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–+ servings
photo of the easy orange chicken up close by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Orange Chicken Recipe

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
Keyword: orange chicken recipe
Servings: 4
Calories: 453kcal

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

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.

Notes

Serves 4-6

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