Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken will become your family’s top pick! Packed with vibrant orange flavor, this dish skips the store-bought marmalade and corn syrup for a healthier twist. It beats Panda Express and other chain restaurants’ versions by a mile. Your wallet will thank you for skipping the DoorDash order!
Chinese Orange Chicken
You’ll enjoy bite-sized chicken pieces fried to a golden crisp and coated in a heavenly sweet and sticky sauce. It’s the ultimate comfort food treat!
Chinese Orange Chicken
For a meal that combines the sweet and tangy flavors of orange with crispy chicken, Chinese Orange Chicken is an excellent choice. This dish features bite-sized pieces of chicken coated in a delicious orange sauce, served over a bed of fluffy white rice, and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
A Symphony of Sweet and Tangy
The orange sauce is the highlight of this dish, providing a sweet and tangy base that pairs perfectly with the crispy chicken. The sesame seeds add a nutty crunch, while the green onions bring a fresh burst of flavor and color.
Perfect for Any Occasion
Whether you’re preparing a quick weeknight dinner or looking for a dish to impress guests, Chinese Orange Chicken is a perfect choice. It’s elegant enough for a dinner party yet simple enough for a casual meal. The combination of flavors and textures makes it a dish that everyone will love.
A Crowd-Pleaser
This dish is sure to impress your family and friends. Its vibrant presentation and delicious taste make it a standout meal. Plus, it’s a great way to enjoy the flavors of Chinese takeout at home, combining the familiar comfort of crispy chicken with the fresh, citrusy notes of orange sauce.
Easy Homemade Orange Chicken
This recipe for orange chicken is a classic favorite from Chinese take-out, beloved across the U.S. for good reason. With its lightly battered and fried chicken pieces coated in a delectable sweet and tangy orange sauce, it’s truly satisfying and delicious.
It’s a hit with everyone in the family, likely becoming a repeat request from spouses, kids, friends, and parents alike.
The magic lies in the sauce. The tangy sweetness of fresh orange juice and zest, combined with chicken broth, creates a healthier and even tastier alternative to restaurant versions. Plus, you’ll enjoy a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and sour flavors from sugar, soy sauce, and vinegar, enhanced by the freshness of ginger, garlic, and onion.
Tonight, ditch the take-out and whip up this flavorful Chinese dish at home! Not only will you save money compared to ordering in or using DoorDash, but you’ll also cut down on calories and preservatives in your diet.
Pair my Better Than Takeout Chinese orange chicken with white rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice. And don’t forget to grab those chopsticks—after all, Chinese food just tastes better when savored with them, right? 🙂
Tips for Perfect Orange Chicken:
1. Fry the chicken in batches: This helps maintain the oil temperature, ensuring that it stays hot enough to fry the chicken properly.
2. Use freshly squeezed orange juice: The flavor of fresh juice really shines in this recipe, far surpassing the bottled variety.
3. Garnish generously: Sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onions over your homemade orange chicken for an extra burst of fresh flavor and delightful texture.
Love chickens? Be sure to check out these other delicious chicken recipes!
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
Chinese Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced into 1 - 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest which is the zest of about 1 1/2 fairly large oranges.
- 1/2 cup squeezed orange juice
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger
- 2 tablespoons grated yellow onion make sure to include some of the juices when measuring
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha hot sauce optional
- Freshly ground black/white pepper to taste
- 1 1/4 cups + 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon cold water
- 2 large eggs
- vegetable or peanut oil for frying
- Chopped green onions sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Place chicken pieces in a large resealable bag and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine chicken broth, orange zest, orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, onion, garlic, Sriracha, and pepper. Whisk well.
- Measure out 2/3 cup of the mixture and pour it over the chicken in the bag. Seal the bag, pressing out excess air, and press chicken into the marinade.
- Place the bag in a bowl or baking dish and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining sauce mixture over medium heat until it just starts to boil, stirring frequently.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water. Stir this mixture into the sauce.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cook the sauce for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Then, remove from heat.
- Pour vegetable oil into a large cast iron Dutch oven, filling it about 1 1/2 - 2 inches deep, and heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a shallow dish, whisk eggs until well blended. In another shallow dish, pour the remaining 1 1/4 cups of cornstarch.
- Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and drain off the marinade. Dip each chicken piece into the egg, then coat evenly with cornstarch.
- Carefully place about one-third of the chicken pieces into the preheated oil and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden, turning once during cooking. Use a skimmer to remove the fried chicken from the oil and transfer it to a paper towel-lined cookie sheet to drain excess oil.
- Repeat the process with the remaining chicken, working in two more batches. Then, pour the drained fried chicken into a bowl and toss it with the sauce.
- Serve the orange chicken warm over white or brown rice, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- Frying the chicken in batches is important to keep the oil temperature from dropping. This ensures that the chicken fries properly, staying crispy and golden.
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Chinese Orange Chicken