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–+ servings
Orange Chicken

Orange Chicken Recipe

Sweet and savory chicken breast bites with a tangy orange sauce
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Chinese
Servings 6
Calories 430 kcal

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.

Notes

Gluten-Free

To make this a gluten-free dish, use gluten-free tamari sauce instead of soy sauce. Tamari sauce is found in the grocery store alongside soy sauce.

Ginger Paste

I recommend using Gourmet Garden Ginger Paste in a tube. It can be found in the produce section at grocery stores.
Click here to link to this product. You can also use minced ginger in a jar.

Reheating Leftovers

Place the chicken in a skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring until it is heated through. This dish does not reheat well in the microwave.

Variation

Add 1-2 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds to the finished dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 28gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 726mgPotassium: 582mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 381IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Asian Orange Chicken, Chinese Orange Chicken Recipe, Orange Chicken, Orange Peel Chicken
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