So what’s to do when the craving strikes and you need your Chinese food fix? That’s when this easy orange chicken recipe comes to the rescue.

We all know takeout food isn’t the healthiest, but it just tastes SO GOOD. So what’s to do when the craving strikes and you need your Chinese food fix?

That’s when this easy orange chicken recipe comes to the rescue. It’s made with fresh ingredients (no additives!) and is the perfect way to tame that craving.

That’s why it made our list of the best summer chicken recipes.

This recipe is easy to double and freeze for an even quicker meal next time you NEED some orange chicken. It’s a definite crowd pleaser.

Fresh garlic and ginger make the sauce incredibly flavorful, and the crispy fried chicken is delicious.

Table of Contents

What is Orange Chicken?

Orange chicken consists of stir-fried chopped, battered, and fried chicken cuts. This popular dish is coated in a sweet caramelized orange chili sauce.

Though it’s Chinese-inspired, orange chicken actually originated in the United States. So you’ll find it on the menu of more North American Chinese restaurants than in China.

Orange chicken is a variation of General Tso’s chicken.

Ingredients in Orange Chicken

Boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts — You’re going to need boneless skinless chicken for this recipe. But whether you use thighs or breasts is up to you. I prefer thighs, which are dark meat.

Chicken thighs have higher fat content and are generally more tender and flavorful when cooked. However, if you prefer white meat, chicken breasts will taste great too! Just be careful not to overcook it, and dry it out.

Eggs

Flour

Cornstarch

Salt

Ground pepper

Neutral flavored oil –– Like canola oil, vegetable oil, etc.

Orange zest

Garlic

Ginger

Soy sauce

Rice vinegar

Orange juice

Red chili flakes

Green onions

How to Make Orange Chicken

Step 1 — Cut the meat into 1 ½” chunks. Then, toss them in the beaten eggs. Chill the meat in a covered bowl in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. However, you can do this step the day before you plan to cook the chicken too.

Step 2 — While the meat is soaking, prep the flour and cornstarch mixture for coating the chicken. Also, put about 2” of oil in the bottom of a deep skillet.

You need to have room in the pan for the chicken as well. So make sure that the sides of the skillet are high enough that you won’t have hot oil splashing you while you cook.

Step 3 — When you are ready to fry the chicken, heat the oil in the pan on medium-high heat until it’s very hot. Dredge several handfuls of chicken in the flour mixture to coat every side of each piece.

Step 4 — Then, carefully place them in the hot oil. I like to use metal tongs when working with hot oil. If it doesn’t immediately start sizzling, the oil isn’t hot enough, and you need to let it heat up more.

Step 5 — Cook the pieces of chicken for about 2 minutes. Next, flip them over and allow the other side to cook. The breading should be a light golden brown, and you can cut it into a piece to make sure that they are cooked through.

Step 6 — Remove the cooked chicken to drain on a paper towel-lined plate. They will soak up any excess oil, keep the breading from becoming soggy, and repeatedly the cooking with any remaining chicken pieces.

How to make the orange chicken sauce:

Step 7 — Once your chicken is cooked, make the sauce. In a medium saucepan, briefly cook the garlic, ginger, pepper flakes, and orange zest over medium heat in a bit of orange juice. This draws out their flavors and makes your sauce pack a delicious, aromatic punch!

Step 8 — Whisk the rest of the ingredients together, and add them to the pan. Cook the sauce, stirring continually until it thickens and loses its cloudy appearance. This means that the cornstarch has cooked out and won’t leave a filmy taste.

Step 9 — Toss the chicken in the sauce until it’s completely coated. You want to make sure that all of your chicken has that lovely orange sauce all over it. If you like your orange chicken extra saucy, go ahead and double the sauce.

Notes On Cooking With Hot Oil

When it’s hot enough to cook food, oil can easily cause burns. Use caution when working with it!

Protect your hands, face, and clothes from splatters as much as possible.

Furthermore, always use long-handled metal utensils as plastic can melt.

How to Reheat and Store Orange Chicken

If you are planning to make your orange chicken ahead of time, I recommend storing the chicken and sauce in the refrigerator. And then, heating them separately in air-tight containers.

To reheat, lay the chicken out on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until it’s heated through and the breading is crispy.

Reheat the sauce in a saucepan. After that, toss the chicken in it before serving.

Did you know that you can cook your chicken ahead of time and freeze it? In fact, I almost always make a double batch and freeze half of it for a super easy, quick dinner.

After frying and cooling it, simply place it in a freezer storage bag, and it’ll keep for up to two months.

I don’t recommend freezing the cooked sauce, as the ice crystals that will form break down the cornstarch and ruin the consistency. However, you can mix it all ahead of time and freeze it, then simply thaw and whisk the mixture up before cooking.

To heat orange chicken that has been frozen, just allow it to thaw and cook the same way you would after refrigeration.

More Easy Recipes to Try

So next time that craving for Chinese food hits, don’t order in and risk eating unhealthy additives. Instead, whip up this easy orange chicken recipe and enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal that’s good for you too!

You can pair this with these simple and easy to make, Asparagus and Poached Egg Salad or Apple Yogurt Salad Recipe

For other easy dinner ideas, check out a few favorites from our archives below —

One Pan Rosemary Baked Lemon Chicken Recipe
Easy Turkey Chili Recipe (with directions on how to make it on the stovetop, Instant Pot, or slow cooker)
Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken Kebabs Recipe
Whole30 Avocado Chicken Wraps Recipe
Roasted Garlic White Bean Alfredo Recipe
Instant Pot Easy White Bean & Vegetable Soup Recipe
Date Night Cacio E Pepe Pasta Recipe