Description
Orange Chicken is a crispy, golden fried chicken dish tossed in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy orange sauce. It’s a Chinese-American favorite that’s easy to make at home and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 1 cup orange juice (preferably fresh)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
Instructions
- Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then coat with the flour mixture evenly.
- Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches until golden and crispy, about 4–5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
- In a saucepan, combine orange juice, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, zest, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Simmer over medium heat.
- Add the cornstarch slurry and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add the fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Simmer for 1–2 minutes.
- Serve hot over white rice or with steamed vegetables.
Notes
- Double fry the chicken for extra crispiness.
- Adjust red pepper flakes or add sriracha for more heat.
- Substitute tofu or shrimp for a different protein option.
- Add broccoli or snow peas for added veggies.
- Serve over cauliflower rice for a low-carb version.
