Description
Chinese Orange Chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish with crispy chicken pieces coated in a tangy, sweet orange sauce. Perfect for a family dinner or gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup water
- Oil for frying
- 1 cup fresh orange juice (about 2–3 oranges)
- Zest from 1 orange
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp ginger (minced)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (mixed with 2 tbsp water for slurry)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl, then gradually add water to form a smooth batter.
- Heat the oil: In a deep frying pan, heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Test with a small amount of batter to ensure it’s hot enough.
- Fry the chicken: Dip each chicken piece in the batter and fry in small batches for 4-5 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Make the orange sauce: In a saucepan, combine orange juice, zest, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Add cornstarch slurry and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Pour the sauce over the fried chicken and toss until evenly coated. Let it sit for a minute for the flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for juicier meat or tofu for a vegetarian version.
- Substitute tamari for gluten-free soy sauce, or use coconut aminos for a soy-free option.
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes or diced chili peppers to the sauce.
- Fresh orange juice and zest will give the best flavor, but bottled juice works too.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Chinese Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, crispy chicken, Chinese-American recipe, sweet and tangy chicken