Small bites of fried chicken are smothered in a flavorful and tangy orange sauce in this delicious orange chicken recipe.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time35 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: orange chicken recipe
Servings: 4
Calories: 639kcal
Ingredients
Sauce
1cup orange juicepulp free
½cupsugar
2tablespoonsrice vinegar
2tablespoonssoy sauce
½teaspoonground ginger
½teaspoongarlic powder
1orangezested
1½tablespoonscorn starch
1½ tablespoonswater
¼ to ½teaspoonred chili flakesoptional
Chicken
3eggsbeaten
1½cupsflour
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonground white pepper
½teaspoononion powder
½teaspooncumin
½teaspoonchili powder
4boneless skinless chicken breastscut into 1-inch pieces
4 to 5tablespoonssesame oil
Garnish
5green onionschopped
sesame seeds
orange zest
Instructions
In a small bowl, add eggs and beat together with a whisk.
In a medium bowl add flour, salt, ground white pepper, onion powder, cumin, and chili powder. Whisk together to combine.
Take each piece of chicken and dip it in egg mixture, then dip in flour mixture to coat all sides of the chicken pieces. Set coated chicken on a plate until ready to put in the skillet.
In a large skillet over medium heat add sesame oil. Once oil is hot and shimmering, add coated chicken to the skillet, one piece at a time.
Once all chicken is added to the skillet and has browned on the bottom, individually turn each piece of chicken over and allow it to cook and brown on the other side. Once chicken is done cooking and browned on both sides remove to a paper towel lined plate.
Sauce
While the chicken is cooking add orange juice, sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, zest from 1 orange, and red pepper flakes to a medium saucepan. Whisk together to combine. Turn heat to medium and allow sauce toboil 3 to 4 minutes, whisking often.
In a separate small bowl add the cornstarch and water. Mix together until no lumps remain. Pour into boiling sauce mixture and whisk together. Continue to boil 1 to 2 additional minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to thicken as it sits.
Place the browned chicken in a large mixing bowl and pour ¾ of the sauce over the top. Use tongs or a large spoon to gently toss and coat all chicken in sauce.
Serve immediately over rice and garnish with green onions. Use extra sauce to pour over rice when serving.
Video
Notes
You can find sesame oil in two places at the grocery store. It can be found in the baking aisle in the oil section. You can also find it with Asian foods as well. It is usually cheaper if you pick the oil that is in with the Asian foods.
This recipe makes a little bit of extra sauce that can be used to pour over the rice when serving.
This recipe is very “spicy” if the optional red pepper flakes are added. I suggest tasting the sauce before adding the optional red pepper flakes.