Panda Express Orange Chicken
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!
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.
Nutrition Facts
Panda Express Orange Chicken
Serving Size
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
405
% Daily Value*
Fat
22
g
34
%
Saturated Fat
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
10
g
Cholesterol
132
mg
44
%
Sodium
941
mg
41
%
Potassium
282
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
30
g
10
%
Fiber
0.4
g
2
%
Sugar
13
g
14
%
Protein
21
g
42
%
Vitamin A
163
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
19
mg
2
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
