Valentina Ablaev
Homemade orange chicken recipe is exactly what you’ve been missing! This is the perfect restaurant copycat recipe that’s so easy, tastes just like takeout, or dare I say… better?
Crispy chicken tossed in a sweet orange sauce served with white rice is, the ideal 30-minute meal. Serve with a side of asian cucumber salad for a complete meal!
This orange chicken is crispy and cooked in the best sauce with orange juice. Like a simple chicken and broccoli stir fry, this dish contains juicy chicken in an incredible homemade sauce. The perfect 30-minute recipe that tastes delicious every time and can be easily prepped in advance for meal prep!
Why Make Chicken From Scratch?
It can be tempting to order takeout for a quick and easy dinner, but let me convince you why you should make orange chicken from scratch. This recipe takes only 30 minutes from start to finish, and you have a delicious and healthy Panda Express copycat recipe.
Ingredients for Orange Chicken
- Chicken – boneless skinless chicken thighs are the key to juicy chicken.
- Cornstarch – gives the chicken a crispy crust like in our sweet and sour chicken.
- Garlic & ginger – fresh garlic and ginger give this orange chicken an iconic chinese flavor.
- Sauce – a combination of chicken broth, fresh orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and sriracha for the perfect flavor.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
All the add-ins, substitutions, and variations to the recipe you want to make.
- Add vegetables: Complete the orange chicken by adding vegetables. Broccoli florets, red bell peppers, and mushrooms would all make a great addition, just like in our classic chicken stir-fry recipe.
- Extra spice: Add red pepper flakes to make this orange chicken extra spicy.
How to Make Orange Chicken from Scratch
The easiest step-by-step instructions:
- Cook chicken. Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, and cornstarch. To a skillet, add oil and bring to a medium-high heat. Saute the chicken pieces until cooked and crispy.
2. Cook sauce. Add butter, garlic, and ginger to a saucepan and sauté until fragrant. In a bowl, whisk together the orange chicken sauce ingredients. Add the mixture to the saucepan and bring it to a simmer. Cook until the sauce is thick. Add the sauce to the chicken in the pan and toss to combine. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds.
Expert Tips:
- Crispy chicken. It’s essential not to overcrowd the pan when frying to achieve the perfect, crispy chicken. If you have too much chicken, cook it in batches for a crisp exterior.
- Fresh ingredients. To get the best dish, it is vital to use fresh ingredients! Fresh garlic and ginger are the key to the best flavor.
- Correct heat. You want the oil to become hot before adding the chicken. If you add them when the oil is still heating, the chicken will not be as crispy, and the dredging may come off.
Serving Suggestions
- Full course meal: Make this orange chicken a complete meal with classic hibachi fried rice! Of course, a meal isn’t complete without an appetizer!
- Side: Crispy crab rangoons make the perfect starter for homemade orange chicken.
FAQ’s
Though chicken thighs provide juicier results, chicken breast may be used instead.
You can use orange juice or freshly squeezed oranges to make orange chicken from scratch.
What is the secret to crispy orange chicken?
The key to getting crispy orange chicken is adding cornstarch to the chicken. It gives the chicken a crispy exterior.
Fry orange chicken in an oil with a high-smoke point. Some great options are canola oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Keep leftover orange chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Reheat. Add the orange chicken to a pan and cook on medium heat until thoroughly reheated to warm up the leftovers.
- Freeze. Make this dish good for later by freezing it! Add cooled orange chicken to a freezer-safe container. Store the food in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat: Add the frozen chicken to a pan and cook on medium heat until warm.
More Asian Recipes
If you enjoyed this orange chicken recipe, be sure to try our other easy takeout recipes; here are some of our favorites:
If you tried this easy orange chicken recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Orange Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cubed to 1 1/2" cubes
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- oil, for sauteing
orange chicken sauce-
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 2/3 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp sriracha sauce, optional
Instructions
- Cube the chicken thighs and add them to a bowl.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper and mix.
- Add cornstarch to the chicken and mix.
- Heat enough oil to cover bottom of a skillet. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and sauté for 5-6 minutes, or until it is crispy on all sides. If you have too much chicken, cook it in batches to get that crispy exterior.
- In a saucepan, heat butter and add garlic and ginger. Cook until light and fragrant.
- Add chicken broth, orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and sriracha to the pan.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens. You don’t want the sauce to boil over, but cook it at a light simmer.
- Add the sauce to the chicken once the orange chicken sauce is thickened, and sauté lightly.
- Garnish the chicken with sliced green onion and sesame seeds.
- Serve, and enjoy friends!
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: If you have too much chicken, cook it in batches to prevent overcrowding and steaming the chicken.
- Ingredients matter. Using fresh garlic and ginger goes a long way in elevating your dish.
- Serving orange chicken: Serve orange chicken on white or fried rice for the perfect meal.
