Orange Chicken. Crispy fried chicken smothered in a delicious, sweet orange flavor sauce. Easy to make at home. This popular dish is ready in 30 minutes! I share how to shallow fry or air fry these tender chunks of chicken.
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What is Orange Chicken?
It's a popular chicken dish comprised of tender bites of chicken fried in hot oil and coated in a sticky sauce bursting with fresh orange flavors! Satisfying for dinner, lunch or leftovers. A delicious Chinese food served at many Chinese restaurants and a popular Chinese takeout dish. Made popular by Panda Express. Chef Andy Kho created this dish in 1987. He was inspired by the flavors and textures of a popular chicken dish from Hunan, China. Since then, it has dominated the menus of American Chinese restaurants in North America. Now you can make this simple homemade version at home.
I'll be showing you how to make this delicious chicken dish with fresh ingredients, so you no longer must get takeaway from your local Chinese restaurant! I love this chicken dish so much for its crispy bite-sized pieces of chicken smothered in a thick glossy, orange-flavored sauce, with a hint of tang and garlic. I love serving orange chicken and white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice with steamed broccoli but it's up to you. Some recipes are spicy but mine is not making it great for kids as well!
Ingredients
For this recipe, you’ll need the following orange chicken ingredients. Please scroll down to Recipe card for full measurements.
- Chicken thighs: boneless skinless chicken thighs are highly recommended for this recipe as dark meat is tastier. The fat makes tender chicken juicy and prevents it from drying out if you over fry it.
- You may use boneless skinless chicken breasts for a healthier alternative but please reduce the cooking time by a couple minutes until you reach an internal temperature of 165 F or until juices run clear. White meat is less forgiving than dark meat if you happen to overcook it. I like to cook my chicken breast to 150-155 F then remove off heat and let the residual heat fully cook the chicken to ensure tender chicken breast.
- Cornstarch, potato starch: this is our key ingredient to making the chicken crispy! I like using either cornstarch or potato starch.
- Vegetable oil or any neutral oil: like avocado oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, or peanut oil. Please do not use olive oil for this recipe as it doesn't have a high smoke point and carries a slight olive-like scent and taste. If you're air frying, feel free to use a cooking spray of your choice with a high smoke point of 400 F.
Orange Sauce Ingredients
- Freshly squeezed orange juice without pulp: Freshly squeezed orange juice is the key ingredient for the best orange chicken sauce recipe! It tastes so much sweeter and fresher than store bought orange juice elevating our tangy sauce. However, if you must use store bought, please do avoid the ones with pulp and do not use Concentrate orange juice.
- White vinegar, rice vinegar (aka rice wine vinegar) or apple cider vinegar: To add acidity and tanginess to our sauce.
- Brown sugar: To sweeten the sauce and balance the tanginess from the vinegar and orange juice.
- Regular soy sauce: To add a savory saltiness to our sauce. Please use normal all-purpose soy sauce. The label will just say "Soy Sauce". Avoid using dark soy sauce or light soy sauce. Feel free to use low sodium soy sauce. For a gluten-free option, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or any gluten-free soy sauce you enjoy!
- Fresh Garlic: Minced garlic will add extra flavor to our sauce complimenting the chicken.
- Ginger powder: Ginger powder adds another layer of flavor to the sauce! I prefer using the powder form to ensure it evenly distributes within the sauce but if you can't find ginger powder, grated fresh ginger is fine too.
- Cornstarch, potato starch or tapioca starch: To help thicken the sauce. This is very similar to a cornstarch slurry except we're simply mixing the starch right into the sauce to reduce another step in the cooking process.
Optional Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Orange zest
- Green onions: for a garnish and to add color to our dish!
How to make Orange Chicken
Prepare Sauce
In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients. Mix well and set aside.
Prepare Chicken
Do not pat chicken thighs dry, some moisture is needed for the next step (See Notes below for more information). Slice thighs into bite size pieces, about 1.5 x 1.5-inch-wide pieces (about 6-8 pcs per thigh, depending on size).
Coat Chicken in Starch
Transfer pieces of chicken into a large bowl, followed by cornstarch. Mix to coat each piece evenly with tongs.
Shallow Fry Method
In a wok or large skillet on medium high heat, add vegetable oil. Allow oil to get hot. Tip: To test, insert a wooden chopstick into the oil and look for bubbles. If you see bubbles, the oil is hot.
Carefully lower coated chicken into oil and quickly spread apart. Once chicken is spread apart, do not touch or move the pieces around. Allow pieces to sear and form a golden crust, about 5-6 minutes on each side.
Once a golden crust has formed, flip chicken pieces over and cook on the other side until golden brown.
Remove and transfer fried chicken onto a wire rack resting on a baking sheet or a plate lined with paper towels to drain off excess oil. Pour out any excess oil from pan.
Alternative Air Fry Method
Lightly spray air fryer basket with vegetable oil or any neutral oil. Lay coated chicken into air fryer basket in a single layer giving each piece enough space. You may need to air fry in small batches if needed depending on the size of your air fryer. Lightly spray oil over coated chicken.
Air fry at 400 degrees F for 12-14 minutes until golden crispy brown. The amount of time depends on your air fryer.
Note: I have a Philips Air Fryer and I air fried mine at 400 degrees at 14 minutes for a crispy texture. If you’re using a different machine, check your chicken at 12 minutes and if it needs more crispiness, air fry for another couple minutes until you reach your desired texture.
Simmer Sauce
In a pan set over medium high heat, pour sauce in. Stirring consistently until the sauce bubbles and thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
Toss in Fried Chicken
Mix in fried chicken until pieces are coated in sauce.
Garnish
Optional: garnish with orange zest, sesame seeds and green onions. Serve & enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
Leftover orange chicken will last up to 4 days stored in the fridge in an airtight container. To reheat, microwave for 60-130 seconds until hot or reheat on the stovetop over medium heat.
Expert Tips
Below are tips on making my easy orange chicken recipe:
- Do Not Pat Chicken Dry. The moisture from the chicken helps the cornstarch stick. In fact, if your chicken thigh is abnormally dry to the touch, I would recommend rinsing it under cold water and let the cold water drip off completely. Then cut it into pieces.
- Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice is Recommended. Natural ingredients like juice from fresh oranges will yield the best results. It’s naturally sweet, embodies the full taste of that orange flavour and it’s fresh! This will go a long way in making your orange chicken taste amazing.
- I don’t recommend Concentrate Orange Juice. If you decide to use store bought orange juice, please use “Not from Concentrate” orange juice without pulp. Please do not use concentrate orange juice.
FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about this quick orange chicken recipe:
Can I use an air fryer instead?
Yes, for a healthy orange chicken recipe, you can air fry this. To air fry chicken: Transfer cornstarch coated chicken into air fryer and give each piece enough space. You may need to air fry in two batches if needed. Air fry at 400 degrees F for 12-14 minutes depending on your air fryer.
Note: I have a Philips Air Fryer and I air fried mine at 400 degrees at 14 minutes for a crispy texture. If you’re using a different machine, check your chicken at 12 minutes and if it needs more crispiness, air fry for another couple minutes until you reach your desired texture.
Do I need to season my chicken?
For this great recipe, no. I find it unnecessary because the sauce is so flavorful and seeps into the crust of the crispy chicken. However, feel free to season with salt, black pepper, and/or garlic powder if you wish!
Why does my starch fall off?
This means the chicken was abnormally dry (which doesn’t usually happen) or you used paper towel to pat dry it.
The chicken needs to be moist, or the cornstarch will not stick to it. If you run into this next time, run the chicken thighs under cold water and let the water drip off completely. Then cut into pieces and coat with cornstarch.
Can I use chicken breast?
You may use boneless skinless chicken breast for a healthier alternative but please reduce the cooking time by a couple minutes until you reach an internal temperature of 165 F or until juices run clear.
I like to cook my chicken breast to 150-155 F then remove off heat and let the residual heat fully cook the chicken to ensure tender chicken breast. You can check the temperature with a digital instant read thermometer, they're very inexpensive online!
Can I use store bought orange juice?
Yes, you may but it’s not recommended for the full taste of this recipe. If you do, please use Not from Concentrate without pulp.
How to make orange chicken gluten free?
To make this panda express orange chicken recipe gluten free, substitute the regular soy sauce with tamari or gluten free soy sauce.
How can I make this orange chicken spicy?
By adding ½-1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, red chili flakes or cayenne pepper to the Sauce before your simmer it.
Other recipes you may like!
If you enjoyed my Chinese orange chicken recipe, you may enjoy these other chicken recipes:
- General Tso Chicken
- Mongolian Chicken
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- Chinese Lemon Chicken
- Sweet And Sour Chicken
- Sweet Sticky Korean Chicken
- Sweet Spicy Gochujang Chicken
📖 Recipe
Quick & Easy Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ¼ cup cornstarch or sub with potato starch
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral tasting oil (if you're Air Frying, sub with 2 tablespoon of oil)
Orange Chicken Sauce:
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice pulp removed (about 4-5 medium sized oranges)
- 2 tablespoon white vinegar or rice vinegar
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder or sub with freshly grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or sub with potato starch
- ½ tsp red chili flakes optional if you prefer it spicy
Optional Garnish
- ½ green onion finely chopped
- 1 tbsp orange zest grated
- 1 tsp sesame seeds toasted
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients as listed above. Mix well and set aside.
- Do not pat chicken thighs dry, some moisture is needed for the next step (See Notes below for more information). Slice thighs into bite size pieces, about 1.5 x 1.5-inch-wide pieces (about 6-8 pcs per thigh, depending on size).
- Transfer pieces of chicken into a large bowl, followed by cornstarch or potato starch. Mix to coat each piece evenly with tongs.
Shallow Fry Method:
- In a wok or large skillet on medium high heat, add vegetable oil. Allow oil to get hot. Tip: To test, insert a wooden chopstick into the oil and look for bubbles. If you see bubbles, the oil is hot.Carefully lower coated chicken into oil and quickly spread apart. Once chicken is spread apart, do not touch or move the pieces around. Allow pieces to sear and form a golden crust, about 5-6 minutes on each side. Once a golden crust has formed, flip chicken pieces over and cook on the other side until golden brown.Remove and transfer fried chicken onto a wire rack resting on a baking sheet or a plate lined with paper towels to drain off excess oil. Pour out any excess oil from pan.
Alternative Air Fry Method:
- Lightly spray air fryer basket with vegetable oil or any neutral oil.Lay coated chicken into air fryer basket in a single layer giving each piece enough space. You may need to air fry in small batches if needed depending on the size of your air fryer. Lightly spray oil over coated chicken.Air fry at 400 degrees F for 12-14 minutes until golden crispy brown. The amount of time depends on your air fryer.Note: I have a Philips Air Fryer and I air fried mine at 400 degrees at 14 minutes for a crispy texture. If you’re using a different machine, check your chicken at 12 minutes and if it needs more crispiness, air fry for another couple minutes until you reach your desired texture.
Sauce:
- In a pan set over medium high heat, pour sauce in. Stirring consistently until the sauce bubbles and thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Mix in fried chicken until pieces are coated in sauce.
- Optional: garnish with orange zest, sesame seeds and green onions. Serve & enjoy!
Notes
Suggested Equipment & Products
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Grammy Pammy
Love this recipe. Next time I will add red pepper flakes for a little more kick for the hubby. Thank you for an easy healthier version recipe. Now to find a good easy spring roll recipe and good rice paper. Any suggestions?
christieathome
Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed your and your husband enjoyed it! I'm actually working on an easy spring roll recipe so stay tuned or subscribe to my newsletter so you can know when it comes out 🙂
Kayune
Just made this today for dinner in the air fryer! It was so good!! Thank you for such an easy recipe. I don't live in America anymore and I was craving orange chicken so I'm glad I can make it at home now! 🙂
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe Kayune! I am so glad I could share this recipe with you so you can now make it in the comfort of your own home! Have a great day! - Christie
Steph S
Wow- so delicious! Perfectly crispy chicken! Not too sweet, amazing orange flavor. Definitely going into my recipe rotation.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing this very kind review Steph! I am so glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Have a lovely day!
Sheena
Another great recipe! I made this last night and it will be added to our rotation of Christie at home recipes in our household.
We do like a slighter kick, so I will add the pepper flakes as suggestion. I agree the orange juice from oranges is the way to go. It was suggested to add orange zest to give more orange zing!
I appreciate how approachable all these recipes are and have had a lot of fun making dishes we love at home that taste better!
christieathome
Hi Sheena! Thank you so much for making so many of my recipes! I truly appreciate the support and the kind words! I'm also so glad you're enjoying them 🙂 Yes fresh orange juice really is the way to go and feel free to add more chili flakes if you like a stronger kick. Have a lovely day! - Christie
Keisha-gaye
Can the chicken be done in the oven instead
christieathome
Yes, I would recommend spraying some oil on your baking tray and over your chicken. To bake, I would recommend baking at 375 degrees for 10 minutes, then move the top middle oven rack and broil until crispy for 2-3 minutes but monitor it so it doesn't burn. Good luck!
Dena
This was a wonderful recipe. The taste was fantastic. We enjoyed it very much. I haven’t been so excited about a recipe on a long time. Thank you!
Dena
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Dena! I'm so glad you enjoyed my orange chicken! 🙂
Becca
Very delicious! The texture was perfect, no need to go out when you can simply make this at home (and it’s healthier too)!!!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Becca! I'm so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Jeremy
Wonderful! My Taiwanese wife is loving these dishes I'm creating. I used almost 1.5 pounds of chicken and had enough sauce. Your recipes are the best. And, I love using corn starch to crisp the chicken.
christieathome
That's so amazing to hear, Jeremy! I'm really glad she is loving the dishes. Thank you so much for making my recipe and have a great day! - Christie
Mahira
Hi! Doe this recipe not require any salt?
Mahira
Does**
christieathome
Hi Mahira! No salt is required as the soy sauce is quite salty enough for the dish! If you'd like, you may season the thighs with 1/2 tsp salt but I don't find it necessary for taste.
Mahira
Thank you for your response! One more thing- can I substitute brown sugar with regular white sugar?
Lucky
Absolutely lovely! Wasn't sure what white vinegar to use so used Apple Cider vinegar and it turned out great. Deffo one we will keep in our meal rotation. Thank you for sharing.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Lucky! Appreciate the kind review! Glad you enjoyed it. As for the white vinegar, it's just plain regular white vinegar but happy to hear that Apple Cider vinegar worked well too!
Aiman
Hi,
Can I use white sugar instead of brown sugar? Will it change the taste in anyway if so?
christieathome
Hi Aiman, yes white sugar will work too. It shouldn't change the taste by too much.
Aiman
Hi,
Can I use white sugar instead of brown? Does it have any differences in taste for both?
Sarah
This is AMAZING!!! My kids and husband asked why I didn’t make more. ☺️
christieathome
Thank you so much for this kind review Sarah! I'm so happy you and the family liked it so much 🙂 Have a lovely night!
Tom
Excellent. I used breast tenders and cooked in a wok to your instructions. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Tom! I am really so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Angela
This orange chicken was absolutely amazing and easy to make! I’m so glad Instagram recommended me to you
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Angela! I'm really happy to hear it worked out well for you 🙂
Sherry
This recipe is a keeper! My husband and I really enjoyed it! Will definitely make this again. I gave leftovers to my 94 year old Mother. She told me it was the best recipe with rice she ever had! She is not a rice lover. I did sauté some broccoli and carrots and put all in a bowl when serving! Delicious!!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe and for the kind review, Sherry! I am so happy to hear that your whole family enjoyed it including your 94 year old mother 🙂 I'm so thrilled that it was the best recipe with her rice she's ever had!
Sade
What can I substitute for white vinegar. I have white wine vinegar, also I have lemons. Would either work?
christieathome
Sure you can substitute with white wine vinegar with a 1:1 ratio. If you happen to have rice vinegar, that would work even better.
Florence
Very good and easy to make.
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe Florence!
Zee
Deelish.
Bri Atterberry
Hi I'm excited to make this! Thank you for responding to the comment about oven-baked (I don't have an air fryer either).
christieathome
Thank you for sharing that and glad I could share how to make it in the oven 🙂
Michelle C
Made this 3 times so far and it's one of my favorite dinners! Love how delicious it is. I use potato starch and about double what the recipe says for that but everything else is spot on. I also shallow fry until it starts to get crispy, then transfer to air fryer for ultimate crispness! Thank you for sharing this recipe. ❤️
christieathome
This is truly music to my ears! I am so glad that you've enjoyed it time and time again, Michelle! Thank you for making it and sharing this kind review!
Ellisa
Really good and super easy! I liked it better than take-out.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe and for the kind comment, Ellisa! So glad you find it better than take out!
Sandy Stiner
OMG this is so good and so easy to make! Thanks Christie for helping us make delicious Chinese food at home!
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for the kind words, Sandy! So happy you enjoyed it and glad I could help with that! 🙂
Brendan
I was looking through my cook books but couldn't find anything that I fancied, so I went online and found your site. Cooked this dish, one word for it....stunning! Definitely going to try more of your recipes.
christieathome
Thanks Brendan! Glad you enjoyed my orange chicken and I hope you enjoyed my other recipes to come!
Kelly
I made this last night using the air fryer method. It was amazing! I will definitely make this again.
christieathome
Fantastic! Happy to hear it worked out well! Thanks for making it, Kelly!
Logan
I would recommend using half a cup to 3/4 a cup of orange juice instead. A full cup was just too much. Thank you for the recipe.
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe, Logan and for sharing your thoughts!
Bob hamburger
It worked awesomely
christieathome
So glad to hear! Thanks for making it, Bob!
Matt
I made the dish as written. The dish was perfect classic Orange Chicken. I had to use breast but was still restaurant quality. Take the time for the fresh squeezed orange juice (about 5-6). I have looked for an authentic Asian site for a while. The recipes (about 5) I have made are always good from Christie!!
christieathome
Thank you so much for making so many of my recipes, Matt! I really appreciate this kind comment and happy they all worked out well 🙂
Sean A
Soooo amazing! This was the first recipe I tried of Christie’s and it was a hit among the whole family. The orange chicken sauce is perfect and delicious. Definitely will try more of her stuff.
christieathome
Thank you so much for such a kind and positive review, Sean! This really made my day. I'm so glad it was a hit with your family. I hope you enjoy my other recipes. Have the best day! 🙂
Juliane
Do you think the chicken would get dry if I use chicken breast?
christieathome
Hi there, yes chicken breast is more likely to be dry however I have had other Pinterest readers make this same recipe with it and just reduced the cooking time and it turned out fine. Chicken thighs are really best recommended as they are more forgiving. Hope this helps!