Orange Chicken Recipe (2024)

Learn how to make Orange Chicken at home! This is a quick and easy version of the kind of orange chicken you get at restaurants, but way better than takeout!

It’s SO easy and SO good! Kids go nuts for this one, so if you have picky eaters, tired of all your usual chicken recipes, try this one on them and watch them ask for seconds!

Make it a Menu

• Kick things off with some Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp or Homemade Potstickers
• Serve this recipe alongside my Easy Shrimp Stir Fry to create a larger meal with some variety
• For dessert try my Coconut Pound Cake with Syrupy Mangoes

Watch My Video Demo of This Recipe Below!

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Step#1: Prep the Chicken

• For this recipe, it’s best to use chicken tenderloins. They will be easier to cut into bite-sized pieces and they are more tender too!
• This will keep your chicken moist and juicy under the heat of the cooking.
• Another thing that locks in the juiciness is dusting the chicken with cornstarch before frying.
• The cornstarch protects the chicken as it cooks and also will help to thicken the sauce too.

The Benefits of a Wok

• A few years ago I treated myself to a wok pan and I must say it makes serving this for a crowd a lot easier!
• It always amazes me how much food a wok pan can hold!
• I also think it cooks the food faster too. It makes this recipe much easier to put together quickly as well.

Step#3: Making the Orange Chicken Sauce

• The orange chicken sauce comes together in a snap and is so delicious and flavorful.
• To give it even more flavor and orange punch, swap the honey for orange marmalade. It adds so much orange flavor!
• In a small bowl, you’ll combine, soy sauce, chili paste, honey (or even better orange marmalade!) garlic, rice wine vinegar, orange zest, and orange juice, some toasted sesame oil just whisk this sauce up and then add it to the chicken once it’s cooked.

Step#4: Combine the Chicken with the Sauce

• Once your sauce is all ready to go, add the chicken back in your wok, and add the sauce.
• Continue to cook the chicken until the interior is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

Creating a Syrupy Consistency to the Sauce

• Keep cooking until the sauce has reduced and is coating the chicken in a thick syrup.
• This will create the best consistency for your sauce. The secret ingredient here is the cornstarch used to coat the chicken before browning.
• Once it combines with the liquid and reaches a high temperature it will react and will thicken.

Step#5: Garnish and Serve

• I like to slice the green onions on the diagonal to create a pretty fresh garnish on top along with some sesame seeds and a slice of mandarin orange.
• Serve with your favorite rice or quinoa!

More Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas!

• One-Pot Chicken and Potatoes
• Rosemary Lemon Sheet Pan Chicken with veggies
• Pasta with Sausage and Baby Broccoli
• Italian Sausage with Peppers

Please let me know if you make this recipe

by leaving a rating and review below!

Orange Chicken Recipe

Yield: serves 4-6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This orange chicken recipe is quick and easy and delicious! A great alternative to take-out!

Ingredients

For Chicken

• 2lbs (900g) Chicken Tenders
• 1/3 cup (35 g) cornstarch
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil

For the sauce:

• 1/3 cup (80 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) honey or 1 tbsp (15 ml) of Orange marmalade
• 1 tsp (5 ml) Sambal Chili Paste
• 1 tsp (5 ml) rice wine vinegar
• 1 1⁄2 tsp (7.5 ml) orange zest
• 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) orange juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp (5 ml) ginger, minced
• 1 tsp (5 ml) toasted sesame oil
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) cornstarch
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) water

Garnish:

• 1 Scallion, sliced on the diagonal
• Sesame seeds
• Sliced mandarin orange wheel

Instructions

1. Slice chicken into bite sized pieces and toss in the corn starch.
2. Then prepare the sauce. In a small bowl combine all ingredients and stir.
3. Then in a wok or large pan heat the oil until shimmering. Place in chicken in batches browning on all sides, and cooking through.
4. Add sauce over chicken and simmer until sauce thickens.
5. Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, scallions and garnish with a sliced mandarin orange wheel.
6. Serve with white rice and enjoy!

Notes

Be sure to use the cornstarch and not flour to coat the chicken. The cornstarch thickens the sauce quicker and easier!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 225Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 385mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 4g