Orange Chicken takes center stage whenever we decide to have a Chinese food night. We rarely get take-out anymore because it’s so much easier and cheaper to make it at home. The tangy orange sauce is made with pantry staples you already have on hand, and the vibrant orange flavor complements tender chicken chunks perfectly. Whip up a batch of easy orange chicken sauce for your next Chinese feast and turn take-out into take-in!
Ingredients in Orange Chicken
Don’t be scared off by the long list of ingredients; I promise you have most of these on hand already! Just a little of this and a little of that adds up to one incredibly easy orange chicken recipe. Here’s what you need:
For the CHICKEN
Chicken – about two pounds of boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs cut into bite size cubes.Cornstarch – You’ll use corn starch to get that crispy outer coating on the chicken.Salt and pepper – about a half teaspoon salt and a quarter teaspoon pepper or to taste.Eggs – just one or possibly two, slightly beaten, to dip your chicken in.Oil – for frying. Generally we like to use vegetable oil because it has a nice, mild flavor that doesn’t overpower the dish.
For the ORANGE SAUCE
Lighten It Up
Because this recipe is fried, it may not be considered the healthiest Panda Express copycat recipe (see our other copycat options below). If you are looking for a healthier alternative, instead of frying, heat a little oil in a large skillet and cook chicken on each side for 5-7 minutes or until cooked through and THEN add the sauce. You can also just fry until the chicken is cooked on the outside and then place the chicken on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until cooked through (165 degrees F). You will still get a little bit of a crispy texture and still have all the flavor! Try reducing the sugar amounts or even use a sugar substitute (may affect sweetness and flavor).
Air Fryer Panda Express Orange Chicken
To fry your chicken in the air fryer, you just need to make sure you are coating your chicken with cooking spray before it cooks. All air fryers are different so check the correct temperatures and times for chicken pieces. We cook ours at 350 for about 10-12 minutes on each side, spraying any parts of the chicken with dry flour with cooking spray while turning. Just make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F before serving.
Gluten Free Panda Express Orange Chicken
Because we use a cornstarch coating for this recipe instead of flour, it is REALLY close to being gluten free. However, as you can see in the recipe below, we use soy sauce in the orange sauce, which contains gluten. The good news is, GF soy sauce is easy to find. Just replace regular soy sauce with a gluten-free brand and you should be good to go. As always, check labels on everything to make sure you’re working with gluten free ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions about Orange Chicken
What to Serve with Orange Chicken
We pull out all the stops when putting together a Chinese feast. Sure, you can make things simple by serving this dish alongside some veggies and steamed white or brown rice, but if you’re wanting to wow friends and family with a scrumptious Asian-inspired spread, try a few of these delightful recipes:
Panda Express Chow Mein
Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast
Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
Restaurant Ham Fried Rice
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