Description
A delicious homemade version of Panda Express Orange Chicken featuring crispy fried chicken pieces tossed in a tangy, sweet orange sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, this recipe delivers a perfect balance of flavors and textures for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Orange Sauce
- 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh is best)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, preparing it for frying the chicken.
- Coat chicken: Coat the cubed chicken pieces evenly in cornstarch, then dip them into the beaten egg to create a crispy coating once fried.
- Fry chicken: Add the coated chicken pieces to the hot skillet and fry until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides. Remove the cooked chicken and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Prepare sauce: In the same skillet, combine orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and optional red pepper flakes. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- Toss chicken in sauce: Return the fried chicken pieces to the skillet and toss them well to coat each piece thoroughly with the orange sauce.
- Simmer to glaze: Let the chicken and sauce simmer together for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and glazes the chicken evenly.
- Serve: Serve the orange chicken hot over cooked rice or noodles for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Using fresh orange juice enhances the flavor of the sauce significantly.
- You can adjust the red pepper flakes to control the spiciness to your preference.
- For extra crispiness, fry chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
- Leftover orange chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in a skillet for best results.
- Serve with steamed vegetables or a simple side salad to round out the meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
