Take out dishes are some of my favorite recipes to make at home, especially this tasty Slow Cooker Orange Chicken. It’s so much easier to control the spice level, saltiness AND calories when you make Chinese takeout recipes at home. This orange chicken is a family favorite! My kids love it! It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tangy and has so much flavor. The chicken turns out super juicy thanks to a technique called “velveting“. I toss the cubed chicken in cornstarch then pan fry it over high heat to caramelize the outside and seal in the juices. This will seriously give your favorite takeout orange chicken a run for it’s money!
Why this Slow Cooker Orange Chicken is the BEST!
How do I make this Slow Cooker Orange Chicken?
It takes just 3 easy steps and 10 minutes: Prepare the chicken: Add the cornstarch, salt, pepper and chicken to a ziplock bag and shake it until the chicken is well coated with the other ingredients.
Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wok and sauté the chicken for 2 minutes until it’s golden brown. It won’t cook all the way through – that’s the slow cooker’s job! Next add in the ginger and garlic and saute for a minute or so. Add the chicken and garlic to the slow cooker.
Meanwhile add sauce ingredients to small bowl and whisk to combine.
Add the sauce ingredients to the pan the chicken was cooked in to deglaze the pan. This extracts so much flavor and helps to remove the extra “fond” off the bottom of the pan.
Add the sauce to the chicken in the slow cooker and toss to combine. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees. Add a quick cornstarch slurry to the crockpot and cook for a couple more minutes then serve!
What do I serve with this easy orange chicken dish?
I love having this with fried rice, noodles or even cauliflower fried rice to keep it low carb!
Can I turn the spicy heat up or down a notch?
Absolutely! If you want more heat, add some Sriracha sauce to your portion after it’s served. To turn the heat down, just completely skip the crushed red chili flakes when you make the sauce. This is great for feeding the whole family – no heat for the kids, extra spice for the grown-ups!
How do I store this Slow Cooker Orange Chicken?
Fridge: Store this orange chicken dish in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Freezer: Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before reheating in a pot on the stove.
Can this be made in the Instant Pot?
Yes! Simply brown the chicken as directed in the Instant Pot then add all of the sauce ingredients to the instant pot and pressure cook for 5 minutes then allow it to naturally release.
Here are more Crockpot Chicken recipes to enjoy!
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Easy Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef The BEST Slow Cooker Korean Beef Slow Cooker Mongolian Chicken Slow Cooker Sriracha Meatballs
