Description
Orange Chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish featuring crispy fried chicken tossed in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy orange sauce. This homemade version delivers restaurant-quality flavor with fresh ingredients and simple steps, making it a perfect meal for weeknights or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
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For the Chicken:
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
For the Orange Sauce:
- ¾ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed preferred)
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (for thickening)
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken – Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- Coat the Chicken – In one bowl, mix cornstarch and flour. In another, beat the eggs. Dip chicken pieces in egg, then coat with the flour mixture.
- Fry Until Crispy – Heat oil in a pan and fry the chicken until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- Make the Orange Sauce – In a saucepan, combine orange juice, zest, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Simmer until fragrant.
- Thicken the Sauce – Mix cornstarch with water, then add to the sauce. Stir until thickened.
- Coat the Chicken – Toss fried chicken in the orange sauce until fully coated.
- Serve – Garnish with sesame seeds or green onions and serve with rice or steamed vegetables
Notes
- Healthier Option – Bake or air-fry the chicken instead of deep-frying.
- Extra Spicy – Add more red pepper flakes or a dash of sriracha.
- Gluten-Free – Use gluten-free flour and tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Honey Orange Chicken – Replace brown sugar with honey for a natural sweetness.
- Vegetarian Version – Swap chicken for tofu or cauliflower.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop, Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Keywords: Best Orange Chicken Recipe Homemade Crispy Orange Chicken Easy Chinese Orange Chicken Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Healthier Baked Orange Chicken