "dried citrus peel chicken", referring to dried orange or tangerine peel. However, the taste and recipes of this dish differ due to cultural and geographical factors.

What is the orange Chinese sauce called? ›

Duck sauce (or orange sauce) is a condiment with a sweet and sour flavor and a translucent orange appearance similar to a thin jelly. Offered at American Chinese restaurants, it is used as a dip for deep-fried dishes such as wonton strips, spring rolls, egg rolls, duck, chicken, fish, or with rice or noodles.

What is the Chinese thickening agent? ›

Another interesting fact, most Chinese people still prefer to use potato starch to thicken the sauce. If it's in Taiwan, Taiwanese people use sweet potato starch and potato starch to thick the sauce and cook other food.

How to make a thick sauce for chicken? ›

Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.

What are 2 ways to thicken sauce? ›

Ways To Thicken Sauce
  • Tomato Paste. If your soup or stew is watery, adding tomato paste may help! ...
  • Arrowroot. You might prefer to avoid gluten in your recipes. ...
  • Flour. ...
  • Reduce Your Liquid. ...
  • Puréed Vegetables. ...
  • Egg Yolk. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Rice.
Jul 15, 2022

Why did Panda Express stop selling orange chicken? ›

They have said this was due to the entree being a limited time item, but the popularity should make them change their minds. Now, millions of people will not be able to have a full meal other than sides at Panda Express. The people are outraged as seen in the comments on various social media accounts.

What oil does Panda Express use? ›

Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food. Panda Express uses only 100% pure soybean oil in the preparation of recipes.

Is there a difference between orange chicken and sweet and sour chicken? ›

Orange chicken's flavors focus on the tang of oranges, which is complemented by spices like dried red chili flakes or chili sauce for a little kick. Sweet and Sour Chicken can be spicier, with chili paste or extra spices added for a stronger taste.

What does Tso chicken stand for? ›

So how on Earth did this strange, foreign concoction come to be recognized abroad as the culinary classic of Hunan Province? General Tso's chicken is named for Tso Tsung-t'ang (now usually transliterated as Zuo Zongtang), a formidable nineteenth-century general who is said to have enjoyed eating it.

What is kung bo? ›

Kung Pao chicken (a.k.a. Gong Bao or Kung Po) is a stir-fried Chinese dish that consists of cubed chicken in a sweet, spicy, and savory sauce. It originated in southwestern China in the early 1800s.

What is the difference between kung pao chicken and orange chicken? ›

What's the difference between Kung Pao chicken and orange chicken? Orange chicken is made with, well, oranges! A combination of orange juice and zest, to be exact. It's certainly stickier and sweeter than Kung Pao chicken!

Is orange chicken the same as sweet and sour? ›

Orange chicken's flavors focus on the tang of oranges, which is complemented by spices like dried red chili flakes or chili sauce for a little kick. Sweet and Sour Chicken can be spicier, with chili paste or extra spices added for a stronger taste.

What is sweet and sour sauce made of? ›

While sweet and sour can be found in diverse forms in China, the American version builds upon the simple mixture of sugar, vinegar, and spices with the addition of fruit juice—most commonly pineapple—and ketchup, giving the sauce both its red hue and uniquely Western flavor.

What is inside hoisin sauce? ›

Though regional variations exist, most modern hoisin sauce recipes contain some combination of the following ingredients: fermented soybeans, five-spice powder, garlic, red chili peppers, and sugar. "Hoisin" comes from the Cantonese word for seafood, though it's not commonly associated with seafood dishes.

Can you buy ready made orange sauce for duck? ›

A delicious ready made orange sauce to go with duck, game, chicken and pork.

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