Description
Orange Chicken is a crispy, sweet, and tangy Chinese-American dish made with golden fried chicken pieces tossed in a sticky orange-flavored sauce. It’s a takeout favorite that’s easy to make at home with bold citrus flavor and savory spice.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Oil for frying
- 1 cup orange juice (fresh or bottled)
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (for slurry)
- 2 tbsp water (for slurry)
- Sliced green onions (optional, for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk eggs. In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch and flour.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then dredge in the flour-cornstarch mixture until coated.
- Heat oil in a deep pan or skillet to 350–375°F (175–190°C). Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- In a saucepan, combine orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the sauce and simmer until thickened, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add the fried chicken to the sauce and toss until well coated.
- Serve hot over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for juicier results, or breasts for a leaner option.
- Fry chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding and ensure crispiness.
- Use fresh orange juice for brighter flavor, or adjust sugar if using sweetened juice.
- Sauce and chicken can be prepared separately for make-ahead meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
