Chinese Orange Chicken

Popular American Chinese orange chicken like walnut shrimp, 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. This Chinese orange chicken recipe is better than takeout and great to go with ham fried rice, chow mein and hot & sour soup. Let's learn how to make tasty and crispy Chinese orange chicken for your meal with step by step photos, tips and a video tutorial!

Love Chinese food? Check out these steamed meatballs, 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 Chinese orange chicken? 

Orange chicken is a popular dish in American Chinese cuisine like walnut shrimp, zucchini mushroom chicken and kung pao chicken. It’s Panda Express's, an 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. 

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.

Typically, Chinese orange chicken consists of battered fried chicken pieces that are coated in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy orange flavored sauce. The sauce is made with ingredients such as orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, ginger, garlic, and some chili pepper flakes for adding heat and extra flavor. Besides, orange chicken is the best to serve with steamed rice or chow mein. 

What does Chinese orange chicken taste like?

Chinese orange chicken has a unique flavor that combines sweet, tangy, savory, and some spicy elements. Typically, the chicken is crispy on the outside because it is battered and deep fried, while inside is tender and juicy. The sauce adds a sweet and tangy citrus flavor from the orange juice which balances the savory taste from ingredients like soy sauce, garlic and ginger. 

Depending on the recipe, there may be a hint of spiciness from chili pepper flakes which adds a depth of flavor. In this Chinese orange chicken recipe, I add some chili pepper flakes for more flavor. In general, the taste of this Chinese orange chicken recipe is savory, sweet, citrus flavors with a slightly spicy kick.

What to serve with Chinese orange chicken?

Chinese orange chicken pairs well with a variety of side dishes such as steamed white rice, fried rice, chow mein, and stir fry vegetables like baby bok choy, yu choy sum, gai lan, water spinach, Chinese spinach amaranth and sweet potato leaves stir fry. Besides, you can serve it with spring rolls, pan fried dumplings, boiled dumplings, pan fried buns and much more.

What is the difference between General Tso and orange chicken?

General Tso's chicken and orange chicken are both popular American Chinese cuisine. But, they have some differences in flavor, appearance, and origin.

Flavor:

General Tso's chicken has a sweet, spicy, and savory flavor. The sauce is usually made with ingredients like soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and ginger which results in a rich and bold flavor with a hint of heat from the chili peppers.

On the other hand, orange chicken has a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor. The sauce is primarily made with orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and ginger which gives it a distinct citrusy taste with a touch of sweetness.

Appearance:

Both General Tso's chicken and orange chicken feature deep fried chicken pieces that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. However, General Tao’s chicken is coated in a dark and glossy sauce.

The sauce for orange chicken is usually lighter in color and has a slightly thicker consistency compared to General Tso's chicken sauce. Also, it has visible orange zest or orange slices which give it a bright and vibrant appearance.

Origin:

The origin of General Tso chicken is in Hunan province, China. It is named after General Tso Tsung-tang, a Qing dynasty military leader. However, the version of General Tso's chicken commonly found in American Chinese restaurants is westernized and significantly differs from the traditional Chinese dish.

The creation of orange chicken is American Chinese cuisine and is not traditionally found in China. But, it has gained popularity in the United States, particularly in fast food chains and Chinese American restaurants. Now, it has become a staple menu item for American Chinese food.

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

The best is to use skinless boneless chicken thighs for this Chinese 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. In this Chinese orange chicken recipe, the sauce is made from fresh orange juice or store bought ones, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, water, vinegar, cornstarch and chili pepper. Also, this orange sauce tastes amazingly good and better than take out. I am sure you will like it too!

How to make the chicken crispy? 

The secret of making chicken crispy is the flour and double frying technique. In this Chinese orange chicken recipe, I use a mixture of rice flour and all purpose flour. Rice flour has a finer texture compared to wheat flour. 

It can result in a lighter and more delicate coating on the chicken. This lighter coating allows the chicken to crisp up quickly when deep frying. Therefore, it creates a crunchy exterior while keeping the inside tender. 

Also, the double frying technique helps the chicken even crispy. Double deep fry means deep fry again. First deep fry around 350 F until it’s slightly golden. Then, take the chicken out, turn the fire medium small. The temperature is around 375 F, deep fry again and until it’s golden brown. 

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 400 F for 12-15 minutes. Check them at 6-7 minutes and flip the other sides for another 6-7 minutes. 

Does orange chicken contain gluten?

The presence of gluten in orange chicken can vary and depends on the recipe. Typically, orange chicken coats the chicken in a mixture of flour before frying to achieve a crispy texture. If wheat flour is used, then the dish would contain gluten.

In this Chinese orange chicken recipe, I use a mixture of rice flour and all purpose flour which contains wheat. You can replace the all purpose flour with sweet potato starch or use rice flour if you want it to be gluten free.

What are the ingredients for Chinese orange chicken? 

Substitutions:

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! 

Can I use chicken breast instead? 

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

Storage:

How to store the leftovers of orange chicken?

If possible, separate the chicken pieces from the sauce before storing them. This will help maintain the crispy texture of the chicken. You can store the sauce separately in a sealed container.

Let the leftover orange chicken cool down to room temperature before storing it. This helps prevent condensation from forming inside the container, which can make the chicken soggy. Then, place the sealed container of leftover orange chicken in the refrigerator. It can last for 3-4 days. 

Can I freeze Chinese orange chicken?

Yes, you can freeze Chinese orange chicken for later consumption. Let the cooked orange chicken cool down to room temperature before freezing. This helps prevent condensation from forming inside the container, which can lead to freezer burn.

If you have a large batch of orange chicken, consider divide it into smaller serving sizes before freezing. This makes it easier to thaw and reheat only the amount you need.

When you're ready to enjoy the frozen orange chicken, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Once thawed, reheat the chicken in the microwave, oven or air fryer until it is heated through.

Reheat:

How to reheat Chinese orange chicken?

Microwave:

You can warm up the leftover orange chicken from the fridge in the microwave. Cover it with a wet paper towel and reheat it for 1-2 minutes.   

Oven:

Preheat the oven to 400 °F, place the leftover Chinese orange chicken on a baking sheet in a single layer. Then, bake it for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through. 

Air fryer:

Reheat the leftover orange chicken in the air fryer at 400 F for 5 minutes. 

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: 

Instructions for how to make Chinese orange chicken: 

Chicken preparation: 

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

Marinate chicken:

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.

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

Double deep fry:

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

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

Orange sauce: 

12. Grate 2 slices of ginger (0.3 oz). 

13. After that, grate 2 cloves of garlic (0.5 oz). 

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. 

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. 

16. The following, pour the sauce mixture from step 14. Stir them a little bit. 

17. Then, add 1.5 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water into a small container. Mix them well. 

18. Pour the cornstarch mixture from step 17 into the sauce. Keep stirring the sauce. 

Combine:

19. When the sauce thickens, add the deep fried chicken into the sauce. Toss it and make sure the chicken is covered with the sauce. 

20. Lastly, slice half of an orange and put them on the orange chicken as decoration. 

Enjoy this delicious Panda Express Chinese orange chicken recipe! Also, check out these char siu, sesame oil chicken rice, red Thai curry, pho noodle soup, Taiwanese beef noodle soup, siu mai dim sum, pineapple cake and tonkatsu recipes. 

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