Crispy homemade Orange Chicken, just like Panda Express! Pieces of boneless chicken breast are deep-fried and then cooked in a sweet, tangy orange sauce made from scratch. Panda Express Orange Chicken is not too spicy and so easy to make!
My husband prefers homemade over Chinese restaurants, so I’ve recreated a Chinese Fried Rice Recipe, Chicken Lo Mein, and Shrimp Fried Rice, which are all great sides for orange chicken.
This Orange Chicken recipe is loved on Pinterest, where there is good feedback and lots of photos of this dish. Thank you for sharing!
Panda Express Orange Chicken
This Panda Express Orange Chicken recipe came from a former employee who worked at Panda. The cooking process involves heavily breading the chicken and deep frying it until it is light and crispy.
After that, the orange chicken sauce is whisked together and cooked until there are no lumps of cornstarch and the sauce is smooth and glossy. He also mentioned that orange extract was used at the Panda Express restaurant, although you could easily swap it for orange zest (orange peel) or juice concentrate.
Everyone loves this orange chicken recipe, including kids. It’s easy to make and even more effortless in the instant pot over saute mode to keep the oil splatters at a minimum.
This way you can make it when camping too.
It can also be made ahead of time for guests by simply preparing the orange sauce and chicken and putting it in the slow cooker over warm until ready to serve. Slow-cooker orange chicken is great for potlucks and gatherings if you plan smart!
What is Orange Chicken?
Orange chicken is a Chinese American version of fried chicken in a saucy, sweet, tangy orange sauce.
It’s not too spicy, considering it has chili flakes and a perfect balance of sweet and sour. The orange juice concentrate adds a refreshing and zesty taste. If you cannot eat chili flakes, substitute sesame seeds.
Read more about the original orange chicken dish from Panda Express here.
Watch How to Make Orange Chicken at Home!
Orange Chicken Ingredients:
This Easy Orange Chicken Recipe calls for simple ingredients. A little sesame oil can go a long way, and you can easily swap rice vinegar for apple cider vinegar.
- Chicken—Panda Express uses chicken thighs. If using boneless chicken breasts, marinate them in 1 teaspoon of baking soda, two tablespoons of white distilled vinegar, and 1-2 cups of cold water for 30 minutes. This is a Chinese restaurant hack for tenderizing meat quickly. Rinse before cutting.
- Panda Express Orange Chicken Sauce- is made with equal parts vinegar and sugar and four parts water and soy sauce. I use coconut liquid aminos without a problem.
- Breading- is a simple combination of flour and cornstarch; you can substitute all tapioca starch, cornstarch, or potato starch to make it gluten-free.
- Wet Batter- is beaten eggs that are seasoned with salt and pepper.
Adding oil to the egg batter for breading will help create a lighter, crispier, and more delicate coating.
How To Make Orange Chicken:
The key to making orange chicken is having your chicken ready before making the sauce. I use two mixing bowls, one for the egg batter and the other for breading. You will need a medium saucepan for the orange sauce and a deep skillet or pot for deep-frying. I like to use my electric skillet with a lid that I can use outside to keep the oily mess out.
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces (about 1 inch thick). Meanwhile, heat 2 inches of oil in a pot or deep skillet over medium heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the oil, salt, and pepper using a fork or whisk until well combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and cornstarch.
- Dip chicken in the egg mixture and then the flour mixture.
- Fry in hot oil until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Transfer the fried chicken to a large plate or tray lined with paper towels.
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a medium-sized saucepan and whisk well to make the orange chicken sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat and simmer to the desired consistency (at least 1-2 minutes). It’s important to boil and cook down the sauce slightly to avoid it from being too acidic.
- Toss the sauce into the fried chicken pieces in a large mixing bowl to coat them evenly. If you use a pot large enough to make the sauce, you can add the fried chicken pieces right in.
How To Reheat Orange Chicken:
Leftover orange chicken is best steamed in the oven to revive the texture and sauce. Pour 1/4-1/2 cup of water into a baking dish and top with leftover orange chicken (coated in the sauce). Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes or until steaming hot.
You could also microwave or pan-fry the leftovers until hot, but the oven method is my favorite.
What To Serve With Orange Chicken?
We think orange chicken with rice goes best!
- A bowl of hot-cooked white Rice pairs very well with saucy, sweet, and spicy chicken dishes. The sauce seeps into the rice and makes a light sauce to the rice. I’d use Jasmine or short-grain sticky rice.
- Noodles or Vegetable Lo mein make great side dishes.
- Steamed broccoli, cauliflower, peas, and other vegetables go with sweet chicken.
- Pair it with Eggrolls for a Chinese-themed party!
Q&A
What Does Orange Chicken Taste Like?
Orange chicken is a sweet, tangy, deep-fried chicken dish with an orange-flavored sauce. The orange juice is not overpowering and adds a refreshing citrus flavor to sweet and sour sauce.
Panda Express Recipe For Orange Chicken:
Have you ever wondered how to cook orange chicken like Panda Express? Well, a former employee of Panda Express mentioned that you need to fry the chicken breaded heavily first so that it is nice and crispy. The orange chicken sauce is combined in a bowl so there are no cornstarch lumps. Orange extract is originally used, although you can use orange zest.
The key is to have your chicken ready, then cook the sauce until it’s the right consistency (it should be very sticky when cooked on high for 1-2 minutes). Then you add your chicken and toss to coat. At Panda Express, they made enormous batches, but this orange chicken recipe is scaled down for the home cook.
Is Orange Chicken Spicy?
Orange chicken is mildly spicy, and vinegar and sugar balance it to create a sweet and tangy sauce with a little kick. For a more subtle flavor, you can half the chili flakes in the recipe or substitute them for sesame seeds.
Does Orange Chicken have Dairy?
This Orange Chicken recipe does not have any milk products. Therefore, it is considered dairy-free.
General Tso Chicken vs. Orange Chicken?
These two popular American Chinese Chicken dishes are very similar. They are both served hot and have similar main ingredient components. However, the main difference is in the sauce preparation. General Tso’s Chicken is made without the addition of orange fruit, whereas orange chicken has the addition of citrus flavor to impart a refreshing taste.
Tips For Making Homemade Orange Chicken:
- Don’t have chicken thighs? Use chicken breasts and make an orange chicken marinade to tenderize the meat. My simple meat marinade is in the orange chicken ingredients section.
- Use a Ziplock freezer bag to bread the chicken. Cleanup will be easy, and you can dispose of the bag afterward, saving time.
- Cook the sauce in a large pot, then add the fried chicken pieces directly inside. That way, you don’t have to wash extra bowls.
- Don’t have orange juice concentrate? Substitute with three tablespoons of orange juice instead.
- Make orange chicken gluten-free by using all cornstarch or potato starch for the breading in the recipe.
- If making it ahead of time, keep it warm in a slow cooker. This is great for meal prep so that lunch or dinner can be ready and hot before serving. I would not exceed 4 hours on low, so turn it on in advance by that time range.
- Use an electric skillet or Instant Pot for deep frying outdoors (to take the mess out). If using an Instant Pot, you can make the sauce and toss the chicken right in! Use the saute button.
- Cook the chicken until just done (when the instant thermometer reads 165°F inserted into the thickest part of the meat). Overcooked chicken is dry and too chewy. You want tender chicken pieces.
- A reader used orange marmalade in this recipe and said it tasted great!
More Chinese Chicken Recipes To Make:
Homemade Chinese dishes you can count on! Recreate your favorite Chinese restaurant favorites right at home!
Have you tried this Panda Express hot orange chicken? Don’t forget to leave a rating and feedback below to let us know!
Panda Express Orange Chicken
Equipment
- 1 deep skillet or pot (for deep frying chicken)
- 1 medium saucepan (to make the sauce, use a pot if you wish to add the fried chicken pieces to the pot)
- 1 slotted spoon to remove fried chicken pieces
- 1 Set of mixing bowls (for breading and beaten egg mixture)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts (or chicken thighs)
Egg Mixture:
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbsp sunflower oil (or any neutral flavored oil)
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Dry Breading:
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (heaping)
Orange Chicken Sauce:
- 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1/2 cup cane sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or coconut liquid aminos)
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1/2 tsp zested ginger root (peeled)
- 1 Tbsp orange juice concentrate (or 3 Tbsp orange juice)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp rice wine (or apple cider vinegar)
Instructions
Directions:
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces (about 1 inch thick). Then, preheat 2 inches of oil in a large pot or deep skillet.- Whisk together the egg, oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and cornstarch.
- Dredge the chicken in the beaten egg mixture and then into the flour mixture. Shake off any excess flour.
- Deep fry the chicken in batches in 350°F oil until crispy, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a large plate lined with paper towels.
- To make the orange chicken sauce, Combine all the sauce ingredients in a saucepan or large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer to desired thickness (1-2 minutes).
- Add the fried chicken pieces to the sauce and toss to coat. Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a Ziplock bag to dredge the chicken for easy cleanup.
- I like to use a large pot when making the orange chicken sauce so that I can add the fried chicken pieces directly to the pot.
- If using boneless chicken breasts, marinate them in 1 teaspoon of baking soda, two tablespoons of white distilled vinegar, and 1-2 cups of cold water for 30 minutes. This is a Chinese restaurant hack for tenderizing meat quickly. Rinse before cutting.
- Substitute 3 Tbsp of orange juice for the concentrate if needed. You can also use 1 Tbsp of marmalade.
