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Chopsticks picking up a piece of orange chicken from a white plate with chinese orange chicken on top of white rice.
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5 from 8 votes

Easy Chinese Orange Chicken Recipe

In less than 30 minutes, create a semi-homade dish of sweet and tangy orange sauce glistening over crispy breaded chicken pieces. It’s easily a top choice for the next time you crave Chinese takeout!
Author: Nikki Lee
Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 20 ounces breaded chicken nuggets See notes to make homemade breaded chicken.

Orange Sauce

  • 2 cups orange juice fresh or store bought
  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons minced ginger
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
  • 1 zest from orange divided (reserve some for garnish if desired)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water

Garnish

  • 1 tablespoon green onion (or to taste)
  • zest of orange

Instructions

  • Cook your chicken according to the package ingredients- approximately 10 minutes. *See note section to make homemade chicken nuggets
  • In a large pot over medium heat, add the orange juice, sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic cloves, red chili flakes, orange zest, and soy sauce. Stir until combined.
  • In a small bowl, make a slurry with the cornstarch and water. Add the slurry to the orange sauce. Stir for 5-7 minutes or until the sauce is thick. Then remove from heat.
    TIP: If you would like extra sauce to drizzle over rice or veggies, double the orange sauce recipe.
  • Add the cooked chicken to the pot and toss until the chicken is fully coated.
  • Serve over rice and top with red pepper flakes, green onions, and the remainder of the orange zest.

Notes

    • Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice– If you’re using fresh oranges, make sure to zest them first.
    • Thicken the Sauce– If you prefer a thicker orange sauce, add more water and cornstarch slurry until it’s the desired consistency. 
    • Drain Excess Grease: If using a frying cook method for the chicken, move the chicken onto a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess grease. Then, toss in the sauce.
    • Garnish with sesame seeds, too, if you’d like.
To Make Homemade Breaded Chicken
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup avocado oil
Whisk the eggs in a bowl. In a separate bowl, add the cornstarch, flour, and salt. Dredge the chicken in the eggs and then the dry flour mixture. Over medium heat, add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken. Cook on each side for 4-7 minutes or until the juices run clear. You want to reach a temperature of 165°F.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 749mg | Potassium: 863mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 454IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

Find it online:

www.soulfullymade.com/easy-chinese-orange-chicken-recipe/