Orange Chicken

Name: Orange Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 pieces Chicken thighs ((Boneless and skinless)); 1 Orange ((Use half for decoration)); 1/8 teaspoon Salt; 1/8 teaspoon White pepper; 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder; 1 teaspoon Sesame oil; 1/2 cup Rice flour; 1/2 cup All purpose flour; 1 Egg; 3/4 cup Water; 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil; 1/4 teaspoon Crushed red pepper ((Chili pepper flakes)); 2 slices Ginger; 2 cloves Garlic; 1/4 cup White sugar; 1/4 cup Brown sugar; 1/4 cup Orange juice ((I use store brand)); 1/4 cup Vinegar; 2 tablespoons Soy sauce; 1.5 tablespoons Cornstarch; 2 tablespoons Water; 4 cups Vegetable oil ((For deep fry the chicken))

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Popular American Chinese orange chicken like zucchini mushroom chicken, kung pao chicken, fried rice and chow mein are Panda Express’s signature dishes. It is very similar to sweet & sour pork. You will love this sweet and savory Chinese orange chicken recipe! This homemade orange chicken is better than takeout and great to go with ham fried rice and hot & sour soup. Let's learn how to make tasty and crispy Chinese orange chicken for your meal with step by step photos and a video!

Love Chinese food? Check out cashew shrimp, beef broccoli, mushroom chicken, beef chow fun, tomato egg, baby bok choy stir fry, eggplant & pork, mapo tofu, mango pomelo and black sesame soup recipes.

What is orange chicken?

Orange chicken is a popular American Chinese dish in North America. It’s Panda Express's, American Chinese fast food chain's signature dish. However, you can hardly find this Chinese orange chicken dish at local restaurants in China because this is an American style Chinese food. And, I didn’t even know about this dish until I lived in the USA.

On the other hand, sweet and sour pork is a similar dish you can easily find in the southern part of China. And, the idea is very similar to orange chicken. Now, this Chinese Panda Express orange chicken is my family favorite dish and must order items if they go to Panda Express.

What is orange chicken taste like?

Orange chicken are battered and deep-fried chicken pieces with the orange sauce. The chicken is crispy on the outside and meat is tender and juicy inside because of the deep fried batter. Then, coated with the orange sauce which is orange juice, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sugar which gives it a distinct tangy, sweet and slightly spicy taste. The taste of this Chinese orange chicken recipe is savory, sweet, and citrus flavors.

What is the best part of the chicken to use for orange chicken?

The best is to use skinless boneless chicken thigh for this orange chicken recipe because it has better texture and juicier than chicken breasts after cooking. Personally, I highly recommend using chicken thighs. But you can use chicken breasts if that’s what you prefer.

What is orange sauce ?

Orange sauce is very important and crucial in the orange chicken dish. The taste of the orange sauce makes a big difference if the orange chicken tastes good or not. The sauce is typically made from fresh orange juice or store bought ones, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, water, vinegar, cornstarch and chili pepper. This orange sauce tastes amazingly good and better than take out. I am sure you will like it too!

Can I air fry chicken pieces instead of deep fry them?

Sure, you can. But, you cannot use the batter method. You can dip the chicken pieces with flour, egg and flour. Then, spray some oil on the chicken pieces and air fry them at 400F for 12-15 minutes. Check them at 6-7 minutes and flip the other sides for another 6-7 minutes.

What are the ingredients for Chinese orange chicken?

In this Chinese orange chicken recipe, it has 4 main ingredients: chicken thighs, seasonings, batter and the sauce.

Seasonings Ingredients:

To marinate the chicken, I just use salt, garlic powder, white pepper and sesame oil.

Batter Ingredients:

The batter I use is egg, rice flour, all purpose flour and water. I like to add some rice flour because it makes the deep fried chicken crunchy and crispy.

Orange Sauce:

For the sauce, I use vegetable oil, garlic, ginger, chili pepper flakes (crushed red pepper), brown sugar, white sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, orange juice, cornstarch and water.

Cooking tips for how to make Chinese orange chicken:

Marinate chicken at least 15 minutes before cooking.
I personally prefer to use chicken thighs instead of breasts because it has a better texture.
Adding rice flour can make the deep fried chicken crispy and crunchy.
Double deep fry. (First deep fry around 350 F until slightly golden, take out the chicken. Turn the fire to medium small temperature around 375 F and deep fry again until it’s golden brown.)
Cook the sauce and add the deep fried chicken. Then, toss it and make sure the sauce mixes and covers the chicken.

FAQs:

Can I use chicken breast instead?

Yes, you can. But, the texture is not the same. It is best to use chicken thighs.

Is it ok to use only all purpose flour?

It is ok. However, adding rice flour to the batter makes the fried chicken crispy and crunchy. It tastes even better!

How to know if the oil is hot enough for deep fry?

You can use a thermometer (~350 F). Or, use a wooden chopstick to dip into the oil when you see some bubbles around the chopstick. It is a sign to show the oil is hot enough for deep fry.

What is double deep fry?

Double deep fry means deep fry again. First deep fry around 350 F until it’s slightly golden. Take the chicken out, turn the fire medium small. The temperature is around 375 F, deep fry again and until it’s golden brown.

What kind of orange juice do you use?

I used the store bought orange juice. You can use fresh squeezed orange juice if you like.

What does the orange chicken sauce taste like?

It’s sweet, sour, savory and a little bit spicy. It tastes like Panda Express orange chicken or even better!

Can I not add chili peppers?

Yes, you don’t have to add chili peppers if you cannot handle spicy food. (The amount of chili pepper in the recipe is not too spicy. My kids can handle it too.) Or, you can adjust the amount of chili peppers to your spiciness.

Instructions for how to make orange chicken:

Chicken Preparation:

1. Wash 4 pieces of boneless chicken thighs. Then, trim the fat and cut the chicken thighs into chunks.

2. Put the cut chicken thighs into a bowl. Add ⅛ teaspoon of salt, ⅛ teaspoon of white pepper, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil into the bowl. Mix it well and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Batter mixture:

3. After, put ½ cup of rice flour, ½ cup of all purpose flour, 1 egg and ¾ cup of water into a mixing bowl.

4. Use a whisk to mix the batter very well.

5. Next, add the marinated chicken into the batter.

6. Mix well and cover the marinated chicken with batter.

Deep fry:

7. Pour 4 cups of vegetable oil into the wok and turn the fire to small. Heat up the oil until it's hot enough. Also, you can use a thermometer, the temperature is around 350 F. Or, use a wooden chopstick to dip into the oil when you see some bubbles around the chopstick. It is a sign to show the oil is hot enough for deep fry.

8. Slowly add the chicken covered with batter into the oil.

slightly golden deep fry chicken on a plate with paper towel

9. Let it deep fry until it's slightly golden. Take out the chicken and turn the fire to medium small.

double deep fry the chicken in the wok with oil

10. Double deep fry the chicken. The temperature of the oil is around 375F and put the fried chicken into the oil again.

golden brown double deep fried chicken on a plate with paper towel

11. Until the chicken is golden brown. Drain the chicken and put them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Sauce:

12. Grate 2 slices of ginger.

13. After that, grate 2 cloves of garlic.

14. In a container, add ¼ cup of white sugar, ¼ cup of brown sugar, ¼ cup of orange juice, ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Mix the sauce very well.

stir fry grind ginger garlic and chili pepper flakes in a wok

15. Next, pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into the wok. Turn on the fire to medium small. Add the grated ginger and garlic. And, ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper (chili pepper flakes). Stir fry them a little bit.