Quick & Easy Orange Chicken
Crispy fried chicken tossed in a bright, sweet and savory orange sauce! This quick and easy orange chicken recipe is a great main dish - ready in 30-minutes! Family-friendly, better-than-takeout, and great for busy weeknights!
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 3 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup cornstarch (or potato starch)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil (or any neutral oil)
- 1/2 green onion (finely chopped, optional garnish)
- 1 tbsp orange zest (grated, optional garnish)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (toasted, optional garnish)
- 1 cup orange juice (freshly-squeezed, pulp removed (about 4-5 medium-sized oranges))
- 2 tbsp white vinegar (or rice vinegar / apple cider vinegar)
- 6 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp regular soy sauce (or light soy sauce)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder (or grated ginger)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (or potato starch / tapioca starch)
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes (optional, if you prefer it spicy)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients as listed above and mix well.
- 2
Dice the chicken thighs into 1.5-inch cubes. Don't pat the chicken dry as moisture is needed for the next step.
- 3
Transfer the chicken pieces into a large mixing bowl. Add cornstarch and toss to coat evenly.
- 4
Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken in small batches in a single layer until golden and crispy on both sides, about 6-8 minutes.
- 5
Remove and transfer fried chicken to a wire rack or a paper-towel-lined plate to drain off excess oil, which can cause soggy chicken.
- 6
On medium-high heat, add the sauce and simmer to thicken, about 1 minute.
- 7
Once thickened, add the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Garnish with orange zest, sesame seeds and green onions. Enjoy!