Description
This Easy Orange Chicken Recipe comes together in a way that feels effortless yet impressive.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (for sauce)
- 3 tablespoons water
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Sliced green onions (optional garnish)
- Sesame seeds (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: In a bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, then coat it thoroughly in the flour mixture. This double coating creates that signature crispy texture.
- Fry Until Golden: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook each batch for about 4–5 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Place the cooked chicken on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Make the Orange Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water. Slowly pour this slurry into the simmering sauce, stirring constantly. Within minutes, the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze that clings beautifully to the back of a spoon.
- Combine and Toss: Add the fried chicken to the sauce. Gently toss until every piece is coated in the vibrant orange glaze. Let it simmer together for 2–3 minutes so the flavors fully meld.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot over steamed rice or alongside stir-fried vegetables.
Notes
- The sound of sizzling chicken always reminds me of weekend cooking sessions, when patience pays off with perfectly crisp bites.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Fry
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 150mg