Orange Chicken is a Chinese restaurant classic that can easily be made at home! Chicken fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside then coated in a sweet and tangy sauce, the ultimate Asian-inspired dish.
Skip ordering Chinese takeout and have this hearty dish ready in under 30 minutes.
You cannot go wrong with an Asian-inspired meal! The classic Chicken Teriyaki Recipe or our delicious PF Chang’s Mongolian Beef are both so popular.
Chinese ORANGE CHICKEN recipe-
The chicken is sauteed until the skin is crispy then tossed in a homemade orange sauce that is sweet and tangy and absolutely delicious!
This orange chicken is a copycat of Panda Express’ Orange Chicken and is loved by kids and adults alike.
INGREDIENTS-
This copycat orange chicken recipe is loaded with so much flavor and so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
Chicken-
- Chicken– For this recipe, we use boneless skinless chicken thighs but you can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Cornstarch– We use cornstarch for that crispy and crunchy exterior.
- Seasoning– To season the chicken we use salt and pepper, you can also use any other favorite go-to seasonings.
Orange Chicken Sauce-
- Butter– We recommend unsalted butter as it’s easier to control the salt in the recipe.
- Garlic– For the best results, use freshly minced garlic.
- Ginger– Freshly grated ginger adds so much flavor to the sauce.
- Soy Sauce– Regular soy sauce or low-sodium soy sauce may be used in this recipe.
- Chicken Broth– The sauce calls for chicken broth but you can use vegetable broth or even beef broth.
- Orange Juice– The secret to this sauce is the orange juice! Use your favorite orange juice without pulp.
- Brown Sugar– To sweeten the sauce you want to be sure to use brown sugar.
- Cornstarch– Acts as a thickening agent.
- Sriracha– Sriracha adds heat to the sauce. You can adjust the amount of heat by the amount of Sriracha you add.
HOW TO MAKE ORANGE CHICKEN-
With just a few simple steps you can have this orange chicken ready to enjoy!
- Saute Chicken– Cube the chicken and season with salt and pepper.
- Coat Chicken– Coat the chicken completely in the cornstarch.
- Cook Chicken– Heat oil in a skillet and then saute the chicken until golden and crispy.
- Prepare Sauce– In a saucepan, saute butter with ginger and garlic until fragrant. Add the rest of the ingredients for the sauce and cook until the sauce thickens.
- Combine– Pour the orange chicken sauce over the chicken and toss to combine.
- Serve and Enjoy!
SERVING IDEAS-
This dish is so delicious and great when served with the right side dishes. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy this orange chicken:
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Steam White or Brown Rice
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Roasted Vegetables
- Noodles
- Zucchini Noodles
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS-
For the best results, you want to use boneless skinless chicken thighs. Chicken thighs result in a juicier and more tender chicken.
Yes! You can add sauteed onions and bell peppers to this dish.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat the orange chicken in the oven, microwave, or stovetop until reheated.
We do not recommend freezing the orange chicken.
If you like your dish saucier you can make a double portion of the orange chicken sauce.
OTHER ASIAN-INSPIRED RECIPES-
We share so many of our favorite Asian Recipes but these are by far our most popular:
- Pork Potstickers
- Chicken Lo Mein
- Ground Beef Stir Fry
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Chicken Gyoza Recipe
- Asian Chicken Wings
Orange Chicken (Chicken Takeout)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cubed
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp oil, sauteing
orange chicken sauce-
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp sriracha sauce
Instructions
Prepare Chicken-
- Cube the chicken into even bite-sized pieces and add to a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
- Coat the chicken on all sides in the cornstarch.
- In a skillet, heat the oil over medium/high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and saute for about 5-6 minutes over medium/high heat or until golden and crispy on all sides.
Make Orange Chicken Sauce-
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan, saute butter, garlic and ginger until fragrant.
- Add the chicken broth, orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch and sriracha to the saucepan and whisk.
- Bring the orange chicken sauce to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken.
- Once the chicken is done cooking add the orange chicken sauce to the chicken and toss to combine.
- Top with fresh chopped green onion and sesame seeds.
- Serve and enjoy.