How to Make Orange Chicken

My copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken is sticky, sweet and tangy. Succulent chicken pieces with a crispy coating and plenty of that delicious sauce. Ready in 20 minutes too!

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Nicky Corbishley

Ingredients

• Chicken Coating and Chicken
• 3/4 cup (90g) plain (all-purpose) flour
• 1 medium egg
• 1/4 tsp garlic salt
• 1/3 cup + 1tbsp (90ml) cold water
• pinch of salt and pepper
• 8 chicken thigh fillets (skinless and boneless) chopped into bite-size chunks
• 2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
• 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil for frying

Orange Sauce

• Juice of 2 large oranges

Zest of half an orange

• 6 tbsp caster sugar or superfine sugar
• 5 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 tsp minced ginger
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), mixed with 3 tbsp cold water to form a slurry (optional) 

To Serve:

• Boiled rice
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Start by making the batter for the chicken. In a large bowl, add the plain (all-purpose) flour, egg, garlic salt, salt, pepper and water, and mix together using a whisk until smooth.
2. Place the chopped chicken thighs in a separate bowl and sprinkle on the cornflour (cornstarch). Toss together so the chicken is coated in the cornflour.
3. Add the chicken to the batter, and mix together so the chicken is coated in the batter.
4. Add the oil to a wok or large frying pan (skillet) and heat over medium-high heat until hot.
5. While the oil is heating, make the orange sauce. In a medium bowl, mix together the orange juice and zest, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar. Put to one side.
6. When the oil is hot, add the chicken to the oil. I find it's best to work in two or even three batches for the crispiest chicken. Add the chicken in a piece at a time, and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally with tongs, until golden brown and cooked throughout (*note 1).
7. Once cooked, place the chicken in a bowl lined with kitchen paper while you cook the second batch. You can add a little more oil in if needed, to ensure the chicken is surrounded by oil, but be sure to keep the temperature up so the oil is bubbling and hot.
8. Carefully dispose of any leftover oil from the wok and turn down the heat to medium. Add the orange sauce to the pan, bring to the boil and simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
9. If you want to thicken further, then slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp cold water) whilst stirring (*note 2).
10. Add the chicken back to the wok and carefully toss together until the chicken is coated in the sauce. I find the best way to do this is to slide a spatula underneath the chicken, lift it up and turn it overdo this repeatedly until all the chicken is coated.
11. Serve the chicken over boiled rice, topped with a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

Recipe Notes

*Note 1 - Checking the chicken is cooked:

Slice open a large piece of chicken and if it's piping hot and white in the middle (no pink) then it's cooked.

*Note 2 - Cornflour/cornstarch slurry

I find that I only need to add the cornstarch slurry if I've used particularly large and juicy oranges, as this means there's more sauce to thicken.

Can I use store-bought orange juice instead of squeezing my own?

Yes, use 100% pure orange juice (with or without pulp). You'll need about 1/2 cup or 120ml altogether.

Can I make it gluten-free?

Yes! Replace the soy sauce with gluten-free soy sauce/tamari. Use a dark tamari rather than a thinner/lighter version.

Can I make it ahead?

This recipe works best when made and served right away. Freezing/chilling then reheating means the chicken won't be crispy.

You can partially make it ahead by making the sauce (you could boil and simmer it at this point then cool it, or you can just mix the ingredients together without boiling it). Then cover and refrigerate for up to two days.

You can make up the chicken batter up to a day ahead too (cover and refrigerate until needed).

If you did want to make it ahead fully, you can cook and cool it, then reheat the chicken and sauce until piping hot throughout in a wok. However, the chicken won’t be crisp. It’s still tasty for a quick meal though.

Can it be frozen?

Yes, you can cool, cover and freeze, then defrost before reheating thoroughly (heat in the microwave or covered in the oven or in a wok/frying pan). However, the chicken won’t be crispy. It’s still tasty for a quick meal though.

Can I make Orange chicken in the oven instead of frying it?

Unfortunately, the chicken won’t be as crispy is baked rather than fried. You can use the same method I use for my baked sweet and sour chicken instead: Use the chicken plus3 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch1/4 tsp salt1/4 tsp pepper1/2 tsp garlic salt1/2 tsp paprika3 tbsp olive oil-heat your oven to 190c/375f. Put a large baking dish in the oven to warm up. Cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks. Put to one side. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the cornflour, salt, pepper, garlic salt, and paprika. Pour your olive oil in another medium-sized bowl. Place the chicken in the bowl with the cornflour, and mix, ensuring every piece of chicken is completely covered. Scoop out the chicken, and put it into the bowl with the olive oil in. Toss gently in the olive oil. Pour any leftover cornflour mixture onto the chicken, and mix it all up. You should end up with the chicken pieces looking well coated and a bit sticky. Carefully take your dish out of the oven and place the chicken into the dish in a single layer. Try not to bunch the chicken together. The more room it has, the more crispy it will get. Place in the oven to cook for 15-20 minutes until cooked throughout.

Then toss in the orange sauce that you've already bubbled up and thickened in a pan.

Can I replace the chicken thighs with chicken breasts?

Yes, you can do this. Chicken thighs are a little more tender and stand up well to cooking over high heat without drying out, but you can replace it with chicken breast if you prefer.

.Nutritional Information is per serving - NOT including rice. We've calculated a little less oil overall, as not all of the vegetable oil will be absorbed when frying the chicken