What you need to make this recipe
Chicken – for an authentic orange chicken taste make sure to use skinless and boneless chicken breasts cut into small chunks. You can also use chicken thighs (skinless and boneless) but the texture will be slightly different from the classic takeout dish. Oranges – this is one of the most important ingredients because it gives the sauce that classic sweet orange flavor. I find that using freshly squeezed orange juice and zest is the way to get the best flavor! Rice vinegar – the sauce has a delicious sweet and sour flavor and that comes from rice vinegar which is used in most Chinese dishes. White vinegar will also work. All-purpose flour – along with egg this creates the crispy and delicious coating on the outside. To make it gluten free you can substitute GF flour or more cornstarch. Vegetable oil – I find vegetable or canola oil the best for frying. Make sure to use a thermometer to control the temperature so your oil is not too cool or too hot.
How to make Orange Chicken
Mix all ingredients for the sauce except the cornstarch in a jug or bowl.
Mix the cornstarch with a little water and set aside. Add the sauce ingredients to a skillet and simmer. Add the cornstarch and cook further until thickened.
Mix the chopped chicken pieces in egg, toss to coat.
Next dredge the chicken in flour.
Fry the chicken in batches until crispy and golden.
Toss in the warmed orange sauce and serve.
Pro tips for making this recipe
To save time, I like to warm the orange sauce up while I’m frying the chicken. If you want to make the sauce spicy you can add fresh chili or more red chili flakes to taste. You can use store-bought orange juice instead of freshly squeezed but don’t skip that orange zest and make sure it’s 100% orange fruit juice and not from concentrate.
Why is this Orange Chicken better than takeout?
Ok, so why order takeout? It’s easy and you’re hungry? The thing is this homemade orange chicken is super easy to make and believe me when I say that it tastes 100x better than any takeout you’ll ever have. Because this is made from scratch you are in control of the amount of sugar and salt that’s added and it’s free of any nasty additives!
How do I know the chicken is cooked?
The chicken is cut into small pieces and fried in hot oil so when the outside turns crispy and golden brown you know that the chicken is cooked through. An important tip is to use a thermometer to measure the temperature of your oil because if it’s not hot enough you’ll have too much excess oil in your chicken and it may overcook and if it’s too hot the chicken will burn.
Can I make it gluten free?
Yes, this recipe is easy to make gluten free simply replace the flour for dredging the chicken with GF flour or more cornstarch and use tamari instead of soy sauce.
Serving suggestions
I love this served with rice and garnished with green onions for a little freshness. If you don’t want rice you could serve it with Chinese noodles or your favorite Chinese dishes.
How can I make this dish lighter?
You can make this recipe lighter and a little healthier by making a few simple swaps. Instead of frying the chicken in batter you can stir fry it just as is it and toss it with the orange sauce. It won’t have that crispy texture on the outside but it will give you a light version that tastes great. Also, try using low sodium soy sauce to reduce your salt intake.
Can I prepare this in advance?
You can prepare the sauce and fry the chicken in advance but keep them stored separately in the fridge for 1-3 days. When you are ready for dinner pop the chicken in a hot oven for a few minutes to crisp up while you heat up the sauce in a large pan then toss them both together and serve.
Can it be frozen?
Yes, this recipe can be frozen but I recommend freezing the sauce and cooked chicken separately. Thaw them both completely then heat the chicken up in an oven and heat the sauce in a pan before tossing them both together. If you have leftovers they can be frozen but the chicken won’t be crispy once thawed and reheated with the sauce.
If you’ve tried this Orange Chicken recipe then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
