Description
Orange Chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish featuring crispy fried chicken pieces tossed in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy orange sauce. It’s a comforting and bold meal often served over rice, perfect for both kids and adults.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Oil for frying
- For the orange sauce:
- 1 cup orange juice (preferably fresh)
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for slurry)
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then dredge in the flour mixture to coat evenly.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a saucepan, combine orange juice, orange zest, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Stir it into the sauce and cook until thickened, about 1–2 minutes.
- Add the fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
- Serve hot over steamed rice or with stir-fried vegetables.
Notes
Use air-fried or oven-baked chicken for a lighter version.To make it vegetarian, substitute chicken with tofu.Add sesame oil to the sauce for a deeper flavor.Use fresh orange juice and zest for the best flavor.Only toss the chicken in sauce just before serving to keep it crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
