This Easy Orange Chicken is made of tender bites of chicken breasts, that are coated in a sweet and fruity sauce. Plus, it can also be on the table in 40 minutes so it's perfect for busy weeknights.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- This delicious orange chicken recipe tastes just as good as the restaurant chicken but costs much less.
- You only need a few simple ingredients, so you don't have to worry about spending a lot of money at the grocery store.
- And the best part? This easy orange chicken is ready in under 40 minutes, making it perfect for those busy weeknights when you still want to serve up a delicious and healthy meal for your family.
Ingredient List
- boneless skinless chicken breast
- cornstarch
- large eggs
- avocado oil
- pineapple juice
- soy sauce
- rice wine vinegar
- pure maple syrup
- ketchup
- salt
- sesame seeds
- green onions
Equipment
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Whisk
- Cutting Board
- knife
- large skillet
Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Dice chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and cornstarch. Add the diced chicken chunks to the bowl, toss until well-coated.
- Coat chicken in the flour mixture. Set aside on a plate. Repeat until all the chicken is coated in flour.
- Heat avocado oil in a large skillet. Add the chicken and brown on both sides.
- While the chicken is browning, in a small bowl combine the sauce ingredients, whisk until smooth.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken in the skillet and cook on low heat for about 15-20 minutes. Stirring often.
- Once the chicken is done, and the sauce is thickened serve over a bed of rice, and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Eileen's Tips for Success
- Try to cut the chicken breasts into even-sized pieces so that they cook at the same rate, and you won't have tough pieces.
- When you are browning the chicken, you only need to get a nice crust on both sides, you don't have to cook the chicken until it is completely done.
- It's important to heat your oil and skillet before you add the chicken so that it gets a nice crust on the outside.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can reheat the orange chicken in a skillet over medium heat. Or you can microwave individual servings.
No, they are not the same. While they are both sweet, orange chicken is made with orange flavor, and sweet and sour sauce is not.
Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways to change the flavor of this dish.
- If you want to add a little extra flavor to your sauce, add some garlic powder and grated ginger.
- Spice: For extra heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
My family loves to serve this dish with a simple rice side dish. This Instant Pot Rice Recipe is a great way to make rice, if you prefer fried rice, then this Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice recipe.
Similar recipes
Are you looking for more takeout at-home ideas? Here are some of my favorite copycat recipes:
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
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Easy Orange Chicken Recipe
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Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 large eggs beaten
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup avocado oil
For the Orange Sauce
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ⅓ cup rice wine vinegar
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- sesame seeds optional garnish
- chopped green onions optional garnish
Instructions
How to make the chicken
- Dice 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
- In a shallow bowl whisk well 2 large eggs, set aside. Add ⅓ cup cornstarch in a separate shallow bowl.
- Coat the chicken in the egg mixture and then coat each piece of chicken in the cornstarch. Set aside on a large plate.
- Heat ¼ cup avocado oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the coated chicken to the pan and cook until all sides of each piece of chicken are browned.
How to make the Orange Sauce
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together ¼ cup pineapple juice, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, ⅓ cup rice wine vinegar, ½ cup pure maple syrup,3 Tablespoons ketchup, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Pour the mixture over the browned chicken.
- Allow the chicken to simmer over low heat in the sauce, about 15-20 minutes, stirring regularly until the sauce thickens.
- Serve with rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa. Optional garnish, sprinkle the chicken with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Judy
Sounds delicious, but Where do you use the orange?
Eileen Murphy Kelly
Hi Judy, while this is called Orange Chicken, there is not actually Orange in the recipe. The name comes from the orange coloring of the chicken.