Sharing is caring!

The orange chicken will be your new favorite weeknight dinner.  

Orange Chicken is my go-to take out order but did you know you can make it at home in minutes! You quickly fry up tender, crispy bits of chicken and they get coated in a sweet and savory sauce that is to die for.  This dinner doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and comes out perfect every time.  It will be your new favorite weekenight dinner.  It is also very family friendly.

There is nothing I love more an easy copycat takeout dinner that comes together quickly and everyone will love and this chicken fits the bill.  Anytime we order takeout we always get the chinese orange chicken, it is always the best thing on the menu!

I love that it comes together so fast, just quickly pan fry some the chicken in a light batter and then whip up that tangy orange sauce with that sweet tartness of orange. Just a few ingredients and you will have a delicious, flavorful dinner that tastes better than takeout.  Whenever I find a dinner that everyone in my house eats I get excited!  This one is definitely a crowd-pleaser!  This copycat recipe is tasty and quick!

This crispy chicken is perfectly tender and the sauce is amazingly delicious. This cooks up in a flavorful sweet and savory orange sauce of orange juice, sugar, garlic, soy sauce and a splash of vinegar for that pop of flavor that really takes this dish to the next level.  I love the sticky sauce, it is perfect over rice! You can bump up the orange flavor even more and add some orange zest.

I love that you can customize this to your family’s taste, make it spicy or sweeter, add your favorite veggies, you can totally make this recipe your own.  The sauce ingredients can be doubled if you want it saucier. 

Can we also take a minute to talk about how budget-friendly this dinner is?  Everyone is feeling the pinch with the grocery bill right now and you can’t get much cheaper than a little chicken over rice. This is so much more affordable than picking up the phone and ordering out again.  So this is a fabulous dinner when you are trying to save a few pennies.

Next time you want a copycat takeout dinner even the pickiest kids will love throw these ingredients together, make this easy orange chicken recipe and in no time you will have an amazing dinner the whole family will love.  

I promise your entire family will love this Best Ever Orange Chicken. 

You will want to make this homemade orange chicken again and again! We do!

You will love this recipe because it is

• Easy and fast.
• Family-friendly.
• Budget-friendly.
• Full of flavor.
• Easy weeknight meal.
• Great copycat.
• Chinese takeout favorite.
• Easy chicken recipe.

Gather your ingredients.

Coat the chicken pieces.

Fry the chicken until golden and whisk up the sauce.

Cook the sauce until nice and thick.

Serve!

Can I substitute pork?

Yes, you could use boneless pork bites. 

What should I serve this with?

This is really good over rice, white rice, brown rice or fried rice would be great with this.  Steamed veggies or some roasted broccoli or garlic green beans would be great along side this. 

Can I make this spicier?

You can add more red chili flakes or sriracha to give this a kick. 

Can I add veggies?

Yes!  Broccoli, sugar snap peas or carrots would all be great in this. 

 

Ingredients used

• Chicken tenderloins – You can use boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless skinless chicken thighs if you like dark meat.
• Vegetable oil –  Any light oil for frying will work.
• Eggs –  This is the base of the tempera breading. 
• Corn starch –  Corn starch is what gives the chicken bites their crispy coating.
• Orange juice – Of course you need orange juice! Whatever you like to drink it will work here.
• Sugar –  This helps thicken the sauce and gives you that glazy look. I just use granulated sugar but brown sugar will work just as well.
• Vinegar – A little acid with the sweetness is what makes this sauce balanced.  You can use apple cider vinegar, white vinegar or rice vinegar.
• Soy sauce – I prefer to use lite soy sauce or low sodium to cut back on too much saltiness.
• Ground ginger-  Just a bit is all you need for a subtle flavor. You could also use a bit of fresh ginger.
• Garlic cloves – You can use fresh or jarred, both will be great!
• Red pepper flakes –  Just a touch is all you need to add a little kick to this recipe but you can also omit it if you like. 
• Toppings – Sesame seeds and scallions are always a great garnish for any dish. 

How to make this Best Ever Orange Chicken

 

1. FULL RECIPE BELOW
2. Cut your chicken tenderloins into bite size pieces.
3. In a large bowl combine the 3 eggs and ½ cup cornstarch. 
4. Add the chicken to the corn starch mixture and stir to coat.
5. In a large skillet over medium-high heat up about an inch of oil.
6. Once the oil is hot add the chicken in a single layer.
7. Fry until golden brown on each side and cooked through.
8. Remove the chicken and drain on paper towels.
9. Repeat with the rest of the chicken. You could also do this in a deep fryer if you like.
10. Discard the oil from the pan.
11. In a mixing bowl combine the orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ground ginger, garlic and red pepper flake. 
12. Add the sauce to your skillet over medium heat and whisk until it comes up to a slight bubble and starts to thicken. 
13. Remove from heat and toss your chicken in with the sauce. 
14. Garnish with sliced oranges and green onions.
15. Serve!
16. Store your leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 

Best Ever Orange Chicken

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Orange Chicken is my go-to take out order but did you know you can make it at home in minutes! You quickly fry up tender, crispy bits of chicken and they get coated in a sweet and savory sauce that is to die for.  This dinner doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and comes out perfect every time.  It will be your new favorite weekenight dinner.  It is also very family friendly.

Print

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds chicken tenderloins
• Vegetable oil for frying
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 1 1/3 cups orange juice
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flake, more for topping if you like
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Scallions for topping

Instructions

1. Cut your chicken tenderloins into bite size pieces.
2. In a large bowl combine the 3 eggs and ½ cup cornstarch. 
3. Add the chicken to the cornstarch mixture and stir to coat.
4. In a large skillet over medium high heat up about an inch of oil.
5. Once the oil is hot add the chicken in a single layer.
6. Fry until brown on each side and cooked through.
7. Remove the chicken to a paper towel lined plate.
8. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.
9. Discard the oil from the pan.
10. In a mixing bowl combine the orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ground ginger, garlic and red pepper flake. 
11. Add the sauce to your skillet over medium heat and whisk until it comes up to a slight bubble and starts to thicken. 
12. Remove from heat and toss your chicken in with the sauce. 
13. Garnish with sliced oranges and scallions
14. Serve!

Notes

• You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer. 

• You can bump up the orange flavor with the zest of an orange if you like. 
• Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

 Want more chicken Recipes? Check these out!

• Garlic Parm Chicken Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
• Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken & Rice
• Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken