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    Home » Asian Takeout » Orange Chicken (Chinese Takeout Recipe)

    Orange Chicken (Chinese Takeout Recipe)

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    You may never order takeout again with this Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken recipe on hand. This Asian chicken is a quick, easy, and delicious 30 minute meal that doesn’t require a culinary degree to make. Just season and coat the chicken, cook it, make the sticky orange chicken sauce, and combine.

    Plus, this homemade orange chicken recipe can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. It’s a tasty lunch or dinner that can be served alongside a variety of sides including rice, noodles, veggies, salad, and dumplings.

    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    Why You'll Love This Chinese Orange Chicken

    • Easy weeknight dinner. This orange chicken recipe is great for busy weeknights. In just half an hour you can have a hot, fresh, nutritious meal on the table, using mostly ingredients you likely already have on hand — especially if you do Asian cooking at home!
    • Healthier than Chinese takeout. Craving takeout but on a budget or trying to change a habit? Make this from scratch instead using this easy Panda Express Chinese orange copycat recipe. Plus, it’s healthier than takeout because the chicken in our recipe isn’t deep fried — you can either pan fry, bake, or air fry it!
    • It makes the best leftovers and great for meal prep. If you usually have a hard time getting your family (or yourself) to eat leftovers and find yourself tossing out entire untouched containers of dinners past on fridge cleanout day, this recipe is for you. This recipe tastes just like Chinese takeout orange chicken (if not better!) and your whole family will be fighting over the remnants – that is, if there is any left.
    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    Ingredient Notes

    To make this delicious Orange Chicken, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

    • chicken - we used thighs because they are more tender than breast and is what is typically used in Chinese chicken stir fries. You can use chicken breast as well, depending on your preference.
    • salt and pepper
    • eggs - to coat the chicken and allow the cornstarch to stick well to it.
    • cornstarch - you will need cornstarch to coat the chicken and give it its crispy coating. You also need cornstarch in the sauce to help thicken it.
    • garlic - using freshly minced garlic will result in the most flavorful sauce, but if you need to, you can use the pre-minced version from the grocery store. Use a half or whole teaspoon of minced garlic per clove of garlic that the recipe calls for.
    • ginger - if you can’t find ginger in the store, don’t have the means to grate it yourself, or want to save even more preparation time, you can use store-bought grated ginger. It usually comes in a squeeze tube.
    • orange juice - whether you use a pulpy orange juice or not is up to you! For this sauce, a pulpless orange juice works best, but if all you have on hand is juice with pulp, you can strain it or leave it as-is. Also, make sure you’re using real orange juice and not an “orange-flavored'' drink – there’s a big difference between the two and using orange drinks will change the recipe quite a bit.
    • soy sauce - use low-sodium soy sauce if you’re watching your sodium intake or use coconut aminos for a soy-free orange chicken sauce!
    • white vinegar
    • sugar
    • sesame oil
    • oil - you will also need vegetable oil if frying the chicken, or cooking spray oil if baking in the oven or cooking in the air fryer.

    You will also need measuring cups and spoons, shallow bowls, mixing bowl, and skillet. You will also need a skillet, oven, or air fryer (depending on the cooking method you use).

    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Make the Best Orange Chicken (Chinese Takeout Recipe)

    1. Prepare chicken. Use a paper towel to pat the chicken completely dry. Cut the chicken 1-inch cubes, and season well with salt and pepper. Set aside for 5 minutes.
    2. Coat chicken. Prepare a shallow plate with beaten eggs and another with cornstarch. Dip one piece of chicken at a time into the egg wash, then evenly coat in the cornstarch.
    • Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com
    1. Cook. Cook the chicken on the stove, in the oven, or in the air fryer:
      • To pan fry: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for until the hot oil shimmers, about 3-4 minutes. Fry the chicken in two batches for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, flipping once. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and allow the chicken to rest. 
      • To cook in the oven: Preheat oven to 375F. Place the coated chicken on a parchment-lined half sheet baking pan in a single layer. Spray with cooking oil spray. Bake until cooked through, flipping once
      • To cook in the air fryer: Place coated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray with cooking oil spray. Air fry at 350F for 15 minutes until golden brown. You may have to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
    • Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Make Orange Chicken Sauce

    1. In a small mixing bowl, combine garlic, ginger, orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Whisk well until smooth.
    2. In a large skillet, heat the sauce over medium heat. Heat until simmered and thickened to a desired consistency, about 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.
    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    Assemble

    Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Garnish with green onions and serve warm.

    • Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Serve

    This Orange Chicken is delicious served on its own, or paired with some of my favorite takeout sides including:

    • Steamed Rice
    • Chinese Garlic Cucumber Salad
    • Vegetarian Chow Mein
    • Roasted Garlic Green Beans
    • Vegetarian Fried Rice
    • Asian Chopped Salad
    • Pork Dumplings
    • Grilled or sautéed bok choy
    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    Storage/Freezing Instructions

    How to Store

    Place in an airtight container and store this Chinese chicken in the fridge for up to four days.

    How to Freeze

    Freeze in family size or individual portions in freezer bags for up to three months. Reheat in the oven by baking (unthawed) at 350℉ for 10-15 minutes or follow the directions for your air-fryer for an easy make-ahead meal. If you’re meal prepping, you can freeze the chicken and the sauce separately for a crispier result.

    Recipe Tips and Tricks

    • Make the sauce ahead of time to speed up the prep. If you’re especially short on time, you can make the sauce ahead and store it in the fridge for a few days before you make the recipe! It’s also a great dipping sauce for things like chicken nuggets, steamed or raw veggies, and fries or chips. You’ll have no trouble using it up, and you may find that you have to make double or triple batches to make the sauce last until you’re ready to use it for stovetop orange chicken!
    • Serve with veggies. If you don’t want to serve the chicken with rice or want a veggie to go alongside it, steamed broccoli, grilled bok choy, and raw snap peas are all highly compatible with Chinese orange chicken! Use some of the sauce as a glaze or dipping sauce (as suggested above) if you have a picky eater or two in the family.
    • Double (or triple) the recipe for effortless meal prep. This orange chicken is so good, you’ll want to eat it all week long. And you can! Double or triple the recipe and portion it out into reusable containers like you normally would when meal prepping and you’ll have lunch or dinner sorted for the whole week! If you aren’t going to eat it all within four days, try to freeze some and reheat it in the microwave at the office later.
    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    More Chinese Chicken Recipes

    • 60 Chinese Takeout Recipes at Home
    • Healthy Lemon Chicken
    • Cashew Chicken
    • Kung Pao Chicken
    • General Tso's Chicken
    • Mongolian Chicken

    Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

    Orange Chicken (Chinese Takeout Recipe)


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4-6 servings
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked.


    Ingredients

    For the chicken:

    • 1 ½ pounds boneless and skinless chicken thighs or breasts
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½  teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 eggs, beaten
    • 1 cup cornstarch
    • ½ cup oil (if pan-frying)

    For the sauce:

    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
    • 1 cup orange juice
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    Instructions

    1. Use a paper towel to pat the chicken completely dry. Cut the chicken 1-inch cubes, and season well with salt and pepper. Set aside for 5 minutes.
    2. Prepare a shallow plate with beaten eggs and another with cornstarch. Dip one piece of chicken at a time into the egg wash, then evenly coat in the cornstarch.
    3. Cook the chicken on the stove, in the oven, or in the air fryer:
      1. To pan fry: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for until the hot oil shimmers, about 3-4 minutes. Fry the chicken in two batches for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, flipping once. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and allow the chicken to rest. 
      2. To cook in the oven: Preheat oven to 375F. Place the coated chicken on a parchment-lined half sheet baking pan in a single layer. Bake until cooked through, flipping once
      3. To cook in the air fryer: Place coated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray with cooking oil spray. Air fry at 350F for 15 minutes until golden brown. You may have to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
    4. In a small mixing bowl, combine garlic, ginger, orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Whisk well until smooth.
    5. In a large skillet, heat the sauce over medium heat. Heat until simmered and thickened to a desired consistency, about 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.
    6. Add the chicken and toss well to coat.
    7. Garnish with green onions and serve warm with a bowl of steamed rice.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Chicken
    • Method: Stir Fry
    • Cuisine: Chinese

    Did you make this recipe?

    I'd love to see! Tag me @aheadofthyme on Instagram.

    Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com
    Orange Chicken (Chinese Takeout Recipe)
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    Comments

    1. Karen Strouse says

      February 23, 2025 at 11:56 am

      This dish is very tasty! I made some fried rice as a side and my husband was very impressed. I fried the chicken, but want to try baking the chicken pieces in the oven next time. The fried chicken pieces were cooked perfectly - crispy on the outside and nice and tender on the inside.

      Reply
    2. Flavadave says

      December 04, 2024 at 11:22 am

      Sausesome

      Reply

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