I make this orange chicken recipe when I crave takeout and want a calm kitchen. The sauce hits sweet and bright. The chicken stays crisp. I hear a sizzle and I know dinner is close. We coat small bites of chicken and fry in a shallow pan. The glaze comes together fast in one pot. It smells like fresh orange and warm ginger. A bowl of rice waits nearby. I taste as I cook. I nudge the salt. I pull the pan when the shine turns thick. You will find a healthy orange chicken recipe here that keeps flavor first. It is a quick orange chicken recipe for a weeknight. You get the snap of a chinese orange chicken recipe without a heavy feel. I note an instapot orange chicken recipe option in the notes. Fans of an orange chicken recipe panda express style will feel at home. If you like a fast orange chicken stir fry recipe this one fits your rhythm.
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy Orange Chicken Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for Orange Chicken
- 4 How to Make Orange Chicken
- 5 Tips for Making Orange Chicken
- 6 Making Orange Chicken Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover Orange Chicken
- 8 Try these main course next
- 9 Orange Chicken
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
I keep this meal crisp bright and simple. The glaze clings. The chicken stays light. Rice waits and soaks up every drop.
The steps move fast which helps on a busy night. Heat a pan. Fry in small batches. Toss with sauce and serve. You get takeout comfort at home.
Flavor leads. Cost drops. Cleanup stays calm. I use pantry items and fresh orange for a clean finish that makes me go back for more.
2 Easy Orange Chicken Recipe
I write this as Lila at Lila Cooks and I made a promise to keep the first bite honest. This orange chicken recipe brings crisp edges and a glossy citrus bite. This orange chicken recipe starts fast and stays friendly which is good news when hunger shows up early.
I season bite size pieces then coat and cook in a shallow pan. Steam rises and smells like fresh orange and ginger. I stir the pot and taste. I nod when the balance lands. A best orange chicken recipe lives here in my weeknight folder.
I keep the method flexible. Air fryer works. A skillet works. The sauce thickens in one pot and turns shiny. Short keywords fit the plan like orange chicken and easy orange chicken. Longtail ideas fit too like healthy orange chicken recipe and quick orange chicken recipe which both feel right on a busy night.
3 Ingredients for Orange Chicken
Chicken breast tender pieces cut small so they cook quick and stay juicy with a light coat.
Egg one beaten egg that helps the starch cling and gives a crisp shell that snaps.
Soy sauce a small pour adds depth and salt that wakes each bite.
Rice vinegar a gentle tang that lifts the sweet orange and keeps the sauce bright.
Cornstarch the dry coat that turns golden and holds its crunch under glaze.
Neutral oil enough for shallow frying so the pieces brown even and clean.
Orange juice fresh if you can for a clear citrus note that leads the sauce.
Orange zest fine shavings that pack aroma and make the glaze sing.
Garlic minced for warmth that settles under the sweet citrus.
Fresh ginger grated for a clean heat that keeps the sip lively.
Sugar or honey a touch for balance so the acid and salt meet in the middle.
Sesame oil a few drops for a nutty finish that rounds the glaze.
Cornstarch slurry mixed with water to thicken the sauce to a shiny coat.
Cooked rice white or brown for serving so every fork finds sauce.
Sesame seeds a light sprinkle for texture and a small pop.
Green onion thin slices for a fresh snap on top.
4 How to Make Orange Chicken
Step one marinate stir egg soy sauce and vinegar then toss the chicken and rest for a short spell so flavor settles in.
Step two coat dredge each piece in cornstarch tap the extra and line them up so they are ready for the pan.
Step three fry heat oil then cook in small batches until golden and cooked through then place on a rack to keep crisp.
Step four make sauce whisk juice zest soy vinegar sugar garlic ginger and sesame oil then simmer and add the slurry to thicken.
Step five glaze toss the hot chicken in the shiny sauce and watch each piece get a bright coat that clings.
Step six serve mound rice and spoon on the chicken then finish with sesame seeds and green onion for crunch.
5 Tips for Making Orange Chicken
Use thigh meat when you want richer bites. Breast keeps things lean which fits a healthy orange chicken recipe goal.
Keep pieces small for fast cooking and better crunch. A wire rack keeps texture while you finish the sauce.
For a copycat feel that nods to orange chicken recipe panda express keep the glaze thick and glossy and toss right before serving.
6 Making Orange Chicken Ahead of Time
Batch cook the chicken then cool on a rack. Store plain so it stays crisp. Reheat in a hot oven and glaze at the end.
Mix the sauce a day early. Chill it in a jar. Warm and thicken when you cook. This move gives you a quick orange chicken recipe on weeknights.
I add a note for pressure fans. An instapot orange chicken recipe works when time runs tight. Brown on sauté add sauce then pressure for a short three count and finish with slurry.
7 Storing Leftover Orange Chicken
Cool leftovers then pack in shallow containers. The chicken keeps for three days in the fridge and warms well.
Reheat in a skillet to wake the edges. A splash of juice loosens the glaze. Toss until hot and shiny again.
For freezer storage glaze lightly and freeze flat. Thaw in the fridge then finish in a pan for a fresh coat.
8 Try these main course next
9 Orange Chicken
Orange Chicken Recipe Crispy Sweet And Tangy Takeout At Home
Ingredients
For The Chicken
- 1 pound chicken breast cut in bite size pieces
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 cup cornstarch for coating
- Neutral oil for shallow frying
For The Orange Sauce
- 1 cup orange juice fresh if possible
- 1 tablespoon orange zest fine
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons sugar or honey
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
To Finish
- Cooked white rice or brown rice
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced green onion
Instructions
Prep The Chicken
- Stir the egg soy sauce and rice vinegar in a bowl. Add the chicken and toss. Rest for ten minutes.
- Place cornstarch in a shallow dish. Coat each piece and shake off extra. Set on a plate.
Fry Or Air Fry
- Heat a half inch of oil in a wide skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken in batches. Fry until golden and cooked through about five to six minutes total. Move to a rack.
- Air fryer option Brush pieces with oil. Cook at four hundred degrees for ten to twelve minutes. Turn once.
Make The Orange Sauce
- Whisk orange juice orange zest soy sauce rice vinegar sugar garlic ginger and sesame oil in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Stir the cornstarch slurry. Pour into the pan and stir. Cook until glossy and thick.
Glaze And Serve
- Add the crispy chicken to the pan. Toss until each piece shines.
- Top with sesame seeds and green onion. Serve hot over rice.
10 Nutrition
One serving brings about four hundred twenty calories with twenty two grams protein and fourteen grams fat. Sodium lands near seven hundred eighty milligrams when using the listed soy. Carbs sit near fifty three grams with rice and the sauce.
Fiber stays light near one gram per serving. Sugar sits near eighteen grams from juice and a small spoon of sweetener. You can trim both with less sweetener and more zest for a brighter bite.
These numbers shift with your choices. Brown rice moves the fiber. Thigh meat moves the fat. The orange chicken recipe stays the same which is the goal.
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