Orange Chicken
Orange Chicken is a quick and easy dish featuring crispy, tender chicken pieces coated in a sweet, tangy, and savory orange sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this family-friendly recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and offers a versatile meal perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free (use tamari and gluten-free cornstarch)
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch, for coating
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Orange Sauce
- 1 cup fresh or store-bought orange juice
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp dried red chili flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (cornstarch slurry)
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Cut chicken into even, bite-sized pieces for consistent cooking. Pat dry with paper towels to help the coating adhere better.
- Coat and Fry the Chicken: Toss chicken in cornstarch, shaking off any excess. Fry in hot vegetable oil in batches until golden brown and crispy. Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain crispiness.
- Make the Orange Sauce: Whisk orange juice, soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and red chili flakes (if using) in a small bowl while frying the chicken.
- Thicken the Sauce: Pour the sauce mixture into a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil. Gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry until sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Add the fried chicken to the thickened sauce and toss thoroughly to coat. Serve immediately to enjoy the best texture.
Notes
- Dry chicken pieces thoroughly before coating to ensure maximum crispiness.
- Use fresh orange juice for a bright, natural flavor.
- Fry chicken in small batches to avoid overcrowding and keep it crispy.
- Add cornstarch slurry gradually to avoid an overly thick or gloppy sauce.
- Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: orange chicken, quick dinner, crispy chicken, sweet and tangy sauce, Asian-inspired, family-friendly
Find it online: https://mealsbysarah.com/orange-chicken/
