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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Step Four: Add Sauce
Add the orange sauce to the chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened.
Your kitchen should be smelling pretty amazing by now and your family will be coming into the kitchen asking what you are making!
Step Five: Garnish
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, if desired, and serve the orange chicken over rice or noodles.
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
Video
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.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
You can print the recipe where the sauce is made with orange juice concentrate here.
Serve it over white rice, fried rice, or noodles with cream cheese wontons and cooked broccoli on the side.
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.
Jessica says
I tried it and made it exactly how the directions were and although it didn’t come out orange it tasted like orange chicken and it was very good my family loved it (: I will be making more
Jen says
Can’t say I was a fan. The combo of the orange juice and BBQ sauce was odd. There was a bitter aftertaste. Sorry! This one was quick at least.
Tonia says
No need to be sorry! 🙂 We all enjoy different tastes and combos. That’s what makes us all unique. Thank you for expressing your opinion respectfully!
Brandi says
It was an awesome dish! Made a few alterations based on what was in the fridge. Orange juice ans flour worked well as substitutes.
Sandi says
looks and sounds amazing! for the ones who do not have frozen concentrate oj, or prefer to use fresh squeezed, I put mine on the stove, brought to a boil and reduced to simmer to concentrate the sugars and thicken the juices some. it works pretty nicely…going to try this again real soon, thanks for posting again…
Laura says
I made this tonight and it was wonderful! Even the picky 6 year old approves!
Beauty Banter says
Hmm I used regular orange juice instead of concentrate and the sauce doesn’t seem to be thickening..I hope it still turns out ok!
Beauty Banter says
Calories? Thanks!
enid bedford says
This was fabulous. I used the frozen precooked breaded popcorn chicke to save even more time. I heated chicken in oven, prepared sauce in pot an then put chicken and sauce in a big pot and heated,mixed on top of stove. Put over rice and serve. I also used three pepper blend (frozen red,yellow,green peppers and onion) instead of green onions. Turned out yummi.
dearcat says
I have been eating Orange Chicken in Chinese restaurants for more than 60 years. I am almost 80. This is the bestests I have ever had and I made it myself. This is a go to for company and for myself. I cut down when only for me. Keep the good food coming.
dearcat
Rachel says
OMG!!!!! I could eat this 7 times a day! My cat and I ate this when we got up for breakfast. The only thing I would do different, is add 1 more can of OJ concentrate. The only down side, is when you go to empty yourself, it kinda burns on its way out.
Grant says
Awesome. The best review.
Rachel says
OMG!!!!! I could eat this 7 times a day! My cat and I ate this when we got up for breakfast. The only thing I would do different, is add 1 more can of OJ concentrate. The only down side, is when you go to empty yourself, it kinda burns on its way out.
GayleMarie says
Hi!!
I needed something quick to make for dinner, so I found the Orange Chicken on my board. My family enjoyed it, but due to my own errors, I didn’t care for it. I never mess with recipes, but one of my errors was oversight on my part. When I put the chicken pieces in the Ziploc bag with the cornstarch/water/lite soy sauce mixture, I put the bag in the fridge and forgot about it!!!! I ended up forgetting it in there for an hour, so the chicken soaked up ALL the soy sauce mixture and all I could taste was soy sauce! So, to compensate for that overpowering flavor, I put some orange zest in. I don’t know if that was so wise (!!) of me……..So, in retrospect DO NOT over marinate the chicken!! I am anxious to make this again, but I will tie a string around my finger to remember to take the chicken out of the marinade after 5 minutes!! Thanks for the great recipes! :0)
Anna says
Hi!
I was wondering if there was a possible substitute for barbecue sauce?
Thanks!
Ed S. says
Just made it & love it but just a tad sweet, & I have a sweet tooth. Will tweek it next time, super easy & yummy.
Jessica says
Do you think I can make this with fresh-squeezed orange juice or will it be too watery?
Peggy Brennan says
I had to quadruple this recipe for my family, and 2 cans of OJ concentrate made it way too orangey. The basic recipe is AMAZING ,but be careful if you are multiplying. Other than that little learning curve I had, it was divine!! (I fixed the sauce by adding soy sauce and lots of seasoning to cut the sweet/orange flavor and make it spicy and yum like if you follow the original). I made broccoli, peppers and onions and water chestnuts and layered them between the rice (jasmine – yum!) and the chicken and rice. Thank you for this recipe!!!!!
Tonia says
Thanks for the tips Peggy! I’m so glad your family love the recipe too.
dearcat says
My Orange Chicken never came out like that in Chinese restaurants. This is excellent. I am in my late seventies and have tasted many Orange Chicken. This one definitely takes first prize. Your site is great.
Tonia says
Wonderful! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed it as much as we did. Thanks so much, dearcat!
Erica Brooks says
We like orange chicken but usually get it from the Chinese restaurant. I love that I can just make it quickly at home. Saving time and money. Win/Win!
Marsha Brown says
Oh Tonia….that looks soooo yummy!! I can’t wait to make it!! As always, I get the best meal and dessert ideas from you!! You are the best!!
Tonia says
Thanks so much, Marsha! It’s been a rough day and seeing your comment made me smile for the first time all day! XOXO Tonia
Taryn Mahaffey says
This looks amazing! I only order Orange Chicken when we get Chinese too. I’m going to add this to our weekly dinner list 🙂
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says
Kudos to you for making Chinese food at home. . it’s so easy right?! and you know what all the ingredients are!! I’m a huge fan of cooking Chinese food at home when you can. . love this. . pinned!