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.

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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.

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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 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.

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.

Is orange chicken and tangerine chicken the same? ›

Tangerine chicken tastes fresh and spicy, but orange chicken tastes sweet and sour. Orange chicken is crispy cooked in a sweet and little spicy orange sauce. The sweetness of orange chicken was introduced to cater to American tastes.

What is the closest thing to orange chicken? ›

Sesame Chicken, General Tso, and Orange Chicken look quite similar and share some common ingredients, which can make it difficult for some to choose between them. Chicken: Each dish uses chunks of boneless chicken meat (usually thigh).

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 a substitute for orange marmalade in orange chicken? ›

Honey: A Natural Sweetener. Honey is a natural and healthy sweetener that can be used as a substitute for orange marmalade. Its sticky texture and aromatic sweetness add depth to your dishes, similar to the flavors imparted by orange marmalade.

Is General Tso's chicken the same as orange chicken? ›

General Tso's chicken is typically spicier and has a more complex flavor profile, with a sauce that includes soy sauce, vinegar, and chili peppers. Orange chicken, on the other hand, has a sweeter and tangier sauce made with orange juice and zest.

Is orange chicken Chinese or Japanese? ›

While the orange chicken is one of the most famous Chinese dishes in America, it is a purely American invention, with no authentic Chinese resturants or restaurants in China serving this dish.

What is orange chicken called at Chinese restaurants? ›

In Chinese, this dish is known as "橙花雞", literally "(Fresh) Orange peel chicken". The dish also has a variation known as "陳皮雞", literally "Dried Citrus peel chicken", referring to dried orange or tangerine peel, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine as well as cooking.

What is the difference between orange chicken and kung pao 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!

Why does orange chicken taste like oranges? ›

The original “Orange Chicken” had no breading around each piece of chicken and the sauce was made of leftover orange or lemon peels cooked with soy sauce, chilis and garlic. The sauce had a citrus element, but it wasn't as pronounced or sweet like you would think of today.

Do you eat the orange peel in orange chicken? ›

Deboning the thigh, it makes for a delicious and easier piece of chicken. Another important key, but it is optional, is using the orange peel to really give the dish an entirely different dimension. The peels add a refreshing citrus flavor to the chicken and they add a sweet richness to the whole meal.

What do you eat with orange chicken? ›

We love serving this baked orange chicken recipe (and this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken) over a bed of brown rice, white rice, or quinoa. For a low-carb option, Cauliflower Fried Rice would also be tasty. Salad. Try serving your orange chicken with a salad like this Ramen Salad or Asian Cucumber Salad.

Can you make orange chicken without orange zest? ›

The sauce is made from soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and just a hint of orange juice, along with ginger, scallions, and garlic for added depth. Feel free to add a bit of orange zest to boost the orange flavor, but remember, a little goes a long way; too much can overpower the dish.

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 orange sauce at Chinese restaurants? ›

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.

Is Orange Chicken the same as sweet and sour? ›

Orange Chicken is crispy and light due to its thin glaze. Meanwhile, Sweet and Sour Chicken is crispy with a thicker and more indulgent sauce. Their different textures make them both a delicious choice when you are craving Chinese food.

Why does Orange Chicken taste like orange? ›

The original “Orange Chicken” had no breading around each piece of chicken and the sauce was made of leftover orange or lemon peels cooked with soy sauce, chilis and garlic.

What is Mandarin sauce made of? ›

Preparation. Combine mandarin orange juice, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and chili flakes in a sauce pot.

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