Description

Crispy golden chicken pieces coated in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy orange sauce—this homemade Orange Chicken rivals your favorite takeout! It’s bold, zesty, and perfect for family dinners or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
3 eggs, whisked
⅓ cup cornstarch
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
Salt, to taste
Oil, for frying (vegetable or canola)

For the Orange Chicken Sauce:

1 cup orange juice
½ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or white vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
½ teaspoon red chili flakes (adjust to taste)
Zest from 1 orange
1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)

For Garnish:

Sliced green onions
Additional orange zest

Instructions

Prepare the chicken: In a bowl, whisk eggs. In another bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, and a pinch of salt. Dip chicken pieces into egg, then coat in flour mixture.
Fry the chicken: Heat oil in a deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
Make the sauce: In a saucepan, combine orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, chili flakes, and orange zest. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to make a slurry. Stir into sauce and simmer until thickened (2–3 minutes).
Toss and serve: Add fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.

Garnish with green onions and more orange zest. Serve hot over rice.

Notes

For a lighter version, air-fry or bake the chicken instead of deep-frying.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Try adding steamed broccoli or bell peppers for a full meal.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Fried + Simmered
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired / American Chinese

Keywords: orange chicken, Chinese orange chicken, crispy chicken, takeout copycat, homemade orange sauce