Orange Chicken
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Crispy, golden chicken drenched in a sweet and tangy sauce—orange chicken is a Chinese American classic that’s surprisingly simple to master at home.
Orange chicken, a staple from Chinese American restaurants—and a favorite of my kids, especially the version from the fast-food chain Panda Express—features crispy, golden chicken drenched in a sweet and tangy sauce. Despite “orange” leading its name, the citrus flavor in the dish is subtle. 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.
This recipe, similar to General Tso’s chicken in its preparation, might seem daunting, but it’s surprisingly doable at home. Give it a try—I promise, you’ll wow your family and also impress yourself with how delicious it is!
“3 teenage boys and two batches — no leftovers!!”
What You’ll Need To Make Orange Chicken
- Egg: Mixed into the marinade to help the coating stick to the chicken.
- Soy sauce: Adds salty, umami flavor to both the marinade and the sauce.
- Light brown sugar: Sweetens the marinade and sauce while adding a hint of molasses flavor.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs, tenderloins, or breasts:Thighs give the juiciest, most flavorful results, but tenderloins are a solid choice if you prefer white meat. Chicken breasts will work too—just be careful not to overcook.
- Distilled white vinegar: Brings a sharp, clean acidity that balances the sweetness in the sauce.
- Orange juice: Adds a subtle sweetness and citrusy kick. Fresh is great, but bottled works fine since you only need a small amount. If you prefer a stronger orange flavor, you can add orange zest to the sauce. However, I strongly advise adding it gradually at the end, starting with just a pinch, so that it doesn’t overpower the dish.
- Chicken broth: Adds savory depth to the sauce.
- Cornstarch: Used twice—for creating a crisp coating on the chicken and for thickening the sauce until it’s glossy.
- Sesame oil: Adds toasty, nutty flavor to the sauce. A little goes a long way.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Bring a gentle heat to balance the sweet and tangy flavors.
- All-purpose flour and baking soda: Form the base of the crispy coating, helping the chicken fry up golden and light.
- Vegetable oil: Used for shallow-frying the chicken til nice and crispy.
- Ginger, garlic, and scallions: These aromatics build the bold, savory foundation of the sauce.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Marinate the chicken. In a large bowl, beat the egg with the soy sauce and sugar. Add the chicken pieces and toss to coat evenly. Let it sit at room temp for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, orange juice, chicken broth, cornstarch, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
Step 3: Coat the chicken. In another bowl, whisk the cornstarch, flour, and baking soda. Sprinkle the mixture over the marinated chicken and toss until the pieces separate and look dry and clumpy.
Step 4: Fry the chicken. In a large nonstick skillet, heat about ¼ inch of oil over medium-high heat to 350°F. Working in 3 batches, shallow fry the chicken until golden brown and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes, flipping once. (Adjust the heat between batches to keep the oil around 350°F—if it gets too cool, the coating will absorb oil and turn greasy; too hot, and it may burn before the chicken cooks through.)
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
Step 5: Make the sauce base. Carefully drain and wipe out the skillet, then add about 1 tablespoon of fresh oil. Over medium heat, cook the ginger, garlic, and scallion whites for 30 seconds, stirring constantly—don’t let them brown. Sautéing the aromatics before adding the sauce builds depth of flavor without needing extra ingredients.
Step 6: Cook the sauce. Add the sauce mixture and bring to a boil. (Give the sauce mixture a quick stir again before pouring it into the pan—cornstarch tends to settle at the bottom.) Let it simmer until thickened and glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. This happens quickly, so keep a close eye on it.
Step 7: Finish and serve. Return the crispy chicken to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in the sauce. Sprinkle with scallion greens, serve, and enjoy!
Video Tutorial
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Ingredients
For the Marinade
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon light brown sugar
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts or tenderloins), cut into 1-inch pieces
For the Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup (packed) light brown sugar
- ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
- ¼ cup orange juice, from 1 orange
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1½ teaspoons sesame oil
- ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
For Coating the Chicken
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- Heaping ¼ teaspoon baking soda
For Cooking and Serving
- Vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger, from a 2-inch knob
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
- Rice, for serving
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, beat the egg, soy sauce and sugar. Add the chicken to the bowl and toss until evenly coated. Let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, orange juice, broth, cornstarch, sesame oil, and pepper flakes together. Set aside.
- Coat the chicken: In a medium bowl, whisk the cornstarch, flour, and baking soda. Sprinkle over the chicken/marinade mixture and toss until each piece of meat separates and has a dry, clumpy coating.
- Fry the chicken: Line a plate with a few layers of paper towels and set next to the stove. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat about ¼ inch of oil to 350°F. You'll know it's ready when you drop a piece of chicken in, and it sizzles vigorously. Working in three batches so as not to crowd the pan, shallow-fry a third of the coated chicken until golden brown and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes, turning once midway through cooking and adjusting the heat as needed. Transfer the chicken to the paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
- Finish the dish: Carefully drain the oil from the pan and wipe clean with a paper towel. Add about 1 tablespoon of oil. Over medium heat, add the ginger, garlic, and scallion whites. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds until fragrant; do not brown. Add the sauce, bring it to a boil, and let it cook until thickened and glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the crispy chicken, tossing until the sauce fully coats it, 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with the dark green scallions and serve over rice.
- Note: Nutritional information was calculated using chicken thighs and assuming approximately 2 tablespoons of the oil is absorbed into the chicken when frying. Rice is not included.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 597
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Sugar: 21 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Sodium: 1450 mg
- Cholesterol: 208 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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The recipe is spot on – it’s just like the orange chicken from Panda Express! My husband kept saying how good it was. It is labor intensive, and did result in a late dinner since we attempted this on a weeknight, but we would make it again when we have more time to prep.
I made this for to clear out my freezer from a few chicken thighs. The nice thing about this recipe is that it can be made in steps which you set aside and when meal prep time comes, just put together. I always cut recipes in half because we are a family of two. Works for the chicken portion and marinade. DO NOT HALF THE SAUCE. Is there more sauce my husband asks. A, no. Next time there will be. Just delicious people. Chicken is crispy, the sauce sticky and coats the chicken but doesn’t soften the crunch. Perfect.
Jen, Thank you so much! This is the first time I’ve commented and I’ve made several of your recipes (all of which we’ve enjoyed). This is a fantastic dish. My family thinks I’m a great cook and it’s really just following your recipes exactly! 🙂
This was a great recipe. Thanks so much for sharing-
Great little dish! Very easy to make! I added a little broccoli and red peppers to the sauce and it came out perfect. Plenty of sauce. Over rice.
I’m frying the chicken now. If I go no further than this step, which may happen, the fried chicken is delicious!! Family keeps coming by to “just taste one” and my pile is getting smaller. That’s OK. We’ll just drink the sauce.
I just visited my grandkids, and my granddaughter begged me to make this as Orange Chicken is her fave. It was a huge hit! I rarely fry, as I find it daunting, but this alleviated my fears. They made me leave the recipe with them so they could make it regularly. I sure wish I could add a photo, as not only was it delicious, it was such a beautiful presentation!
Awesome recipe. Light, crispy chicken in a luscious sauce. Delicious!
Prepared orange chicken 2 nights ago and eating leftovers for lunch. I doubled the recipe and put it atop orzo pasta.
Excellent flavors but you need to read and study the recipe before attempting.
The Orange chicken is now Another favorite! I served it with steamed broccoli & Jasmine rice( next time Cilantro rice) The sauce is extraordinary! Thank you, Jenn. I have your cookbooks & enjoy all your prep advice for the recipes. You have made me a better cook AND baker!
Elena