This sweet and savory Orange Chicken Recipe has a delicious spicy orange flavor! It has a crunchy coating made from cornstarch instead of flour, which keeps it crunchy even after being glazed.
Use Fresh Oranges
If you are a fan of orange chicken, this dish is for you! It is sweet and savory, with just the right amount of orange. I love this dish year-round, but make it more often during the citrus season when oranges are plentiful, flavorful, and juicy.
Best Oranges to Use
As for the best oranges to use, use the best quality oranges you can find at your local market. I have even used tangerines for this recipe, and it was delicious! This dish will have the best flavor when made with freshly squeezed orange juice, rather than bottled, so don’t be tempted to take a shortcut.
Make this Orange Chicken with a Partner
This recipe uses freshly squeezed orange juice, which requires an extra step, but it is well worth the extra time. I recommend using an orange juicer to squeeze the juice and save time. Also, preparing this dish with a helper makes it come together quickly. Have one person work on the orange sauce, and the other prepare and cook the chicken.
Zest the Oranges
You will need two tablespoons of orange zest for this recipe, which takes about two oranges. Always zest the oranges before cutting them in half or squeezing out the juice. It makes zesting so much easier!
Use an Egg Dip for Orange Chicken
Cut the chicken breast into small pieces and place them into a medium-sized bowl. Add beaten eggs and stir to coat the chicken. The egg will help the cornstarch stick to the chicken.
Use a Plastic Bag to Help Coat the Chicken
Use a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag to help coat the chicken with cornstarch. Add the cornstarch, black pepper, and cayenne to the bag. Then, use a fork to remove the chicken from the egg. The fork tines will allow any excess egg to drain away. Place several chicken pieces in the bag. Shake the bag to coat the chicken, then add more chicken and repeat the process. Just be careful not to add too much chicken at once, as it may clump together.
Fry the Chicken Until Lightly Browned
When chicken is cut into small pieces and fried, it can overcook quickly, becoming tough and chewy. Sometimes, cornstarch doesn’t brown as quickly as flour, and the chicken may appear undercooked. To prevent overcooking, use a meat thermometer with a probe to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should be 165°F in the thickest part.
Orange Sauce
The orange sauce for this recipe is simple to make. It features a combination of sweet and savory ingredients, utilizing cornstarch to help thicken the mixture. Add the cooked chicken to the pan after the sauce finishes cooking. Then, stir in the zest. Add the chicken to the hot orange sauce; it will reheat and be ready to serve.
Reheating Orange Chicken
For the most delicious flavor, orange chicken is best served immediately after preparation; therefore, it will be hot and juicy, with the chicken remaining tender and succulent. Although you can reheat the chicken, it is advisable to avoid the microwave to prevent it from becoming tough and dry. Instead, I prefer reheating this dish in a skillet on the stove, as it reheats quickly and doesn’t dry out as much as when cooked in the oven.
Gluten-Free Orange Chicken
This is an easy dish to make gluten-free. The only substitution needed is to use gluten-free tamari sauce in place of the soy sauce. No flour is substituted because this dish uses cornstarch for breading the chicken and thickening the sauce. However, always use gluten-free chicken stock and other trusted gluten-free products.
Using Ginger
This recipe uses prepared ginger instead of fresh ginger. I like Gourmet Garden Ginger Paste, which comes in a tube and is typically found in the produce section of grocery stores. However, if you have a favorite brand of jarred ginger, feel free to use it in its place. I like prepared ginger for this recipe because it saves preparation time and tastes great. Enjoy!
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Orange Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken
- ⅓ cup cooking oil
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2-2 pounds chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Orange Sauce
- ⅓ cup chicken stock
- 1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
- ¼ cup soy sauce (use gluten-free tamari sauce for a gluten-free dish)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar (use 1/2 cup for a sweeter dish)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste (see note below)
- 2 tablespoons orange zest (about 2 oranges)
Instructions
Chicken
- Place the cornstarch, black pepper, and cayenne into a gallon-size resealable bag and shake the bag to mix the contents.
- Add the cut-up chicken to a medium-sized bowl. Beat the eggs and pour them over the chicken. Stir to coat the chicken with egg. Add the coated chicken to the cornstarch mixture in the bag. (It is best to use a fork or slotted spoon to let the egg drips fall off the chicken before adding it to the cornstarch.) Shake the bag each time after adding several pieces of chicken. Coat the chicken with cornstarch, adding more cornstarch if needed.
- Pour the oil into a large skillet and heat it over medium. When the oil is hot, add the coated chicken. (Be careful not to crowd the pan.) Brown the chicken on both sides until the internal temperature is 165°F. Place the chicken on a platter covered with paper towels to drain it.
- Fry all the chicken, adding more oil if needed.
Orange Sauce
- Add the stock, orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes to a large measuring cup. Stir to mix. Set aside.
- Add a little cooking oil to a clean skillet. Add the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant.
- Stir the orange juice mixture and then pour it into the skillet. Cook until thickened, stirring often. Add the cooked chicken and stir to coat the pieces with sauce. Stir for a minute to reheat the chicken. Remove from the heat and stir in the orange zest. Garnish with sliced green onions. Serve with rice.