Orange Chicken

Name: Easy Orange Chicken (w/ Air Frying Option)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1/4 cup cornstarch (or sub with potato starch); 1/3 cup vegetable oil (or any neutral tasting oil (if you're Air Frying, sub with 2 tbsp of oil)); 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (pulp removed (about 4-5 medium sized oranges)); 2 tbsp white vinegar (or rice vinegar); 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar; 2 tbsp regular soy sauce; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1/4 tsp ginger powder (or sub with freshly grated ginger); 1 tbsp cornstarch (or sub with potato starch); 1/2 tsp red chili flakes (optional if you prefer it spicy); 1/2 green onion (finely chopped); 1 tbsp orange zest (grated ); 1 tsp sesame seeds (toasted)

Last Modified: August 30, 2023 - Published by: christieathome

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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.

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. 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.

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!

What's Orange Chicken Taste like?

Imagine crispy bite-sized pieces of chicken smothered in a thick glossy, orange-flavored sauce, with a hint of tang and garlic. Some recipes are spicy but mine is not, however I share a way to make this spicy if you wish.

Easy to make!

If you’re a fan of orange chicken, then you will love the homemade version of this popular Chinese takeout dish! Homemade orange chicken is quite simple to make at home and most of the ingredients are accessible!

The tangy orange sauce is not spicy, making it a great dish for kids to enjoy as well. I love serving orange chicken and white rice or brown rice with steamed broccoli but it's up to you. For a healthier option, you can even serve this with cauliflower rice.

I also share shallow frying and air frying instructions below in my recipe card.

No Deep Frying!

Unlike other recipes, mine does not require you to deep fry! I’m not a fan of deep frying because of the mess and waste. We are simply shallow frying or air frying this chicken dish over medium-high heat or 400 F. This is the best orange chicken without having to deep fry making it a slightly healthier alternative for the whole family. Each piece of chicken comes out crispy!

No Batter - Just Cornstarch!

There is no wet batter required. Instead, we simply coat the chicken chunks in about 4 tablespoon corn starch to fry later.

Crispy Orange Chicken without Deep Frying:

There are a few reasons why we’re able to get this chicken so crispy without deep frying:

Chicken thigh is a tender and forgiving cut of meat, as there is fat running on the sides. With that said, we can cook the chicken long enough to create a crispy crust without drying out the meat (about 10-12 minutes over medium high heat).
Generously and evenly coating the chicken pieces in corn starch. The cornstarch mixture is the key to forming a crust as the chicken fries.
Medium high heat (Level 8/10 on the dial) or 400 degrees F on your air fryer. This allows for a crust around the chicken to form without a second fry.
Allowing the chicken to sear and form a crust without much movement in the pan. This is crucial to crispy chicken. If you’re constantly moving the chicken around, this doesn’t give it time to fry in the oil and develop a crust.

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.
- Do not pat your chicken dry, we will need the moisture to help the starch adhere to the chicken pieces.

Cornstarch, potato starch: this is our key ingredient to making the chicken crispy! I like using either cornstarch or potato starch. Most Western Grocers will carry this ingredient.
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

In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients. 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. 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!

Storage

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.

Cooking 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.

How long will this dish last?

Up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. By the second day, please note the chicken won't be crispy so it's best consumed immediately or in the same day.

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:

Easy Orange Chicken (w/ Air Frying Option)

christieathome

4.87 from 23 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine Chinese

Servings

Calories per serving 401 kcal

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