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Easy Orange Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.1 from 23 reviews

This Easy Orange Chicken Recipe delivers crispy, tender chicken bites coated in a flavorful, tangy orange sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, the chicken is lightly fried to golden perfection and then simmered in a homemade sauce combining fresh orange juice, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Serve it over fluffy white rice or homemade Lo Mein noodles for a delightful Chinese-American classic at home.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 6 whole boneless chicken thighs (or 2 lbs. of chicken tenderloins), diced into ½ inch pieces
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp. corn starch
  • 1 tsp. black pepper (fresh ground, or less to taste)
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • ½ tsp. ginger powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. paprika (for color)
  • Vegetable oil for frying (enough for deep frying, about 2-3 cups)

Orange Sauce

  • ¾ cup fresh orange juice
  • 1½ tbsp. corn starch
  • 2 tbsps. vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsps. low sodium soy sauce
  • 1½ tbsp. rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
  • 2 tbsps. brown sugar
  • ½ tbsp. grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp. black pepper (fresh ground)
  • 1 tsp. orange zest
  • Chili flakes (optional, to add heat)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Dice the chicken into ½ inch cube pieces and place them in a large bowl. Add the flour, corn starch, salt, black pepper, onion powder, paprika, and ginger powder to the bowl. Toss thoroughly to coat each piece evenly with the dry mixture.
  2. Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat until hot. Carefully add the coated chicken pieces and fry them in batches, cooking about 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Avoid overcooking to prevent the chicken from becoming chewy. Remove the fried chicken and drain on paper towels.
  3. Make the Orange Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together fresh orange juice, corn starch, vegetable oil, low sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic, black pepper, orange zest, and chili flakes if using. Transfer the mixture to a hot non-stick skillet or frying pan set to low heat. Stir and simmer gently until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Combine Chicken and Sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces into the thickened orange sauce. Stir well to coat the chicken evenly. Allow the chicken and sauce to simmer together for 1-2 minutes so the flavors meld, then remove from heat.
  5. Serve: Serve the orange chicken hot, paired with homemade Lo Mein noodles or steamed white rice. Optionally, garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions for extra flavor and presentation.

Notes

  • Use fresh orange juice and zest for the best citrus flavor.
  • Do not overcrowd the frying pan to maintain the oil temperature and ensure even frying.
  • Adjust chili flakes according to your heat preference.
  • For a gluten-free version, ensure soy sauce is gluten-free and substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free alternative.
  • Leftover orange chicken stores well for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Keywords: Orange Chicken, Easy Orange Chicken Recipe, Fried Chicken, Chinese-American Chicken, Orange Sauce Chicken

Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/easy-orange-chicken-recipe/