Orange Chicken Recipe

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.

photo of the easy orange chicken recipe by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

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.

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.

photo of all the ingridents in an easy chicken orange recipe by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

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

 

photo of the recipe card for the easy orange chicken by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

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.

photo of the first step to making easy orange chicken by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

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.

photo of the sauce for easy orange chicken by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

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.

photo mixing the chili sauce for easy orange chicken by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

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. 

photo of the easy orange chicken up close by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

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.

photo of someone taking a bite to the easy orange chicken dinner by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

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 —

photo of an easy dinner idea by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

photo of the easy orange chicken up close by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

Orange Chicken Recipe

Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes
An easy orange chicken dish for when you're craving Chinese for dinner.
Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course Dinner
Cuisine Chinese

Equipment

  • Wok or heavy skillet
  • Small sauce pan
  • Large mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper
  • Neutral flavored oil like canola, vegetable, etc.
  • 1 orange zest about 1 1/2 tbsp
  • 2 cloves garlic freshly minced
  • 1 tsp ginger grated
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
  • Green onions sliced

Nutrition

Calories: 453kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 297mg | Sodium: 1324mg | Potassium: 715mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 353IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg
Servings: 4
Calories: 453kcal

Notes

Serves 4-6

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken into 1 ½-2” pieces. Then, soak the chicken in the eggs for at least 20 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
  • Mix together the flour, cornstarch, and salt.
  • Heat 1-2” of oil in the bottom of a heavy skillet.
  • Toss the chicken pieces in the flour mixture so that all of the sides of each piece are coated.
  • When the oil is very hot, carefully drop the pieces of chicken into the oil. You can test the oil's heat by shaking a bit of flour into it. If it sizzles instantly, it’s hot enough.
  • Cook for 2 minutes, or until the breading is golden brown and crispy.
  • Turn the pieces with metal tongs and cook on the other side for another two minutes.
  • When the chicken is finished cooking, remove it from the pan and place it onto a tray lined with paper towels to catch any excess oil.
  • Put a few tablespoons of orange juice in the bottom of a small saucepan and heat it medium heat.
  • Cook the garlic, ginger, and orange zest until it becomes aromatic. Then, add the rest of the ingredients and cook until the sauce thickens, whisking constantly to prevent the cornstarch from clumping.
  • Toss the chicken pieces in sauce and top with green onions. Serve immediately over rice.
KEYWORD: orange chicken recipe

Don’t forget to share your orange chicken dinner with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! And if you’re looking for more quick and delicious recipes you can find them all right here with a few desserts to go along with them!

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10 thoughts on “Orange Chicken Recipe”

  1. I have gone through most of your recipes but I can’t decide which one is my favorite. You never fail to impress me with your yummy recipes whether it is desserts, soups, sausages, main dishes or chicken dishes. You are just perfect.5 stars

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