Skip takeout and make this copycat Panda Express orange chicken recipe! Crispy, fried chicken tossed in a homemade sticky, sweet orange chicken sauce.
Try my Panda Express honey sesame chicken recipe also!
ORANGE CHICKEN RECIPE
Nothing beats sweet, sticky, tangy, and crispy orange chicken! This copycat Panda Express recipe is going to become your favorite. Crispy, golden fried chicken pieces tossed in the ultimate homemade stick and sweet orange sauce loaded with fresh citrus, garlic and a little kick of heat. Pair this classic take-out dish with rice or noodles for the ultimate dinner!
WHAT IS ORANGE CHICKEN?
Orange chicken is a popular Chinese inspired dish that is made with crisp fried chicken tossed in a sticky sauce with orange juice, soy sauce and more. The chicken is sweet and tangy with a kick of heat. A classic dish served at many Chinese restaurants and a popular take-out dish.
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Chicken– For the best results, I recommend that you use boneless skinless chicken thighs, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken breast.
- Flour– Be sure to use all-purpose flour, this is what thickens the chicken marinade batter.
- Cornstarch– Adding cornstarch to the chicken batter helps you crispy and crunchy chicken!
- Flavor– To season the chicken, this recipe calls for salt, pepper, garlic and paprika. You can use any other seasonings you prefer.
- Water– To thin out the water so that you have a paste-like mixture, this recipe calls for water.
Orange Chicken Sauce:
- Sugar– You want to use either light or dark brown sugar for the orange chicken sauce! It works as a thickening agent and gives the sauce that sweetness.
- Rice Vinegar– Adding rice vinegar gives the sauce a little tanginess that goes so well with the citrus and sweet flavors.
- Soy Sauce– Another key ingredient in this sauce is soy sauce! Use either low sodium or regular soy sauce.
- Water/Broth– To thin out the sauce, this recipes calls for water or chicken broth or stock.
- Orange Juice & Zest– The key to this orange chicken sauce is the orange juice and orange zest! You can use freshly squeezed orange juice or buy orange juice from the store.
- Ginger– The added ginger helps give this sauce all the right flavors! Be sure to use freshly minced or grated ginger.
- Garlic– For the best results, you want to use freshly minced or grated garlic cloves for this sauce. Jarred minced garlic will work also.
- Cornstarch– Adding cornstarch to this sauce is what thickens the sauce, giving you a sticky, delicious sauce at the end!
- Red Pepper Flakes– For a little kick or spice and the balance out the sweetness in the sauce you want to add crushed red pepper flakes.
HOW TO MAKE ORANGE CHICKEN
Have this copycat Panda Express orange chicken recipe ready in no time!
- Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and add to a bowl with the rest of the chicken batter and mix to fully coat the chicken. (Your chicken will be covered in almost like a thin paste.)
- Add oil to a pot or deep skillet and heat to 350°F.
- Once the oil is hot, fry the dredged chicken until crispy, golden and cooked through. (For extra crispy, you can double fry.)
- Transfer the fried chicken to a wire rack or paper towel lined plate. Repeat with all the chicken.
- In a bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the orange chicken sauce.
- Pour the sauce mixture into a wok or large deep skillet and bring to a simmer, allowing the sauce to thicken.
- Turn off the heat and add the fried chicken pieces to the wok and toss until the chicken is fully coated in sauce. Top with freshly chopped greens and sesame seeds.
- Serve immediately with desired sides.
AIR FRYER ORANGE CHICKEN
You can totally skip the deep drying and make the chicken in the air fryer!
- Spray the air fryer basket with baking spray and add the chicken in a single layer.
- Air fry at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken is crispy and cooked through.
- Transfer to the wok with orange sauce, toss and serve.
SERVING IDEAS-
Pair this with the proper sides for the ultimate dinner!
- Lo Mein Noodles
- Ramen Stir Fry Noodles
- Stir Fry Veggies
- Kani Salad
- Steam White Rice
- Fried Rice
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
Yes! You can totally use either chicken thighs or chicken breast for this copycat orange chicken recipe.
You must give it time, as soon as everything starts to heat up, it will begin to thicken.
No worries, just double the orange chicken sauce recipe for more sauce!
You can slowly whisk in some more liquid such as water, broth, or orange juice until it thins out to your desired consistency.
Yes! You can totally fry the chicken ahead of time, then when ready reheat in the oven or air fryer and then toss in the orange chicken sauce right before serving!
Once the orange chicken is cool, transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat and enjoy!
OTHER ASIAN INSPIRED RECIPES-
If you love Asian cuisine, try my other great Asian-inspired recipes.
Panda Express Orange Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- sesame seeds for garnish
- freshly chopped green onions for garnish
- oil for frying
Chicken Batter-
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup water
Orange Chicken Sauce-
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup chicken broth or water
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1 Tbsp orange zest
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger grated
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
Frying the Chicken-
- Cut the chicken thighs into bite sized pieces, about 1-inch sized cubes. Add the chicken pieces to a large bowl.1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- To the bowl, add the rest of the chicken batter and mix to combine. (Your chicken will be covered almost like a thin paste.)1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup cornstarch, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 cup water
- Add about 3-4 inches of oil to a deep skillet or pot and heat to 350℉.
- Once the oil is hot, add the dredged chicken to the pan, piece by piece and fry until all the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes total. (For extra crispy, you can double fry.)oil , for frying
- Transfer the fried chicken to a wire rack or paper towel lined plate. Repeat with all the chicken.
Orange Chicken Sauce-
- In a bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the orange chicken sauce.1/3 cup brown sugar, 3 Tbsp rice vinegar, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup chicken broth, or water, 1/3 cup orange juice, 1 Tbsp orange zest, 2 Tbsp cornstarch, 4 garlic cloves, minced, 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, grated, 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- Pour the sauce mixture into a wok or large deep skillet and bring to a simmer on medium heat, allowing the sauce to thicken.
- Turn off the heat and add the fried chicken pieces to the wok and toss until the chicken is fully coated in sauce. Top with freshly chopped greens and sesame seeds.sesame seeds , for garnish, freshly chopped green onions, for garnish
- Serve immediately with desired sides.
Leave a Reply