Orange Chicken

Mouthwatering crispy fried chicken tossed in a sticky, sweet orange sauce makes this Orange Chicken a delicious dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes. If you need an easy recipe that’s full of flavor this is it. Serve it over rice and you have takeout at home!

Crispy chicken coated in a sweet and tangy orange sauce – everyone will think you ordered takeout when you make this recipe!

We love our orange chicken around here and luckily it’s easy to make from scratch at home. Takeout can get really expensive for a family of five, so when we get a craving I have a few takeout recipes up my sleeve.

This orange chicken is always a favorite, but we also love sweet and sour chicken and chow mein. It’s definitely less expensive to make these takeout inspired dishes yourself, and it’s just as delicious!

Why You’ll Love this Orange Chicken Recipe

• We’re making crispy chicken for this recipe just like a restaurant version. It’s fried in a pan – no special equipment required!
• You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe. Both work great. It’s a really versatile recipe.
• The sauce is simple and made with fresh orange juice plus a few other pantry staples. It’s sweet, tangy, and so delicious.

Ingredients for Orange Chicken

There are quite a few ingredients to this homemade orange chicken recipe, but trust me, making everything from scratch makes all the difference!

• Orange juice and orange zest – Fresh squeezed orange juice adds so much more flavor to orange juice. Bottled juice will work fine as well, but since you already need orange zest then you might as well go ahead and juice the orange!
• Soy sauce – To more easily control the salt level of this dish, you can use low-sodium soy sauce. Coconut aminos are a good substitute too.
• Brown sugar – Use brown sugar to sweeten up this dish and make it irresistibly tasty!
• Rice wine vinegar – Rice wine vinegar has a very distinct flavor, so I do not recommend substituting it with anything.
• Sesame oil – The same goes for sesame oil! Don’t substitute it since it has a really distinct flavor.
• Minced garlic – Freshly minced garlic adds loads of delicious flavor to this dish.
• Minced ginger – Mince some fresh ginger or use ginger paste that you can buy at the grocery store.
• Crushed red pepper flakes – Give this easy orange chicken recipe some kick with a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes.
• Water – Use some water to help create a corn starch slurry that will make the sauce a nice consistency.
• Cornstarch – You’ll need cornstarch for both the breading and the sauce, so make sure that you have plenty.
• All purpose flour – Grab your all purpose flour from the pantry to use as part of the breading on the chicken pieces.
• Boneless skinless chicken breast – Feel free to use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
• Eggs – You’ll need some eggs to create an egg wash that will help bind the breading to the chicken.
• Oil – Whether vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil, avocado oil or something else — you need oil to fry up the chicken.

Orange Chicken Sauce

What makes this recipe so good is the delicious orange sauce. It’s so easy to make! I like to mix it up first so that it’s ready to go when the chicken is ready. Here’s what you need to do to make that sticky sweet sauce:

Combine all sauce ingredients, except for water and cornstarch, in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine and heat the sauce over medium heat.

In a small bowl whisk the water and corn starch together to make a cornstarch slurry. This will help to thicken the sauce.

Slowly add the slurry to the sauce while whisking. Keep whisking until sauce begins to thicken.

Cook it until it is thickened. This should only take four to five minutes. Take the pan off the heat and set it aside while you prepare the chicken.

How to Bread and Fry the Chicken

Cut the meat into large pieces – a little bit bigger than bite-sized will work.

In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper together.

Coat the pieces in the egg and then dredge them in the flour mixture. Place them on a plate.

Heat oil in a large pan. Once the temperature of the oil is 350°F, it’s hot enough for frying.

Fry the breaded meat in small batches until they are golden brown. It should only take two to three minutes. Place the fried pieces on a sheet pan lined with paper towels.

Once all of the meat is cooked place it in a bowl and pour the sauce over the top. Toss to coat everything evenly.

I love to pile the orange chicken on cooked rice or you can do cauliflower rice, too! Add garnishes like sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and orange slices and then serve!

How to Store Orange Chicken

FRIDGE: Store the leftovers in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for three to four days.

FREEZER: You can freeze this chicken as well! Make sure you let it cool fully and then transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for 2-3 months. Allow to thaw before reheating.

How to Reheat Leftovers

When reheating, you can add some extra sauce to the chicken if needed. If you want, you can store the chicken and the sauce separately from one another.

Is orange chicken spicy?

You can make it as spicy as you like. I use a 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes which gives it a little kick of heat. Add more if you want it spicier or omit it if you don’t want any heat.

Can I use bottled orange juice to make orange chicken?

Yes, but the sauce will be sweeter if the brand you use has sugar. For a less sweet version, use fresh-squeezed orange juice.

What is the difference between General Tso and orange chicken?

Orange chicken is coated in a very sweet and citrusy sauce, while general tso chicken is more spicy and has a more rich flavor. The two dishes have a few similarities, but ultimately their flavor is different and they are very unique dishes!

What to Serve with Orange Chicken

I like to serve this deliciously easy orange chicken with all of our favorite Asian-food inspired side dishes. My copycat Panda Express Chow Mein noodles are a favorite to pair with this dish, as well as some tasty fried rice.

You can also serve this over plain white rice or brown rice. And some egg rolls would be tasty too. Even serve this dish over an egg roll in a bowl! A simple veggie like broccoli would be perfect on the side too.

Grab the ingredients for this amazing homemade orange chicken so you can make it this week! You’ll skip the takeout after you try it – it’s so good!

More Dinner Ideas!

• If you want a quick and easy dinner you need to try my Chili Mac. It’s always a family favorite!
• Use your slow cooker to make the best Lasagna!
• My Easy Taco Meat can be used to make tacos, burritos, nachos, and enchiladas. You will love it!
• Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs are a light and easy dinner made in your air fryer! Serve the kabobs with rice for a great weeknight dinner.
• Cheesy Bacon Kale Stuffed Chicken – Delicious, Tender Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Cheese, Bacon and Kale! Quick, Easy and Delicious Recipe!
• Chicken Ramen Stir-Fry – Easy, Delicious Weeknight Meal Loaded with Healthy Ingredients with the Addition of Ramen for a Fun Twist! On the Table in 30 Minutes!
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Skillet Noodles – Easy Dinner Recipe Loaded with Chicken, Ham, Egg Noodles and Cheese!
• Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta – Easy Dinner with Rigatoni, Chicken and Creamy White Sauce with Pesto! Dinner Recipe That’s on the Table in Less Than 40 Minutes.

Be sure to give this recipe a try! If you love this recipe as much as we do, be sure to leave a five-star rating below!

Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram either, I’d love to see pictures of your good eats! @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats