Chinese Orange Chicken is an incredible Asian dish with tender chicken pieces soaked in a delicious orange sauce made from fresh orange juice, minced garlic, fresh ginger, soy sauce, and rice vinegar with orange zest for extra flavor. Add spicy sriracha sauce, tomato sauce, and soy sauce for layers of taste that explode in your mouth with each bite.
What makes this orange chicken recipe so tasty is the fresh squeezed orange juice that gives it a refreshing tang you cannot get from store-bought orange juice. The rice wine vinegar is also an important addition to making orange chicken sauce with an extra tanginess. We use low-sodium soy sauce for our instant pot orange chicken sauce because the regular stuff is just too salty.
What kind of chicken?
You can use whatever kind of chicken pieces you like to make orange chicken. Many people use boneless skinless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breast, but you can always cut the meat from the bone yourself. You can even use leftover fried chicken pieces from a previous meal. Dark meat is moister than white so keep that in mind.
Chinese restaurants secrets
One of the secret tips from my favorite Chinese food restaurants is to velvet your chicken for tenderness. It is easy to do, and you will notice the difference with the first bite. Simply toss chicken pieces in baking soda and then let them sit for about 30 minutes. Rinse off the baking soda and drain before cooking. This is only for chicken breast meat, not for thigh meat. Chicken breasts are not as moist. They also add some cornstarch to their coating to keep the chicken moist and create a crust.
With or without rice
Almost every Chinese food is served with a side of rice. It may be regular white rice, fried brown rice, or even sticky rice. But you do not have to serve orange chicken with rice. It also goes well with noodles or veggies like snow peas and steamed broccoli. Crispy chicken with orange sauce is a delicious recipe that goes with everything. You can even serve orange chicken with french fries, macaroni and cheese, or mashed potatoes!
What to serve with Chinese orange chicken
- Instead of chicken pieces, try making this with chicken wings. It is a great game-day appetizer.
- Sprinkle red chili flakes or red pepper flakes on top before serving for a kick of spiciness.
- If you really love orange chicken, why not make a double or triple batch and freeze the extras?
- This chicken recipe can also be made with turkey or pork.
- Add veggies and rice to your orange chicken recipe to make it a complete meal.
- Your Chinese orange chicken can also be made with lemon or lime zest instead of orange zest.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to fry the chicken first?
For extra crispy fried chicken pieces, it is a good idea to deep fry the chicken in olive oil, peanut oil, or vegetable oil before adding the orange sauce. Simply fry chicken in hot oil over medium heat until they are golden brown. Then, place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. It is important to get all the excess oil off so you can also pat the top with paper towels.
Should I use eggs for frying chicken?
If you plan to deep fry the chicken, first, whisk eggs in a small bowl and dip chicken pieces in the egg mixture before dipping it in the flour mixture. Then, transfer chicken to a baking pan covered in parchment paper. Add chicken to oil, and cook on medium-high heat until it is brown and crispy.
Should I marinate my chicken?
Marinated chicken has the most amazing flavor. If you do not have the extra time, it is no big deal because your tangy orange sauce ingredients will give your chicken plenty of orange flavor for the best orange chicken you have ever had. With this easy orange chicken recipe, you can cook chicken for dinner tonight in minutes. You can also marinate your chicken in chicken stock or chicken broth.
Tips and Tricks
- Garnish your homemade orange chicken with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for some crunch and extra flavor.
- Freshly squeezed orange juice makes a big difference. The flavor of fresh oranges cannot be faked. Try it once and you will never use store-bought orange juice again.
- Be sure to use light soy sauce so your orange sauce does not taste too salty.
- You can cut the brown sugar amount in half or leave it out completely if you do not want your sauce too sweet.
- Instead of green onion, you can use scallions or shallots.
- If you do not have any rice vinegar, feel free to use apple cider vinegar.
- Similarly, you can use potato starch instead of corn starch for this chicken recipe.
