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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Orange Chicken

    Modified: Oct 24, 2023 · Published: Jul 14, 2016 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    This Orange Chicken recipe is easy to make and so delicious! It’s ready in less than 30 minutes and perfect for a family dinner.

    Orange chicken with rice on a blue plate.

    You can make dinner at home faster than it would be to go get takeout! This easy orange chicken recipe is adaptable as well. Try adding diced carrots, sliced broccoli, or snow peas. Serve it over white rice, brown rice, or noodles.

    In This Post

    • Orange Chicken Ingredients
    • How To Make Orange Chicken
    • Tonia’s Notes
    • Similar Recipes
    • Frequently Asked Questions

    Orange Chicken Ingredients

    Chicken Marinade

    • Chicken: Choose chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
    • Soy Sauce: Tenderizes and adds flavor.
    • Cornstarch: Coats the chicken so that it will get crispy.
    • Water: Thins the marinade,

    Orange Chicken Sauce

    • Orange Juice: Use freshly squeezed if you can.
    • Sugar: Dark brown sugar sweetens and adds flavor.
    • Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce.
    • Flavoring: Add soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, orange zest, and sriracha sauce for flavor.

    How To Make Orange Chicken

    Marinating chicken in a glass bowl.

    Step One: Marinate

    Start by cutting 1 1/2 pounds of chicken breasts into chunks (about 1 – 1 1/2 cubes). Mix together soy sauce, cornstarch, and water.

    Add the chicken and stir to coat. Allow the chicken to marinate for 5 minutes.

    Orange sauce for chicken in a measuring cup.

    Step Two: Orange Sauce

    While it is marinating, prepare the orange sauce so that it is ready when you need it later.

    Whisk together orange juice, dark brown sugar, cornstarch, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, orange zest, and optional sriracha sauce.

    Fried orange chicken in a skillet.

    Step Three: Fry Chicken

    Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet. Remove the chicken from the marinade with a slotted spoon and carefully add it to the skillet.

    Stir-fry the chicken, over medium-high heat, for 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through.

    Pouring orange chicken sauce on chicken.

    Step Four: Add Sauce

    Add the orange sauce to the chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened.

    Orange chicken in a skilett.

    Your kitchen should be smelling pretty amazing by now and your family will be coming into the kitchen asking what you are making!

    Orange chicken with rice on a blue plate.

    Step Five: Garnish

    Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, if desired, and serve the orange chicken over rice or noodles.

    A piece of orange chicken help with chopsticks.

    Tonia’s Notes

    My daughter’s favorite Chinese take-out dishes are orange chicken and sesame chicken. After my Honey Sesame Chicken was such a huge success with my family, I decided to try making orange chicken next. But instead of making it in a crockpot, I made it in a skillet.

    Everyone loved it and we ate the leftovers the next day. Vanessa said that she had never tasted orange chicken that actually tastes like oranges and that she really likes it! I love that the entire meal can be made in less than 30 minutes.

    Similar Recipes

    • Honey Garlic Chicken includes a sauce made with only four ingredients!
    • Sesame Chicken is easy to make and is a family favorite!
    • Cashew Chicken includes red bell peppers and crunchy cashews.
    • General Tso Chicken is sweet and spicy!
    Orange chicken with rice on a blue plate.

    Orange Chicken

    This Orange Chicken recipe is easy to make and so delicious! It's ready in less than 30 minutes and perfect for a family dinner.
    4.52 from 208 votes
    ↑ Click stars to rate!
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    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 13 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 23 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
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    Equipment

    • T-Fal Fry Pan
    • 2-Cup Glass Measuring Cup
    • Calphalon Knife Block Set
    • KitchenAid Whisk

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • sesame seeds and sliced green onions optional garnish

    Marinade:

    • ¼ cup soy sauce
    • ¼ cup cornstarch
    • 2 tablespoons water

    Orange Sauce:

    • ¾ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
    • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
    • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce optional

    Instructions

    • First, cut 1 1/2 pounds of chicken breasts into pieces (about 1 – 1 1/2 inch cubes). Mix together soy sauce, cornstarch, and water. Add the chicken and stir to coat. Allow the chicken to marinate for 5 minutes.
    • While it is marinating, prepare the orange sauce so that it is ready when you need it later. Whisk together fresh squeezed orange juice, dark brown sugar, cornstarch, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, orange zest, and optional sriracha sauce. Set aside.
    • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet. Remove the chicken from the marinade with a slotted spoon and carefully add it to the skillet. Stir-fry the chicken, over medium-high heat, for 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through.
    • Add the orange sauce to the chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring often until the sauce has thickened.
    • Top with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, if desired. Serve over rice or noodles.

    Video

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    Notes

    Allow leftovers to cool and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to a month.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6oz | Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1353mg | Potassium: 778mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Author: Tonia Larson

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I get the original recipe made with orange juice concentrate?

    You can print the recipe where the sauce is made with orange juice concentrate here.

    What goes well with orange chicken?

    Serve it over white rice, fried rice, or noodles with cream cheese wontons and cooked broccoli on the side.

    How can I make only the orange sauce?

    Whisk orange sauce ingredients in a saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Boil while stirring until thickened. Use the orange chicken sauce to make stir fry or put it on chicken wings.

    More Chicken

    • Slow cooker chicken and rice in the crockpot with a wooden spoon.
      Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice
    • Air fryer chicken bites.
      Air Fryer Chicken Bites
    • Slow cooker buffalo chicken dip on a platter with veggies and chips.
      Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • Spicy chicken nuggets on a tray.
      Spicy Chicken Nuggets

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

    « No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
    Key Lime Ice Cream Loaf »

    Comments

      4.52 from 208 votes (174 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Scott Morison says

      January 29, 2024 at 5:04 am

      5 stars
      Orange Chicken is my favorite dish. I literally cook this item often.

      But, I think cooking this item with air fryer will be more healthy.

      I usually follow Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe.

      Reply
    2. Rosy says

      January 16, 2024 at 8:23 pm

      Hi,
      I made this tonight but my chicken also did not turn orange as your picture showed. Help!

      Reply
      • Tonia Larson says

        January 17, 2024 at 10:52 am

        Hi Rosy,
        I’m not sure why there is a difference in color. Did you add sriracha sauce? It is an optional ingredient. Other than that, the only thing I can think of it that it depends on what brand ingredients we each used because even in my video (which was shot 2 years after the photos in the post) the sauce is orange. But the most important thing is the taste of the orange chicken! If it’s good, it’s a win! Also, I’ve noticed that some recipes include a drop of red food coloring so you could try that to increase the orange color.
        ~Tonia

        Reply
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    Tonia Larson from The Gunny Sack.

    Hi, I'm Tonia! Welcome to The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! Meet Tonia Larson →

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