I recipe test A LOT which means I love me some takeout, which usually ends up being Chinese. And I love me some orange chicken. So at some point, I had to give it my homemade flair. I fry my chicken in a crispy batter before I toss it in my citrusy sticky spicy orange sauce. Now this ain’t authentic orange chicken but it’s got bomb flavor, has all the Asian inspiration and is a straight up hit y’all.
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How to Make Orange Chicken! My Way!
Step 1: Mix the flour, cornstarch and spices in a bag. Whisk eggs in a bowl. Coat chicken in the flour mix then dip in eggs and then back into the flour. Set on a rack for 15–20 minutes before frying.
Step 2: Heat 3 inches of oil to 350°F. Fry chicken in batches, turning every couple of minutes, until it’s golden and firm, about 7–10 minutes. Drain on a rack over paper towels.
Step 3: For the sauce, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds, then add juice, zest, honey, vinegar, chili paste, salt, pepper, soy sauce, ginger, and chili powder. Cook 15–20 minutes until reduced by half. Whisk in cornstarch slurry, cook 1 minute until thickened, then coat fried chicken.
Step 4: Plate by serving with rice and garnish with green onions and orange slices.
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Crispy Orange Chicken Recipe
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I’ll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 1/4 cup gluten free flour or you can use all purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
- vegetable or canola oil for frying
For the Orange Sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or canola oil
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 3 cups orange juice no pulp
- 1 tbsp fresh orange zest or up to 2 tbsp for more punch
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp red chili paste
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp tamari or soy sauce if not gluten free
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- chopped green onions and orange slices for garnish
Instructions
For the Chicken
- Add salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic, paprika and cornstarch to flour in a storage bag or paper bag and shake to mix thoroughly. Set aside.
- Whisk eggs in a medium sized bowl then set aside.
- Working with one chicken piece at a time, use tongs and add to flour mix then to egg mixture thoroughly coating and allow the excess to drip back into the bowl. Finally, dredge the chicken into the flour mixture then transfer to a plate or wire rack to set.
- Repeat with all chicken pieces then let set for 15-20 minutes while you heat the oil.
- Heat 3 inches of oil in a large deep pot to 350 degrees F.
- When the oil is hot enough that it bubbles around the chicken when the edge of a piece is dripped into it, use tongs to gently and carefully place a few pieces in the oil. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Cook the chicken, turning the pieces every couple minutes and adjusting the heat as needed, until the skin is golden brown and the chicken is firm to the touch. This should take about 7-10 minutes. Remove chicken and drain on a wire rack with paper towels beneath.
For the Orange Glaze
- As chicken fries, make the orange glaze.
- Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and stir making sure not to burn. Cook for about 30 seconds then stir in orange juice, zest, honey, vinegar, chili paste, salt, pepper, soy sauce, ginger and chili powder combining.
- Allow this mixture to cook for about 15-20 minutes or until sauce reduces by half.
- Finally whisk in cornstarch and water and allow the sauce to thicken until it appears like a glaze. Allow it to cook for just one additional minute then remove and coat freshly fried chicken pieces and serve with rice and garnish with green onions and orange slices.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions
Crispy Orange Chicken is best served with a side of white or brown rice. Throw in some steamed vegetables for a well-rounded, nutritious dinner.
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This orange chicken recipe was so easy and so tasty. It was the perfect balance of tangy sweetness and savory flavors. The chicken was tender and juicy, coated in a crispy batter that held up beautifully in the sauce. Overall, this orange chicken exceeded my expectations. It’s a dish that balances flavors and textures, making it a true crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re a fan of Chinese cuisine or simply looking for a delicious meal to enjoy, this homemade orange chicken is a must-try.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Ann Marie!
My husband was just diagnosed with celiac and one of the things he has missed most is Chinese food. We made this together tonight and he was thrilled!
cant wait to try
Orange chicken is my husband’s favorite dish and I wanted a homemade version to surprise him. He absolutely loved this recipe!!
Orange chicken is one of my favorite takeout orders and this looks SO good! Homemade takeout is always the best…cannot wait to give this a try!
My husband always orders the orange chicken when we go out for Chinese. Definitely making this recipe for him. He’s going to be so surprised. Thanks for the recipe.
Wow! I love how easy the chicken and sauce are to make. My family is going to eat this up!
I love making Chinese take-out classics at home, and this dish is so crazy flavorful. I just love that the orange sauce has real ingredients in it, too! Delish!