Description
A delicious and easy-to-make Orange Chicken recipe featuring crispy fried chicken pieces tossed in a tangy, sweet orange sauce with garlic, ginger, and a hint of soy sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
For the Orange Sauce:
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 0.5 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 0.5 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp orange zest (from 1 orange)
For Garnish:
- 1 tbsp sliced green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken coating: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and black pepper. Toss the chicken pieces in the flour mixture thoroughly until each piece is evenly coated.
- Fry the chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the coated chicken pieces in the hot oil and fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and drain excess oil on paper towels.
- Make the orange sauce: In a separate saucepan, combine the freshly squeezed orange juice, low sodium soy sauce, sugar, grated ginger, minced garlic, and orange zest. Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Thicken the sauce: Slowly stir in the cornstarch and water mixture into the simmering sauce. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Toss chicken in sauce: Place the fried chicken pieces in the saucepan or a large bowl, pour the thickened orange sauce over them, and toss until each piece is fully coated with the sauce.
- Serve: Transfer the coated orange chicken to a serving dish and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve hot with steamed rice or your favorite sides.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can double dredge the chicken by dipping it back into egg wash before coating a second time.
- Use fresh orange juice and zest for the best flavor impact in the sauce.
- Adjust sugar quantity based on your preferred sweetness level.
- Ensure oil is hot enough before frying to avoid greasy chicken.
- This recipe can be made gluten free by substituting all-purpose flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying and Simmering
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 200g)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: orange chicken, easy orange chicken recipe, crispy fried chicken, sweet and tangy chicken, Chinese-American recipes
